Radical Love and Unconditional Dignity

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.” –  John 12:1,2 Jesus spent a lot of time with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but we don’t often think about where they were from. The Bible tells us that the three siblings lived in Bethany, which in Hebrew means “house of affliction.” Since we know that Simon the Leper was also from this region, it’s possible that this town was actually a leper colony, or had been at one time. Perhaps Mary and Martha suffered from the illness themselves or maybe they were nurses who took care of the infected.  In those days, strict Levitical law deemed even minor conditions like dandruff or eczema as grounds for being