What was the emphasis in John chapter 13 with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus?
The emphasis was not on how much Martha, Mary, and Lazarus loved Jesus, but on how much Jesus loved them. That love was shown in His willingness to die and suffer for them, and it grounds the believer’s assurance that the Holy Spirit bears witness that we are God’s children.
Les explains that in John chapter 13, where Jesus was dealing with Martha and Mary and Lazarus, the point was not how much Lazarus and Mary loved Jesus, but how much He loved them. He calls this an eye-opener. Salvation does not depend on how much we love Him, although believers certainly will love Him; what matters is realizing how much He loved us—enough to die for us and suffer for us. With that kind of salvation, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, so believers do not have to walk in constant fear. We revere God, but we do not fear Him because we know He loves us.
More Questions
What is the main point of the story of Lazarus, Mary and Martha loving Jesus?
In the account of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, the point was not how much they loved Jesus but how much Jesus loved them.