Mary and Martha's Response to Lazarus' Death
The accounts of Mary and Martha's responses to Lazarus's death are primarily found in John 11, with Martha also appearing in Luke 10:38-42 [1, 3]. These narratives highlight their distinct personalities and their interactions with Jesus during a time of profound grief. Both sisters express a similar sentiment to Jesus upon his arrival, yet their initial reactions and subsequent engagements with him differ, revealing aspects of their faith and understanding of Jesus's power [9, 12].
Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem [4, 14]. Jesus had a close relationship with this family, and John 11:5 explicitly states, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus" [6]. When Lazarus fell ill, the sisters sent word to Jesus, indicating their expectation that he could heal their brother [13]. However, Jesus intentionally delayed his arrival, leading to Lazarus's death and burial four days before Jesus reached Bethany [7, 13].
Upon hearing that Jesus was approaching Bethany, Martha immediately went out to meet him, while Mary remained in the house [8, 13]. This initial difference in their actions is often noted by commentators. Martha's active, bustling spirit is contrasted with Mary's more quiet, earnest demeanor [3]. John Chrysostom suggests that Martha desired to meet Jesus privately to convey what had happened [8].
Martha's statement to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21), reflects a belief in Jesus's healing power but not necessarily in his ability to raise the dead [9, 12]. This sentiment is later echoed by Mary [9, 12]. Martha's words indicate a natural human reaction to loss, coupled with a recognition of Jesus's capacity to intervene in sickness [12]. Despite her grief, Martha expresses a continued, albeit perhaps limited, faith: "But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you" (John 11:22).
Jesus then engages Martha in a profound theological discussion about the resurrection. He declares, "Your brother will rise again" (John 11:23). Martha, understanding this in terms of the general resurrection at the last day, replies, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day" (John 11:24). Jesus then makes the pivotal statement, "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?" (John 11:25-26). Martha's response is a powerful confession of faith: "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world" (John 11:27) [11]. Augustine of Hippo interprets Jesus's statement "shall never die" as referring to the life of the spirit and the immortality of the resurrection, and Martha's belief as an affirmation of Jesus as the resurrection and the life [11]. This dialogue demonstrates Martha's intellectual engagement and her articulation of faith in Jesus's identity as the Messiah [1, 11].
After her conversation with Jesus, Martha returns to the house and secretly calls Mary, telling her, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you" (John 11:28) [13]. Mary, upon hearing this, immediately rises and goes to Jesus [10]. When Mary encounters Jesus, she falls at his feet and repeats the same lament as Martha: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:32) [2, 9]. While the words are identical, Mary's expression of grief is described as deeper and less active than Martha's [2]. The sight of Mary and the Jews weeping moves Jesus deeply, leading to his own emotional response, famously encapsulated in "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) [13].
The differing responses of Mary and Martha are often interpreted as reflecting their distinct temperaments and spiritual orientations. Martha is characterized as "cumbered with much serving" and "careful and troubled about many things" in Luke 10:40-41, indicating a practical, anxious, and bustling spirit [1, 3]. Her love for Jesus, though sometimes imperfect in its expression, is recognized as genuine [1]. Mary, on the other hand, is depicted as sitting at Jesus's feet, "listening eagerly for every word that fell from the divine Teacher," having "chosen that good part, the 'one thing needful'" (Luke 10:39, 42) [2]. Her focus is on spiritual devotion and learning from Jesus [2, 3].
Despite their differences, both sisters demonstrate love for Jesus and a degree of faith in his power. Their shared lament, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died," highlights their common understanding of Jesus as a healer [9, 12]. However, their individual interactions with Jesus reveal their unique ways of processing grief and expressing faith. Martha engages in a theological discussion and makes a direct confession of faith, while Mary's grief is expressed through a more emotional and prostrate posture [2, 11].
The narrative culminates in Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, a miracle that profoundly impacts those present and leads many to believe in Jesus [7, 13]. This event serves to confirm Jesus's declaration that he is the resurrection and the life, demonstrating his authority over death [11]. The sisters' initial responses, though marked by sorrow and limited understanding, ultimately give way to witnessing a powerful display of divine power and love. Later, Martha is again seen serving at a meal given for Jesus, while Lazarus is present, having been raised from the dead (John 12:2) [5]. This further illustrates Martha's characteristic service-oriented nature [5].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Martha — (a lady), the sister of Lazarus and Mary. [[845]Lazarus] The facts recorded in Luke 10 and John 11 indicate a character devout after the customary Jewish type of devotion, sharing in Messianic hopes and accepting Jesus as the Christ. When she first comes before us, (Luke 10:38) her spirit is "cumbered with much serving," is "careful and troubled about many things." Her love, though imperfect in its form, is yet recognized as true, and she has the distinction of being one whom Jesus loved. (John 11:5) Her position is obviously that of the elder sister the head”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mary, Sister Of Lazarus — She and her sister Martha appear in (Luke 10:40) as receiving Christ in their house. Mary sat listening eagerly for every word that fell from the divine Teacher. She had chosen that good part, the "one thing needful." The same character shows itself in the history of (John 11:1) ... Her grief was deeper, but less active. Her first thought, when she saw the Teacher in whose power and love she that trusted, was one of complaint. But the great joy and love which her brother's return to life called up in her poured themselves out in larger measur”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Martha — Bitterness, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, and probably the eldest of the family, who all resided at Bethany (Luke 10:38, 40, 41; John 11:1-39). From the residence being called "her house," some have supposed that she was a widow, and that her brother and sister lodged with her. She seems to have been of an anxious, bustling spirit, anxious to be helpful in providing the best things for the Master's use, in contrast to the quiet earnestness of Mary, who was more concerned to avail herself of the opportunity of sitting at his feet and learning of him. Afterw”
- John “John 11:1 (YLT) — And there was a certain one ailing, Lazarus, from Bethany, of the village of Mary and Martha her sister--”
- John “John 12:2 (BBE) — So they made him a meal there, and he was waited on by Martha, and Lazarus was among those who were seated with him at table.”
- John “John 11:5 (Geneva1599) — Nowe Iesus loued Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lazarus — An abbreviation of Eleazar, whom God helps. (1.) The brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany. He was raised from the dead after he had lain four days in the tomb (John 11:1-44). This miracle so excited the wrath of the Jews that they sought to put both Jesus and Lazarus to death. (2.) A beggar named in the parable recorded Luke 16:19-31.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: the grievous nature of the calamity, or that they respected them as of superior birth, or else these who came were not the wicked sort, many at least even of them believed. The Evangelist mentions these circumstances, to prove that Lazarus was really dead. [3.] But why did not [Martha,] when she went to meet Christ, 1686 1686 ver. 20 . “Then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary sat in the house.” take her sister with her? She desired to meet with Him apart, and to tell Him what had taken place. But when He had bro”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 11:21: 11:21 Lord, if only you had been here: Mary later repeated Martha’s words (11:32), because both sisters knew Jesus’ reputation as a healer. They concluded that Jesus would have healed Lazarus, but they did not imagine that Jesus would restore him from death.”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 11:31: Then when Mary was come where Jesus was,.... Where Martha met him, and where she left him. Travellers tell us, that close by a well, about a stone's cast out of the town of Bethany, is showed the place where Martha met our Lord when he came to raise Lazarus, and where Mary, being called also, met him; but this is not to be depended on, nor is it of any moment to know it. It is blessed meeting Christ any where; and where he is preached, and his ordinances administered, let it be in what place it will, there may the presence of Christ be expected; and it is an encouragem”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XI. 1--54. (part 14): "shall never die," because of the life of the spirit, and the immortality of the resurrection. Such is the meaning of the words, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, I have believed that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, who hast come into the world." When I believed this, I believed that Thou art the resurrection, that Thou art the life: I believed that he that believeth in Thee, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believ”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 11:21: Then said Martha . . . Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died--As Mary afterwards said the same thing (Joh 11:32), it is plain they had made this very natural remark to each other, perhaps many times during these four sad days, and not without having their confidence in His love at times overclouded. Such trials of faith, however, are not peculiar to them.”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 11 (introduction): Account of the sickness of Lazarus, Joh 11:1. His sisters Martha and Mary send for Christ, Joh 11:2. Our Lord's discourse with his disciples on this sickness and consequent death, Joh 11:3-16. He arrives at Bethany four days after the burying of Lazarus, Joh 11:17, Joh 11:18. Martha meets Christ - their conversation, Joh 11:19-27. She returns and Mary goes out to meet him, in great distress, Joh 11:28-33. Christ comes to the grave - his conversation there, Joh 11:34-42. He raises Lazarus from the dead, Joh 11:43-46. The priests and Pharisees, hearing of t”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 11:1: We have in these verses, I. A particular account of the parties principally concerned in this story, Joh 11:1, Joh 11:2. 1. They lived at Bethany, a village nor far from Jerusalem, where Christ usually lodged when he came up to the feasts. It is here called the town of Mary and Martha, that is, the town where they dwelt, as Bethsaida is called the city of Andrew and Peter, Joh 1:44. For I see no reason to think, as some do, that Martha and Mary were owners of the town, and the rest were their tenants. 2. Here was a brother named Lazarus; his Hebrew name probably was”