Martha
Martha [Grk. martha]. A follower of Jesus and resident of Bethany.
In Luke 10:38-42, during Jesus' visit to her home, Martha expressed a perceived problem—that her sister Mary left her to serve alone and Jesus did not seem to care (vv. 38-40)—and her proposed solution: that Jesus should tell Mary to help her. Jesus' response parallels her statements by providing a different viewpoint of her problems, which extended far beyond the momentary situation and are partly evident in the narrative's inner portrait of Martha as "distracted" (narrator's description in v. 40), "alone" (Martha's self-description in v. 40), and "worried and troubled" (Jesus' description in v. 41). Having revealed the deeper nature of her problems, Jesus invites her to seek divine help, the only kind of support that can never be taken away (vv. 41-42). By mirroring her words, Jesus creates an antithesis between Martha's perceived problem and her real problem and between Martha's solution and His solution, thus demonstrating His profound care when accused of being uncaring. In doing so, He also corrected Martha's perception of Mary, who, ironically, rather than being Martha's problem, reflects the solution to Martha's deeper troubles. A hospitable and dedicated servant, Martha needed to learn to be served by God.
John 11:1-40 recounts Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary whom Jesus loved (v. 5). This passage also includes a dialogue between Martha and Jesus, wherein she expresses her disappointment at Jesus' delay, her faith in the resurrection of Lazarus "at the last day" (v. 24), and her belief in Jesus as "Christ, the Son of God" (v. 27). Despite her Messianic declaration, Jesus gently reproves her faithlessness (v. 40) and again demonstrates His care (subtly questioned in her statement that "if You had been here, my brother would not have died," v. 21) by providing a greater miracle than healing: the resurrection of her brother, who had been buried for four days.
John 12:1-7 again portrays Martha welcoming Jesus and serving the company after the resurrection of her brother and a few days before the Passover Feast. While Martha is less prominent in this second account of hospitality, her generosity provides the context for Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet, an act that the Lord indicated was in preparation for His burial (v. 7). Mary again is rebuked, but this time not by Martha, who witnessed her sister's unique expression of discipleship without complaint.