Cynthia's Thoughts: Martha & Mary

Recently I have begun reading the Message, a Bible Paraphrase for my daily Bible reading, the modern language that is used, makes the scriptures come alive and I have been able to read the stories and see new things. This is one of the new things I saw when reading John 11

The first time we are introduced to Mary and Martha (Luke 10) it is Mary who is siting with Jesus and Martha who is working for Jesus to busy to serve and caught in the urgent tasks instead of the eternally important. Jesus corrects Martha and encourages her to be more like Mary, sitting at his feet listening.

The next time we see Mary and Martha (John 11) is when Lazarus has died and Jesus comes 4 days later. This time it is Martha who is at the gate eager to meet Jesus, and Mary who must be told Jesus has arrived and pulled from mourning with her friends to see him.

Before Mary is told Jesus has arrived Martha and Jesus have a conversation about Martha's faith and the timing of Jesus' arrival to the death of Lazarus. Jesus tells her Lazarus will be resurrected and that he is resurrection and Life. She tells Jesus “All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the World” (John 11:27 MSG)

When Jesus spoke to Martha about sitting at his feet instead of serving him, He spoke to her heart and it changed her. Jesus' words spoke to her soul. 

 Mary was caught in the moment, she was caught in the moment to listen to Jesus, and she was caught in the moment to mourn her dead brother. Mary didn't have the same life changing experience that Martha had, even though they were both in the same room. Martha was focused on Jesus regardless of her situation because her soul had been changed when Jesus spoke to her. 

When Jesus speaks to your soul it changes you forever, you can never see things the same way as you did before.