Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain
village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her
house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus'
feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving,
and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister
hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And
Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful
and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary
hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from
her.--_St. Luke x: 38-42._
* * * * *
_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_
_Bethany is situated on the southern slope of the Mount of Olives,
about two miles from Jerusalem. The house of his friends, Martha,
Mary, and Lazarus, the only place which, during the latter part of
his ministry, Jesus could call a home, was probably that of people in
easy circumstances, and as such is here represented. In the vineyards
of Palestine the vine is cultivated bushlike on the ground; but in
gardens, the plant is occasionally trained erect, as in Europe and
America, or, as in the present instance, for the purposes of shade,
upon a pergola. In the middle of the village of Bethany are the ruins
of an important house. Here some years ago a French explorer
discovered on the base the remains of an ancient chapel This seems to
point with probability to a valid tradition of the site of the house
of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus_.