Lazarus Part 2 - Martha

John 11:21-27, 38-40

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Martha - one of the first proclaimers of faith.

Martha - proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah

before she witnessed

the marvellous resurrection

of her brother

Martha - often overlooked

for her great faith

because of her busyness.

Because, as well as a proclaimer of faith

she was a doer of good works.

Martha,trying to be practical

Trying to be faithful

Trying, trying, trying...

to be all things to all people

Mourning her brother

Caring for her sister

Feeding the mourners who came

to be with them

Going to meet Jesus

excusing him for not being there

and for not having returned sooner 

Trying desperately

to make everyone feel better

The reconciler

The excuser

The peace maker

Even,at the last,

giving Jesus a way out:

"Lord, there is a stench"

And learning

so powerfully

that resurrection

involves pain

involves stink

is hard work.

Resurrection- not for the faint hearted!