Your Name Is Daughterಮಾದರಿ

Day 4: Martha’s Confession

Quite often in church circles, Mary has been typecast as the one concerned with spiritual matters and Martha is the highly anxious busybody only thinking about her to-do list. But both women aren’t just one sided. They have depth and character, the same way you do. Let’s swivel the camera to another angle of Martha.

In John 11:17-27, we see such bold faith in Martha. After Lazarus dies, Martha gets up to find Jesus. She goes straight to Jesus and suggests it’s not too late for Jesus to do something miraculous when it comes to Lazarus.

Why would she say that?

Martha has been paying attention to what Jesus has been teaching in her own home. She has heard him teaching and she is developing her theology—her understanding about God.

And in this conversation between Jesus and Martha, Jesus says something we quote often in our faith, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25)

But this is not some broad teaching Jesus is giving in a sermon in front of a crowd. This monumental statement, quoted for centuries to come, is a one-on-one conversation between a woman and Jesus. He and Martha are having a tender moment. And Jesus ends with a personal question to Martha. “Do you believe this?” She then confesses the very same statement we see Peter confess in Matthew (often called “Peter’s Confession” in Christian tradition in Matthew 16:16): “Yes Lord, I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is come into the world.”

What a woman of profound faith!

Martha’s confession is one we all hold dear to because she lived it. She experienced first hand a God who brings life from death. He brought her brother back in front of her very own eyes.

You, daughter, have depth and layers. You are a good thinker and theologian. Let your questions and thoughts take you straight to Jesus. He has things to tell you. You are not one-sided and can grow and change and learn. Like Martha.

Maybe we should be more like Martha after all.

Prayer for Today: God, thank you for the examples of faith that have gone before us. Increase my faith to be as beautiful and as bold as Martha’s.