Martha (Luke 10:38–42; John 11:1–6; John 11:17–44; John 12:1–2)

Who Served, and Who Believed

A woman who received Jesus into her house, was cumbered about much serving, and, when her brother Lazarus died at Bethany, met Jesus on the way and said that she had believed that he was the Christ, the Son of God.

“A certain woman named Martha received him into her house” (Luke 10:38). She was cumbered about much serving, and asked the Lord to bid her sister Mary help her; he answered, “Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful” (Luke 10:40–42). The account in Luke does not name the village; the Gospel of John names Martha and her sister Mary as of Bethany (John 11:1).

When Lazarus died, Martha went and met Jesus while Mary sat in the house (John 11:20). To her Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25), and she answered, “Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world” (John 11:27).

At the tomb she said, “Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39). Later, at a supper made for Jesus in Bethany, “Martha served” (John 12:2).

Strengths

• Hospitality
• Service
• Plain speech
• Confession of faith

Weaknesses

• Anxious over much serving
• Hesitation at the tomb

Themes

• Hospitality
• Service and attention
• Faith in the face of death
• Friendship with Jesus

Martha receives him into her house (Luke 10:38–42)

Martha takes Jesus in, is cumbered about much serving, and asks the Lord to bid her sister help; he answers her.

Martha receives him into her house

“Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house” (Luke 10:38). Her sister Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:39).

“But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me” (Luke 10:40).

“But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).

The sisters send word (John 11:1–6)

Lazarus of Bethany is sick; Mary and Martha send to Jesus, who loved Martha, her sister and Lazarus; when he heard, he abode two days where he was.

Martha meets him on the way (John 11:17–27)

Martha goes to meet Jesus before he enters the village, tells him her brother would not have died, and says she has believed that he is the Christ, the Son of God.

Martha meets him on the way

“Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house” (John 11:20). She said, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee” (John 11:21–22).

When Jesus said, “Thy brother shall rise again” (John 11:23), she answered, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25–26).

“She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world” (John 11:27). Then she went and called Mary her sister secretly (John 11:28).

At the tomb (John 11:38–44)

Jesus bids them take away the stone; Martha says the body decayeth, and Jesus asks if he did not tell her she would see the glory of God.

A supper at Bethany (John 12:1–2)

Six days before the passover, Jesus comes to Bethany; a supper is made for him, and Martha serves.

Jesus (Luke 10:38–42; John 11:5; John 11:27)

He loved Martha, her sister and Lazarus; she received him, served him and said she had believed he was the Christ.

Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38–42; John 11:1–2)

Her sister, who sat at the Lord’s feet while Martha served.

Lazarus (John 11:1–44; John 12:1–2)

Her brother, who died and was called out of the tomb after four days.

Major sections

• Luke 10:38–42
• John 11:1–44
• John 12:1–8

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