So from the title, you know the person in the Bible whom I want to talk about: Martha. And what do you think of when you think of Martha? I think about tasks. Getting things done! Perhaps in contrast to one of those people-focused people who are somehow totally cool with not keeping one eye on the clock. Did the same event jump to your mind? Let’s go to Luke 10 for a quick refresher: 

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42)

I’ve always felt pretty rebuked by this passage, and probably rightly so. I am anxious to get a lot of things done. I want to skip past the listening, get to the doing, and then maybe circle back to the listening if there is time. Jesus encourages Martha and people like her to slow down and choose what is best for us—and really best for those around us too (as much as we may like to think that our action plans would sort everyone out).

This gentle redirection from Jesus is what usually comes to mind first when people consider Martha (a statement I backed up with data by surprise quizzing people at church last Sunday). But I think it would be great if we connected this part of Martha’s story to the rest.

Despite being a task-oriented person, I also have an arts degree, so John is my favourite Gospel. John shares more about Mary and Martha, this time including their brother Lazarus. Lazarus is sick, Lazarus dies, Jesus chooses the moment that will give God the most glory to arrive at their home. Here is his main interaction with Martha:

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
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. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:20–27)

Peter gets a lot of credit for his confession of Jesus as the Christ (Matt 16:16; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20). His light-bulb moment is placed relatively close after Jesus feeds thousands in those three passages. What has just happened to Martha before she identifies Jesus as the Messiah? Certainly not a miracle. Jesus did not come when she first called him. She is in the middle of suffering and sadness, and you would think some very confusing feelings about Jesus. But she still trusts in everything else Jesus has shown her, everything he taught her when she stopped and sat down at his feet alongside her sister.

I’m not sure if her first words in this conversation are asking for Lazarus to be raised from the dead. Maybe. Does her mentioning resurrection on the last day make huge sense if she is? Maybe “I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” is the run-up to her confession that Jesus is God’s Son. She definitely doesn’t understand Jesus’ plan to raise Lazarus that very day when she starts bringing up odours later in verse 39, practical woman that she is. But without knowing the plan, she believes in him all the same.

It’s hard to know what to believe if you won’t stop and listen, and it’s harder for some of us than others to set aside the conviction that we know best. But there is hope for us Marthas. Later, at a dinner to celebrate Lazarus’ resurrection, Mary spends a huge amount of money to honour Jesus, and Martha makes no complaint at all (John 12:1–3). If it’s correct that Matthew 26:6–7 and Mark 14:3 are recording the same meal, Martha even allowed someone else to host the meal! So much character growth!

But for me, and I think even if you’re people-oriented, Martha’s continued faith in Jesus during a dark time is worth remembering the most. It’s the kind of faith that strengthens when we are willing to set aside getting things done and accept a different plan for the day. God gives and grows that faith to anyone willing to receive it.