Mary and Martha were sisters, and friends and followers of Jesus.

Now and then I'll hear a message about Mary and Martha, generally focusing on Luke 10:38-42. You may recall the corrective Jesus offered Martha when she was busy getting dinner ready and was irritated at Mary for not helping (Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet, learning):

“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 10:41-42

This is, of course, something that Martha needed to hear. We all need to hear it.

But some of the messages I've heard about Martha (thankfully, my current pastors never do this) have been outright slander. I once heard a gentleman who had built an entire theology on the statement "God doesn't have favorites, but He does have intimates", and his message was one of praising Mary and completely slamming Martha. Mary was, in his opinion, the way we should be. His portrayal of Martha was of an abrasive, complaining, unspiritual battle-axe.

Years ago, I heard a guest student pastor deliver a message on Mary and Martha, focusing on John 11. He was something of a comedian, and he did a really funny rendition of a Type-A Martha dressing Jesus down because He had not arrived in time to save her brother Lazarus. We all laughed as he imitated Martha screeching at Jesus "if you had been here, my brother would not have died!!!"

I kind of bought into the Martha-bashing for awhile, until I actually read John 11 carefully for myself.

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 (Emphasis mine)

Oh my gosh, Martha rocks. Ladies and gentlemen, Martha goes hard! What a statement of faith, delivered in the midst of gut-wrenching grief.

I appreciate both Mary and Martha. I don't think I'm worthy to wash their dishes. But in John 11, I stand amazed by Martha. Yes, Martha is practical (read verse 39), yes Martha is more of a "doer" than one to sit at someone's feet and just soak it in.

But Martha believed, and showed an amazing faith in the character and power of Christ, and for that I applaud her.

I'll never make fun of Martha.

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." - John 11:5

(If you're interested, you can also read about why I don't make fun of Simon Peter)