The Two Sisters of Lazarus Martha and Mary
Today I would like to talk about the two sisters of Lazarus. Martha and Mary.
Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
It is true that Jesus loves everyone. For God so loved the world. And yet the Bible says Jesus loved Martha and her sister. Jesus knew and dealt with a lot of people and this is said of very few. The Bible calls John the disciple whom Jesus loved. But it is said of very few.
This is not lowering or dismissing His love for anyone else. This is not playing favorites.
It is a way of highlighting that they were very close to Jesus. They chose to have a deeper closer relationship with our Lord than most.
Jas_4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Jesus got closer on a personal level with Mary and Martha and Lazarus because they got closer to Him. And drawing closer to Jesus requires turning from sin and purifying your heart.
Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
The implication here is that they had humble tender hearts for Jesus. He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
We are first introduced to them in Luke chapter 10. First introductions in the Bible are important.
Luk 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
That certain village is Bethany which is less than 2 miles from Jerusalem. Jesus is out teaching from village to village and he comes to Bethany and Martha opened up their home for Jesus to teach in.
Please don’t discount this. This is a rare thing. Very few people open up their homes to Jesus. When you open your home up to Jesus you are not afraid of what He will find there.
The wording here I think is important. It says she received him. That implies openness, a welcoming, a wanting to be a help and a blessing. It implies she wanted Him there.
I have visited a lot of homes of people who were in my Sunday school classes over the years. And also people that were thinking of joining the church and even the homes of church members.
And I have seen some shocking stuff. What you quickly realize is that many who want to go to church and hear a little about Jesus do not want to really open up their home and receive Jesus into it. They don’t want Jesus active in their home.
In the very first verse introducing Martha and Mary we learn that they wanted Jesus in their home and active teaching in their home. This is huge. This sets the tone for everything else we learn about them later.
After Jesus enters the home He starts teaching. And it is clear from the next verses that many people were there to listen to Jesus.
And having a group of people over means that there is stuff to do. For example they will need water and food. And Martha has a heart to be a help and a blessing. And it is a good thing to want to serve the Lord and support His work.
There are women who serve in a support role in churches all over the world who change diapers and watch babies so that the teaching of the Word of God can be preached. Someone needs to clean and do a variety of support functions.
And it is a great thing to do that from a heart that loves the Lord. There is an however… which we will see from Jesus in a moment.
The important thing to know first about Martha is she wanted Jesus in her home and she wanted His work of teaching to be done and she wanted to serve to make that go smoothly.
And now we get our first introduction to Mary.
Our love for the Lord will manifest itself differently for different people. With Martha it was serving the Lord and being a blessing to others.
With Mary it was a love of Jesus’ word.
Luk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Mary sat and listened to what Jesus was teaching. As we go thru this it will be more and more evident that Mary really listened. She listened and remembered what He said and thought about it.
She wanted to learn. This is a great thing and shows that Mary had a tender heart for Jesus’ teaching.
Now comes Martha’s however. Service is needed and is wonderful when done from the heart. However…
Luk 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luk 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luk 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Martha should have stopped serving when the teaching started and should have sat next to Mary. And then got back up when the teaching stopped and continued to be a help and a blessing.
Jesus loved Martha and her heart to help, but Jesus made it very clear that listening to the Word of God is a priority.
We are not told what Martha’s response was. Because of Martha’s heart for Jesus that received Him into her home and because of how the Bible says Jesus loved her, I like to think that Martha listened and learned and corrected herself and just sat down next to Mary.
I don’t know that because we are not told. But I do like to think the best.
After Jesus was done then He keeps traveling from place to place doing His Father’s will and teaching and healing.
And Jesus makes sure that He is several days travel away from Mary and Martha’s house before their brother gets sick.
Joh 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Joh 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
There are many Mary’s in the New Testament and sometimes the Lord wants to make sure we know which Mary He is talking about and sometimes it will just say Mary.
Here he is telling us that the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment is the Mary who is the sister to Martha and Lazarus. Now Mary will not do that until right before the cross. But the note that it is her is here in the account of Lazarus.
God obviously wanted to bring this up here and get you to think about Mary’s heart for the lord and what she was willing to do for him. I think it is because her love for Jesus has bearing during this account.
And bringing up what Mary will do later is a good way to do that. And also when you get to the account of Mary anointing Jesus you are to remember that it is this Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha. God connects the two accounts here because they do have bearing on each other.
Mary and Martha both loved Jesus, had received Him into their home and served Him and listened to His teaching. And now their brother is in a really bad way.
They had learned enough about Jesus and had enough faith in who He is and what He could do that they send for Jesus to come help.
Joh 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Don’t just read over that. They sisters message to Jesus was he whom thou lovest.
We are not told that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus yet. But they already knew it. They already had a loving relationship with the Lord. And they had faith in it and confidence in it.
They stated it as an absolute fact. He whom thou lovest is sick. The st denotes second person. A specific person. A word with th is third person they them, that group.
They knew that Jesus loved their brother in a personal way.
They had assurance of their relationship with Jesus and of His love for them. And when their brother got sick, they did not blame God and they did not let the hardship take away their confidence of His love for them.
That is great. I have seen people fail here and let even small hardships cause them to doubt His love for them.
They will be shook some when Lazarus dies as we will see.
When Jesus receives their message He tells the reason why Lazarus is sick.
Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
This is important. Jesus knew all about it and He had a plan for it. The reason he was sick is so Jesus could do a mighty work. The reason is so that His power could be displayed for all to see. And specifically to show that Jesus had the power over death and the power of resurrrection.
This was all for the purpose that the Son of God might be glorified thru it.
And think about this. Jesus could have chosen anyone to have a part in this. He could have chosen someone He never met yet. He could have chosen any of the people following Him.
But He chose those that the Bible says Jesus loved. Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. Jesus wanted them to see Him work up close and personal. He wanted to give them the privilege of being used to bring glory to Himself.
This shows us serval things. 1) Jesus wants to use those He loves. He wants to use those who are closer to Him to get His work done in this world.
2) And the purpose is so that the Son of God is glorified. That the lost will see Him work and learn of His love and power and mercy ect. The purpose is also so those who He loves can see Him work.
3) Even though Jesus had a plan and knew exactly what He would do and how and when, He was in no obligation to tell that to those He was allowing to be used in His work. This is because we are to walk by faith and not by sight.
4) What the Lord wants to use those He loves for in His work is not always easy or comfortable.
Jesus said This sickness is not unto death. And so Jesus waits on purpose.
Joh 11:6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Joh 11:7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
Now our purpose today is not to teach the entire account of Lazarus. We are focusing on Mary and Martha. So skip to verse 11.
Joh 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Joh 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
Here we see another reason for Jesus raising Lazarus. It is so that His close disciples may believe. Believe what?
We are getting closer to the cross but a ways off yet. And even now Jesus was trying to prepare His disciples for His death and His resurrection. They are about to see firsthand that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
We all know that the light bulb does not go off for the disciples until after the resurrection. But that is all on them. Jesus told them several times and showed them His power over death several times.
Joh 11:17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
They say that their traditions at that time said that they believed corruption is fully set in in 3 days. And we are 1 day past that.
Joh 11:18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
A little less than 2 miles. So it was not far and many people came to pay their respects.
Joh 11:19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
Joh 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
Joh 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Martha had faith in Jesus’ power to heal. That Jesus even could stop death from happening.
Joh 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Here is another reason that I believe that Martha quit serving that day when Jesus said the best part was to listen to His teachings. Martha has learned some things. She knew about the resurrection at the last day.
And since she is talking about Lazarus who Jesus loved, she is talking about what we call the rapture. Where the dead in Christ shall rise first and go to the judgment seat of Christ.
She had full confidence that He would raise Lazarus one day. She just did not think it would be today. At this point she still does not know the purpose in what the Lord is doing.
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Here again Martha shows that she listened and learned. Jesus is quizzing her on Eternal life. And that we are saved by faith and not of works. And on who He is.
Martha answers that she believes that Jesus is the promised Christ; the Messiah. Emanuel, God with us. Martha knew who Jesus is. She knew O.T. scripture and that Jesus was the one they promised. And that belief in Jesus is the only way to Eternal life.
She knew a lot. After stating her belief Martha goes and gets Mary.
And I hope you noticed even the death of her brother did not derail Martha’s faith in Jesus or who He is.
Joh 11:28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
Joh 11:29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
Joh 11:30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
Joh 11:31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
Joh 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Mary also did not let the death of her brother derail her faith. She fell down at his feet. That is showing worship. She still calls Him Lord.
That is great. I have seen men, I am thinking of 2 different ones who when their wife died they quit worshipping Jesus. Not Mary and not Martha.
However, Mary was shook up and crying.
Joh 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
I think Jesus was hoping that Mary would have had the faith that Jesus could raise her brother.
I think Jesus groans every time one of His dear sweet children does not have the faith that they should for some trial. I know that I have disappointed Jesus far too many times in this area.
He has every right and has given us every reason to have great faith in Him and in His love for us.
Jesus then goes to the tomb.
Joh 11:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.
Joh 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Joh 11:37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
It was the lack of faith from the people that cause Jesus to weep here.
Joh 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Joh 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Martha also did not let this derail her faith in Jesus, but she did not have the faith that Jesus would raise her brother right now.
Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Joh 11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Question. Did the lack of faith of Mary and Martha here in the work that Jesus was doing stop His work?
No it did not. It disappointed the Lord, but His work was accomplished anyway. Jesus was glorified before the lost and many of the people that came to console Mary believed on Jesus.
Jesus cares about and is in control of His Work and He will accomplish it. A lack of faith in one area on your part will not stop His work.
Now if we stopped here we would miss another important lesson.
Did Mary’s lack of faith in this one area mean that she is now somehow disqualified from being used in the future?
We now move forward in time from the raising of Lazarus to 6 days before the Passover.
So this is one day after the riding of the young donkey into Jerusalem to fulfill prophecy that Jesus is the promised King. And one day after that we find Jesus back out at Bethany.
Joh 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
Joh 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Joh 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Joh 12:7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Joh 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
The book of Mark gives us further details about this.
Mar 14:6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
Mar 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Mar 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Mar 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Mary went on to show the world great faith. She had enough faith that Jesus was about to die that she anointed Jesus for his burying.
And Jesus declared that wherever the gospel is preached, throughout the whole world, that what Mary did in faith would be spoken of.
Mary had a moment of a lack of faith in Jesus’ work, but she went on to have great faith. So much so that Jesus made it so that her faith would be an example for millions thru the ages.
Mary got it. She just did what she could and let the Lord work. Mary understood Jesus had to go to the cross and die way before the disciples did.
Both Mary and Martha are a shining example in many ways.
They wanted Jesus in their home and they wanted Jesus teaching in their home.
They had confidence that Jesus loved them even when circumstances were hard.
They did not let the death of their brother derail their faith or stop their worship of the Lord.
They listened to what Jesus taught and thought about it and remembered it.
And Mary did not let a moment of weaker faith in the Lord’s Word to stop her from exercising great faith in the future.
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