My older daughter, Beri, on the left, has a flare for the dramatic. She loves to pose for pictures and in this one is attempting to look quite European. Beri posted the pic on the left on her Instagram account. Brooke, on the right, enjoys making fun of Beri’s dramatic flare and so she simulated the picture and posted this side-by-side version to loving mock her sister. All in good fun. Sisters!

Sisters 

John 12:1-11 

Jesus returns to Bethany and the home of Lazarus. Jesus is about to enter the last week of His earthly life. He is drawn back to the home of Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. In Jesus’ three years of homelessness, this seems to be a home He is most comfortable in. He loves these three siblings. In this chapter as Jesus nears the Triumphal Entry, John paints the picture of contrast. We see the contrast of love and hate and devotion and contempt. First is a story of love and devotion. 

The relationship between sisters is always an interesting study of sociology and relational dynamics. I have two grown daughters. It’s been interesting to watch. “Interesting”! Well, that’s one of many descriptive words I could use,

I’m sure Martha and Mary loved each other but I suspect they also drove each other a little crazy. Martha has all the tendencies of the first born, maternal sister. She is more grown up, responsible, organized and diligent. Mary is flighty, creative and emotional. A real romantic with fairy-tale dreams and a creative imagination. 

Sure, I’m speculating but in reading the three stories about Martha and Mary in the Bible, I just can’t help but to think I’m pretty close in my speculations. Luke 10:38-42 tells one of the stories over supper with Jesus in their home. 

He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His words. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving along? Then tell her to help.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’ 

I feel bad for Martha. Jesus was pretty blunt with her with a dash of condescension. Hopefully, Mary wasn’t the kind of sister to rub it in Martha’s face. But even if she didn’t, Martha I’m sure had egg on her face. She felt the force of Jesus’ commendation of Mary over Martha. Sisters! 

Then there’s the story we recently covered regarding the death of Lazarus. Jesus delayed coming to them and when he finally did, Lazarus had now been dead for 4 days. When Martha and Mary heard Jesus was near, Mary stayed at the house and Martha went to meet Him. Why did the loving and worshipful Mary stay behind? Since I’m in a mode of speculation…I believe that Mary was immobilized with grief and perhaps even mad at Jesus for His delay. Jesus took His time getting there and now Lazarus is dead. Mary knew that Jesus could have healed him if He would’ve hustled up to get there. Be mad at Jesus??? Mary was an emotional spitfire. 

Martha went out and had a conversation with Jesus. I’m sure she was emotional but there’s no description of tears. Martha asserts her belief that Jesus is the Christ and that she trusts in Him…but she too wishes He would have arrived earlier.

Martha gets back to the house and assuming the maternal role, tells Mary she needs to go see Jesus. It’s the right thing to do. In a burst of emotion, Mary goes. She runs to Jesus, falls at His feet and weeps uncontrollably. Through her tears, she lectures Jesus that if He had been there, He could’ve saved her brother. Jesus was so moved by her weeping that He began to weep Himself. 

Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled…Jesus wept. 

Both sisters believe in Jesus! They call Him Lord and they affirm their belief in Him as the Christ and the Son of God, John 11:27. They are both devoted to Christ but they emote their devotion differently. Jesus told Martha she could learn from Mary but that doesn’t mean she should be like Mary. Sisters! 

With this backdrop, we’ll look at the third story of Jesus in the home of Martha and Mary next time. 

Lord, throughout the Word you call us to live out both love and truth. Our relationship with You is from the heart and the mind. We are to worship in spirit and in truth. Help us to devote time to developing our mind with Your truth and also time of worshiping You with our heart, soul and emotions. Help us also to be patient with others who worship Jesus differently than we do. Rather than critique them, perhaps there is something we can humbly learn from them. How grateful we are that You accept all of us who believe in you, just the way we are. However, we don’t want to stay the same. May we grow and the grace and knowledge of You. Amen!