Martha’s Bad Rap

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”     John 11:5

I think Martha gets a bad rap. Let’s face it. Whenever you hear about Martha, your mind probably goes to the story of Martha’s complaint, told in Luke 10. There Martha opened her home to Jesus (Luke 10:38) and then complained when she was stuck in the kitchen while her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet. Granted, Martha needed to learn some lessons in prioritizing, but let’s not condemn all of who Martha is! Perhaps I am so defensive of her because, as I was reading in John this morning, I came upon verse after verse of Martha’s actions and words that I identified with. Condemn the likes of Martha, and you would condemn me. Thankfully, we are reminded in John 11, that Jesus loved Martha, and we see throughout these chapters how Jesus talked with Martha, answered her questions, and even visited her home.

My reading began in John 11, the story of Lazarus’ sickness, death, and re-living. When Jesus learned of Lazarus’ illness, he stayed right where he was, even though “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Do you notice that Martha is named but not Mary? I am not saying that Mary is not important, but let’s not belittle Jesus’ affection for Martha. Then, as Jesus approached Bethany, who ran out to meet him? “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.” (John 11:20) Martha, that action-oriented woman, didn’t just stay at home lost in her own sorrow, she ran out to meet the one who can give comfort. Her dialogue then with Jesus shows her logic, her intelligence, and her faith. In spite of her sorrow, she reasserted her faith in Jesus.

Then, when standing in front of the tomb of her beloved brother, Martha was the one standing right next to Jesus – refusing to leave the side of her friend – loyal even in her sorrow. When Jesus commanded the stone to be removed, it was practical Martha who wondered what good that would do – after all, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and probably had developed quite a stench. Jesus’ next words could be taken as a reprimand, but, because of Jesus’ affection for Martha, I think that perhaps it was stated with a bit of a twinkle in his eye. Can you see it? Martha states her concern over the odor, Jesus turns to her, a faint smile on his lips, a small star in his eye, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) He knew what he was about to do, and he was now letting Martha in on the secret. Jesus enjoyed Martha’s company. Undisturbed by her practical, logical approach to life, Jesus purposefully included Martha in his plans.

Martha was a woman of action. On numerous occasions she hosted Jesus and his friends in her home. She did not hide her questions, nor did she blindly follow the crowd. She ran to meet Jesus. She conversed with him, seeking truth and being honest enough with him to let him understand life from her viewpoint, but desiring him to enlighten her. She stood firm in her faith, clinging to Jesus even when life did not seem to make sense. And Jesus responded. Jesus answered her questions, Jesus dined in her home, Jesus loved Martha.

I admit, I understand Martha. I empathize with the need for action, the desire to not just sit and wait, but to run to where I might find answers. I love her intelligence and her desire for logical explanations. I admire her faith. Instead of blacklisting Martha as a woman that was reprimanded by Jesus, I think we should understand Martha as a woman who deeply loved Jesus. Yes, she made mistakes. But she was a strong, vibrant, action-oriented model of a woman of faith. May we all be Marthas!