Two sisters and a brother

Now about Lazarus –

Having spent some time wondering about and researching Jesus’ travel around the Holy Land, I am interested in the timing of his journey to Bethany when called by sisters Mary and Martha following the death of their brother Lazarus.  It seems that Jesus was on the other side of the Jordan River where John had been baptising.  How far away was this area from Bethany, which was very close to Jerusalem?  John tells us that Jesus waited two days after hearing of the death before going anywhere.  In pondering this matter, I wondered if Jesus always walked when he was needed somewhere, or was it sometimes an experience like when “…immediately the boat was at the land where they were going” (John 6.21)?

And about Martha –

I once gave a testimony in First Church of Christ, Scientist, Perth, in which I mentioned Martha.  I must have voiced my thought (at the time) that she wasn't as spiritually minded as Mary.  Soon after I got home to the Gold Coast, I received a copy of an article about Martha from a friend who had heard my testimony.  It is a wonderful Christian Science Sentinel article from the July 5, 1998 issue titled Martha still served, written by Virginia S. McHenry. http://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1998/7/100-27/martha-still-served

Martha was instructed by Jesus, she was loved by him, and she was rebuked by him.  The article likens Martha’s experience to that of Simon Peter’s.  Virginia McHenry puts the case that they both made big spiritual strides because Jesus loved them enough to point out their errors.  The article is well worth pondering.  All those years ago, it took me back to read the Bible narrative with a different perspective on Martha’s spiritual understanding. 

The article finishes with this paragraph: “Martha continued to serve.  But from all she had experienced of the Christ-love, she must at this point have served with a liberating joy, without resentment or rebuke.”

As for Mary, I feel that her part resembles that of a Christian Science practitioner.  She sat still in the house (consciousness).  Was she “be(ing) still and knowing” that Jesus, the Christ representative, would bring God’s healing to the situation?

The raising of Lazarus was what you might call the last straw for the Pharisees.  Jesus must be seized and brought to (their concept of) justice.

Joyce Voysey