The Rev. Grace Imathiu presented a Bible study at a conference, and our Sunday night Bible study group just spent time working through this presentation.

My initial reaction to Imathiu’s study was an unequivocal “nice, but…”

Then, I had to really analyze the DVD for content worthy of discussion, and was not disappointed when I found eight topics worthy of reflection.

I present a small portion of it here, and invite conversation on this study.

Bethany is a small village two miles east of Jerusalem. Many interesting things happen in and around Bethany.

After establishing the “extravagant generosity” to be found by some in Bethany, Imathiu highlights the story in John 11, where Jesus looks for figs on the fitree when it is not the season for figs.

Most people rebel at the outcome for the fig tree, for it withers to the root because of its lack of fruitfulness.

Imathiu’s take: Jesus, when in Bethany, expects things to be different. He expects results to be of kairos nature, not chronos. He expects fruit from the tree at all times, for it is to bear fruit season in and season out, that is the kairos nature, or God’s time and expectation.

Another of her points deals with Jesus’ reaction to being confronted with a need. “What do you want for me to do for you?” It looks like a question, it sounds like a question, but it is an invitation, Imathiu says.

It is an invitation to a partnership. If God knows all, then God knows our needs before we speak them or even think them. Yet, we do not know what or how to ask for what we need.

Through this invitation, are we willing to name our need before the One who can do something about it? Are we willing to invest enough of ourselves to become a true partner in the work that God is about to do in or through us?

As people of Bethany, are we willing to step out and ask for the desires of our hearts?

The last point I will lift from this study deals with the raising and loosing of Lazarus. With much fanfare, Jesus has the stone rolled away from the tomb where Lazarus lay for four days.

“He stinketh” is the caution of Lazarus’ beloved sister. But Jesus instructs the stone to be moved away, calls to Lazarus and Lazarus comes forth.

Then Jesus speaks to the people in John 11:44. “Jesus said to them...” that Lazarus should be freed. It is not a command to specific servants.

It is not a command to Martha or Mary. It is the community which unbinds him.

When in Bethany, anyone with a sin that squeezes tightly on the soul is to be freed by the community (the congregation) that follows Jesus.

It is not a job for the drug counselors, or the vice squad, or the 12-step group. It is a task of love for those who call themselves Christians, to nurture and feed this one who has died and has been brought back to life.

People of Bethany do things unexpected; people of Bethany love in a way that would make the apostle James proud. The people of Bethany walk the walk while nurturing the soul, unbinding slowly but surely as days pass by.

One major question I hear from Imathiu is one I think needs serious thought and discussion. As Christians of East Texas, do we live in Bethany? Are we willing to bear fruit season in and season out?

We surely make our plans to do many things on behalf of Jesus our Lord. But are we in true partnership with Him? We make plans on things to do and work to be accomplished, but have we sought to be in partnership?

If we live in Bethany, then we accept the kairos view of bearing fruit, and work steadily to not wither to the root. If we live in Bethany, then our partnership time will be full of unbinding our neighbors.

Bethany is a nice place to live. If you do not live in Bethany, I invite you to join those whose basic nature is extravagant generosity, whose lives are grounded in partnership, and whose work is to loosen the bindings of our neighbors.