…and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
”Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Jesus said to her, ”Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, ”I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Martha is the practical one. She and her sister, Mary, are often contrasted as two very common archetypes; the one with her feet solidly planted in this world’s work, the other with her head and heart on other matters.
In this conversation Martha comes very close to chastising Jesus; “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” And then she adds, almost as an aside, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
In response, Jesus speaks comfort to her: “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha comes back with, “I know…”
But she didn’t. She didn’t know what Jesus was planning to do. She didn’t know what he was really capable of. She was about to find out.
Let’s Discuss: It is likely that we all hear something a little different in Martha’s words. What do you hear?
You are right, I’ve never taken her words to be words of rebellion or stubbornness. I took them as words of mourning and faith. He brother just died – someone who was a disciple of Jesus though not of the twelve. Jesus could have healed him, but he intentionally came late. Martha persists in her faith though it has been personally tested and affirms that the big picture of Jesus mission – the final and eternal resurrection. She accepted the difficult answer in faith – God doesn’t heal everyone and some die.
Wow… I needed to proof read that one lol
Have grace with my grammar!
I think Martha has a great perspective in this passage. She is very relational with Jesus and her response of faith in verse 27 is amazing. Jesus had said that He is the resurrection and the life and whoever believes in Him will live and never die. Then He said, “Do you believe this?” Martha’s response is precious: “Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” I would hope to have as good of a response. Martha believed Lazarus was rise again at the resurrection on the last day. She may not have realized what Jesus was about to do, but she did have the faith we all need.
I treasure both of your comments because in Martha’s response you see the faith we all need. I agree! I also see her frustration at the loss of her brother when she believes God/Jesus could have prevented that. I can relate to that as well.