Today’s Scripture:
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.’” — John 11:25 (ESV)
Reflection
In today’s passage, Jesus goes to see Mary and Martha, and we read about the conversation between Martha and Jesus. Martha says that if Jesus was there, her brother wouldn’t have died, but she also says that she trusts God to bless her even in her hard times. When Jesus tells her that Lazarus will rise again, Martha takes it in a very… earthly-Christian way instead of taking it literally. She says that she knows that Lazarus will rise again in resurrection on the last day. Jesus says that he is the resurrection and the life, and that all who believe in him will never die. Martha says she believes.
I’ll probably talk about Martha and Mary again in the next few days, but this passage just reminds me of that story in Luke 10:38-42 that shows the difference between the two sisters. Martha is the more active sister and the one who complains about Mary not helping in the story in Luke. Meanwhile, Mary is the more contemplative, emotional one who listens to Jesus’s message at his feet. Being consistent with her character, Martha is the first one to go see Jesus on this particular day. In Luke, she is preparing in the kitchen, and we see that she is being the more responsible and logical one. In today’s passage as well, she acts and talks in the same logical way. When Jesus says that Lazarus will rise up again, Martha responds by saying that he will rise again in the resurrection. This is a pretty Christian thing to say, and it makes sense, but Martha forgets Jesus’s great authority over all things, even death itself.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. A few weeks ago, P. Abe’s sermon was about how God created life, so he also has the authority to end it. Jesus has power over life and death, and he is literally the resurrection. This is due to his Godly nature, but also because he himself died on the cross and took victory over death.
Although there are interpretations of Martha and Mary’s story, the important thing about it is that Martha and Mary are both loved by God. A lot of people think Martha is like a “bad guy” because of her actions, but we shouldn’t think that. Martha confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so she is saved, and that’s what’s really important.