Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha
December 23, 2019
Commentary
Lazarus probably died about the same time the messenger arrived to tell Jesus about his sickness (v. 17). Since Palestine is a warm climate and decomposition sets in quickly, a person was usually buried the same day he died. Therefore, Lazarus had been placed in a tomb. Since Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem, many people had come to comfort Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus (vv. 18-19).
Mary and Martha were quite different in their personalities (vv. 20-22). Martha was a task-oriented person, while Mary was a people person. Jesus did not condemn Martha’s service, but He did rebuke her for being “torn apart” by so many things (Lk 10:39-41). I find it interesting that Mary is found three times in the Gospels and each time she is at Jesus feet.
Martha was quick to affirm her faith in Jesus Christ (v. 22), and Jesus responded by promising her that her brother would rise again (v. 23). She interprets this to mean on the last day, when Jesus meant right away (v. 24). Martha was like many Christians today who do not appropriate the promises of God for now. It is like having a million dollars in a checking account and not realizing that you can write checks on it.
Martha is best known for being too busy to sit down and talk with Jesus (Lk 10:38-42). But here we see her as a woman of deep faith who says, “I do believe that you are Christ, the Son of God.” Her statement of faith is the kind of response that Jesus wants from us. Jesus then said, “I am the one who raises the dead to life (vv. 25-26)! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?"
Application
I am afraid that I tend to be more of a task-oriented person like Martha than a people person like Mary. I want to be more of a person who keeps my priorities in line as God directs.
John 11:17– 27 (NET)
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already. 18 (Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 so many of the Jewish people of the region had come to Martha and Mary to console them over the loss of their brother.) 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.”
23 Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.” 24 Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, 26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.”
Illustration: Where’s Harry
A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under an eight-point buck. “Where’s Harry?” he was asked. “Harry had a stroke of some kind. He’s a couple of miles back up the trail.” “You left Harry lying there, and carried the deer back?” “Well,” said the hunter, “I figured no one was going to steal Harry.” (Bits & Pieces, March 3, 1994, p. 5).