When we place our hand in the nail-scarred hand, we find comfort, peace, and security, and we learn the truth of Psalm 30:5:īut joy comes with the morning. When we feel the pain of a broken heart, it is always best to turn toward Jesus because his compassion will never end. Jesus knows that the woman’s sadness will be short-lived and her brother restored to him momentarily, but He still weeps with her. Her love for Him is so great that she leaves those who had come to comfort her and places herself in the arms of God. Hearing that Jesus has come and is calling for her, Mary of Bethany leaves the assembly of mourners in her home to meet him. The second story of Martha and Mary of Bethany occurs in John 11 when Jesus raises their brother Lazarus from the dead. When we focus on Christ, self-absorption fades, and passion for Him grows. Mary’s lack of concern for herself, which we will see again in another incident and through her silence, indicates that she doesn’t need to defend or explain anything. Martha’s rebuke of Jesus gives us insight into her heart and mind as she tried to make everything perfect and was so distracted that she lost sight of whom she was speaking. We see that those who focus too much on earthy things are building their foundation with wood (exterior), hay (interior), and straw – which can easily burn down during challenging moments but has no lasting value because it was made from these material objects. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- 1 Corinthians 3:11-12 (ESV) Jesus told Mary that choosing the better thing and learning of God would not be taken away from her.īy “choosing the better,” Jesus meant that those whose priority in life is Christ, the knowledge of Him, and nearness to Him have chosen what will last through eternity, such as the “gold, silver and costly stones” referred to in 1 Corinthians 3:11-12.įor no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus commended her for “choosing the better,” meaning that Mary’s desire to be near her Lord and hang onto His every word was far more beneficial than running herself ragged with preparations for a meal.

Jesus’ response is a window into the life of Mary of Bethany. Martha was so frustrated and “distracted with much serving” that she actually rebuked Jesus, accusing Him of not caring about how Mary sat at His feet while He did all the work. Scripture refers to Mary three different times in the Bible, first with the incident in her sister’s home, Martha ( Luke 10:38-42), where Jesus, and most likely the disciples who traveled with Him, were entertained. Scripture seems to support this because they could afford to provide a special burial site for their brother, Lazarus, which was expensive and, therefore, a rare occurrence during biblical times. This is clear from their ability to live independently as well as support Jesus’ ministry. This is a huge departure from the typical Jewish womanhood of that time, but the sisters remained pretty well off. The only possible conclusion we can draw from the gospels is that Mary and Martha were either unmarried or recently widowed. No mention of having been married or having any children. No mention of their parents or other family. Scripture shares no biographical data about them. We can only guess the ages of these two sisters. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven Luke 24:50-51 (ESV) Matthew 21:17 (ESV)Īnd he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.

Mark 11:1 (ESV)Īnd leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples.

What bible story is lazarus from