The faithful Martha

In most preaching on the raising of Lazarus, the focus is on everything that leads up to the event rather than on the event itself. I will be focusing on Jesus' encounter with Lazarus primarily, be the rest of the story certainly merits consideration. We'll be reading John 11:1-44 before the sermon, and the passage will really speak for itself.

One of the more intriguing twists in the story is the way Mary and Martha switch roles. Most of the time we see Mary as the contemplative one, who would rather spend time with Jesus than prepare a meal or who poured out her expensive perfume as a gift to Him. Martha is the worker, the one who is busy serving, but who sometimes misses the "necessary thing." Commentators and Bible scholars sometimes use the contrast between the two sisters as illustrations of one too busy with service to contemplate Jesus versus one who seeks a closer relationship with Him, much to Martha's discredit.

Because of that portrait of Martha. it is important to note her role in this passage. She is the one who goes to meet Jesus, while Mary stays in the house, and does not come until she is called. While both sisters remark that if Jesus had been present Lazarus would not have died, it is Martha who adds that she knows Jesus can do anything God allows Him to do. Martha is the one who professes faith in the Resurrection and in Jesus as the One with the power over death. Had we only John 11, it is Martha who would be held up as the paragon of faith, while Mary might be seen as one whose faith is lost when events don't go her way.

Of course, such a characterization would not be true. Both sisters clearly had faith in Jesus, although that faith was expressed in different ways in response to different situations. But while Mary generally receives her due (and some commentators even use the other passages about her to try and force a positive meaning on her actions here), Martha remains in our minds as the one too busy to spend time with Jesus. That picture needs correction from the Gospel accounts.

Faith expresses itself in many ways. I believe God created us each with our own temperaments, gifts, and abilities so that we can serve Him in the way He wished us to serve. Sometimes we can allow that to interfere with our relationship with Jesus, as Martha did previously and Mary did here. We can also allow that move us to draw nearer to Jesus, again as both sisters did on occasion. One is not necessarily better than the other, just a different expression. We should each in our own way seek to be near Jesus even as we use our diverse gifts in His service.