Today, I'm excited to share with you the story of Martha and Mary, two sisters who were close friends of Jesus. Their interactions with Jesus teach us valuable lessons about what matters most in life.

Eric's Greatest Race: The Inspiring True Story of Eric Liddell - Athlete, Missionary, Prisoner

(2)

$17.48 (as of May 19, 2025 16:25 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science (Indescribable Kids)

(8748)

$9.41 (as of May 19, 2025 16:25 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

In the Bible, we find these sisters mentioned specifically in the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of John. Their stories show two different approaches to serving and loving Jesus, each valuable in its own way.

The Story of Martha and Mary

Chapter 1: Jesus Visits Their Home

Our first glimpse of Martha and Mary comes from Luke's gospel. Jesus was traveling with his disciples when they entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him" (Luke 10:38).

Martha appears to be the homeowner and takes the initiative to invite Jesus in. This shows her generosity and hospitality. She wanted to honor Jesus by welcoming him properly. In Middle Eastern culture, hospitality was extremely important, and Martha took this responsibility seriously.

While Martha busied herself with preparations, her sister Mary made a different choice. "She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said" (Luke 10:39). In those days, sitting at a teacher's feet was the position of a disciple or student. Mary was taking the role traditionally reserved for men - learning directly from the rabbi. Jesus allowed this, breaking with cultural norms of the time.

Chapter 2: Two Different Responses

As Martha worked hard to prepare everything, she became increasingly frustrated that Mary wasn't helping with the hospitality duties. The Bible tells us, "But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'" (Luke 10:40).

Martha's question reveals her frustration. She felt overwhelmed by her tasks and believed Mary should be helping with the practical work of hospitality. She even implied Jesus didn't care about her burden and should instruct Mary to help.

Jesus' response was gentle but direct: "'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'" (Luke 10:41-42).

Jesus wasn't dismissing Martha's service as unimportant. Rather, he was pointing out that her anxiety and distraction were preventing her from experiencing what Mary had chosen - the priority of being present with Jesus and learning from him. Service is good, but relationship comes first.

Chapter 3: The Sisters Face Tragedy

We next encounter Martha and Mary in the Gospel of John, where we learn more about their family and witness their faith during a difficult time. "Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair" (John 11:1-2).

When Lazarus became seriously ill, the sisters sent word to Jesus. "So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.'" (John 11:3). This message shows their faith in Jesus' power and their confidence in his love for their family. They didn't explicitly ask him to come, but simply informed him of the situation.

However, Jesus delayed his journey, and by the time he arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. "On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days" (John 11:17). The sisters' responses to Jesus' arrival reveal their distinct personalities once again.

Chapter 4: Martha's Declaration of Faith

When Martha heard Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him while Mary stayed home. "When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home" (John 11:20). Just as in Luke's account, Martha is active and takes initiative.

Martha's first words to Jesus express both faith and disappointment: "'Lord,' Martha said to Jesus, 'if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.'" (John 11:21-22). Despite her grief, Martha affirmed her belief in Jesus' power.

Jesus responded with one of his most profound statements: "Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha answered, 'I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:23-26).

Martha's answer shows remarkable faith: "'Yes, Lord,' she replied, 'I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.'" (John 11:27). This confession is similar to Peter's famous declaration of Jesus as the Christ, showing Martha's deep theological understanding.

Chapter 5: Mary's Emotional Response

After her conversation with Jesus, Martha returned home and told Mary that Jesus was asking for her. "After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. 'The Teacher is here,' she said, 'and is asking for you.'" (John 11:28).

Mary's response was immediate and emotional: "When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him… When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.'" (John 11:29,32).

Mary said the same words Martha had spoken, but her delivery was different - she fell at Jesus' feet, overwhelmed with grief. Jesus' reaction to her sorrow is one of the most moving moments in scripture: "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled… Jesus wept." (John 11:33,35).

The shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept," reveals his profound compassion and love for this family. He shared in their grief even knowing he was about to perform a miracle.

Chapter 6: The Miracle at Bethany

Jesus then went to Lazarus' tomb and asked for the stone to be removed. Martha, ever practical, objected: "'But, Lord,' said Martha, the sister of the dead man, 'by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.'" (John 11:39). Even after her declaration of faith, Martha struggled with practical doubts.

Jesus reminded her to trust: "Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?'" (John 11:40). After praying, Jesus called in a loud voice, "'Lazarus, come out!'" (John 11:43).

Miraculously, Lazarus walked out of the tomb, still wrapped in grave clothes. "The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face" (John 11:44). This powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority over death strengthened the sisters' faith and caused many witnesses to believe in Jesus.

What Can We Learn About Martha and Mary?

1. Different people serve in different ways - Martha expressed her love through service and hospitality, while Mary showed devotion through listening and being present. Both approaches have value.
2. Balance is important - Martha's service became a problem only when worry and distraction overwhelmed her. Service is good, but not when it prevents us from being present with Jesus.
3. Jesus meets us where we are - He related to each sister according to her personality: discussing theology with Martha and sharing emotions with Mary. He accepts us as we are.
4. Faith can coexist with questions - Both sisters expressed disappointment that Jesus hadn't arrived sooner, yet maintained faith in him. Honest questions don't diminish true faith.
5. Jesus cares about our sorrows - When Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, he showed that God isn't distant from our pain but enters into it with compassion.

5 Trivia Quiz about Martha and Mary for kids

In which village did Martha and Mary live?

Martha and Mary lived in Bethany, a small village about two miles from Jerusalem. This village is mentioned in John 11:1, which tells us that Lazarus was from "Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha."

Which sister went out to meet Jesus when he arrived after Lazarus died?

Martha was the one who went out to meet Jesus when she heard he was coming, while Mary stayed at home. This shows Martha's active, take-charge personality that we see in both stories about the sisters.

What famous statement did Jesus make to Martha after Lazarus died?

Jesus told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." This is one of Jesus' most important "I am" statements in the Gospel of John.

What is the shortest verse in the Bible that appears in this story?

"Jesus wept" (John 11:35) is the shortest verse in the Bible. It shows that Jesus was so moved by Mary's grief and the sorrow of those mourning Lazarus that he cried with them, even though he knew he was about to bring Lazarus back to life.

What did Jesus say Mary had chosen when Martha complained about her sister not helping?

Jesus said Mary had "chosen what is better" by sitting at his feet and listening to his teaching. He wasn't saying Martha's service wasn't valuable, but that Mary had prioritized the most important thing—being present with Jesus and learning from him.

If you enjoyed learning about Martha and Mary, next time I'd love to tell you about the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a story Jesus told about showing kindness to others, even those who might be considered enemies!