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Reflections

Women Who Walked With Jesus

Part 4

As we approach Easter, let’s meet some women who walked with Jesus to the Cross and empty tomb, and finally to the Upper Room. Each of them has a message for us in our personal walk with the Lord.

Martha of Bethany - A life of service

Several women named Mary are found in Scripture, but only one Martha—and she is often misunderstood. She is seen in the same biblical accounts as her sister Mary. Reading these accounts we usually view Mary as the contemplative, spiritual sister and Martha as the complaining, unspiritual one. Let’s take another look.

We meet Martha first in Luke 10:38 when she opens the door for Jesus and His disciples and “welcomed them into her home.” Picture Martha smiling as she extends her hands welcoming her friends. She does have a cordial side to her personality.

The Martha we are most familiar with soon surfaces, as we hear her asking Jesus to tell her sister to help her. Notice the adjectives. Martha was “distracted,” “worried and upset”— not very attractive descriptions, but they describe emotions many of us have experienced. But the outstanding thing about Martha is that she apparently accepted the Lord’s rebuke.

At the next dinner, the one which has made Mary world-renowned for anointing Jesus’ feet with oil, the Scripture simply says, “Martha served” (John 12:2, NIV). Note Martha’s spiritual growth. This is a different Martha serving, a demonstration of true spirituality.

It is important to understand that Jesus was not rebuking Martha for her serving, but her attitude in service. Martha was gifted in hospitality, a gift that was useful to Jesus. By practicing her gift in a proper attitude, Martha helped set the stage for Mary to perform her act of great devotion. This second dinner is a beautiful picture of women functioning together in service to the Lord, unconcerned about recognition.

Martha’s spirituality and faith are demonstrated in her conversation with the Lord before He raised her brother Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1–44). She expressed her faith in Jesus’ healing power when she said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verse 21, NIV).

Jesus gently encouraged her faith when He said, “Your brother will rise again” (verse 23, NIV). Martha’s response shows her faith in Jesus’ teaching (John 6:40) for she quotes something He had said on an earlier occasion: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (verse 24, NIV).

Martha was the first to hear one of the greatest teachings of the Church—the truth we celebrate every Easter, as Jesus declared to her: “I am the resurrection and the life” (verse 25, NIV). Martha responded with her affirmation of belief in His Messiahship: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God” (verse 27, NIV). Martha’s next action was to find her sister and bring her to Jesus.

What a woman! Gifted in hospitality. Growing from her mistakes. Serving with grace. Expressing her faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Believing His Word. Trusting His healing power. Learning from Him. Living with the hope of the Resurrection. Sharing her faith with her sister.

This Easter, let us rejoice with Martha in that hope of the Resurrection and share that hope with others.

Points to Ponder:

How does the hope of the Resurrection affect your faith? This Easter, read 1 Corinthians 15 and ponder the difference the Resurrection makes in our present life and our future.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are central to the apostles’ teaching. Let us keep them central in our faith.

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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