“She is practical, active and outspoken.” (Diane Peters)
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are siblings.
Martha shows faith: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother [Lazarus] would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him” (John 11.21-22). “Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world” (John 11.27).
Martha hosts the dinner where Mary pours a jar of expensive ointment on Jesus’s head (John 12.1-8).
About Mary
Mary listens to Jesus (Luke 10.39)
Mary does something extravagant because she loves Jesus
Mary, too, shows faith. She initially had not gone out to meet Jesus, but when Martha tells her Jesus wants to see her, she comes too: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother [Lazarus] would not have died” (John 11.32)
Martha & Mary
*** Image: Martha & Mary
Good v. bad
Active v. contemplative
Active and contemplative
*** Image: Distractions
Martha isn’t chastised for working; instead, Jesus points out that she is “worried and distracted”
