Mary & Martha
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On March 20, 1939 a miracle of life took place in the Sanders household. This was a time before ultrasounds and some modern technologies so the anticipation was even greater than it is today.
My daughter is about to have my 3rd grandchild and from the womb they know the sex and he has already been tested for any irregularities, but not so in 1939. There was a lot of hoping and praying for both the mother and the child.
But on March 20, 1939 the Sanders not only had one miracle but two: Identical twin girls. I get this picture in my mind of Blonnie holding her girls in the hospital bed, one in each arm and saying to Warren let’s name the Mary and Martha!
Now I didn’t know Mary and don’t know Martha but names are important. They mean something especially in 1939. It tells me they were born into a family that feared God and placed the Bible in high esteem because Mary and Martha are the sisters of Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead, but we’ll get to that in a minute.
Mary and Martha were the friends of Jesus. In the Bible Mary was the worshiper and Martha was the doer. And from what I understand Mary Lou had a little bit of both.
As Mary Lou grew up she became strong in her faith, serving God and teaching her children in the importance of walking in the ways of the Lord. She was and is a saint! As Jennifer was looking through Mary’s Bible she found these verses hightlighted in Isaiah 43:
1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
As I look at her children her today I am reminded of some profound words that Paul said to his son in the faith in 2 Timothy 1:5:
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
And I would say to you, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Blonnie and your mother Mary and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”
The faith that has been passed down to you is no ordinary faith, but one of love, hope, and resurrection.
It makes me think of the story in John 11, when Jesus gets word that his friend Lazarus is sick even unto death. Jesus was in Bethany which is only 2 miles from Jerusalem were Lazarus was but purposefully waited before going to see him. After 2 days Jesus said,
John 11:11 (ESV)
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Why would Jesus be glad at the passing of his friend?
How would the death of Lazarus possibly build their faith?
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
The faith that was passed down to you is not a “hope so” faith. But one that is rooted and grounded in the resurrection. But the resurrection is not some future event in which we place our hope. The resurrection is a person. The resurrection is Jesus.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
If you believe that Jesus is the resurrection then we are not here to honor a death but to celebrate a passing from the death of this world to life everlasting.
There will be a resurrection in the last day, but that is not our hope, for those in Jesus never die. Do you believe this?
Martha’s answer is profound. For in it lies the faith, hope, and love that can raise the dead.
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Then we see Mary come to where Jesus is.
32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept.
Even though Jesus knew what he would do. He was not absent from their pain. And Just as Jesus walked through the pain and sorrow with Mary and Martha he is walking with you today. As you weep Jesus weeps with you. As you rejoice he rejoices with you. but the story is not over.
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
If your world is dark and musty you might be in the tomb. And in the distance you see a ray of light as if someone has rolled away the stone that was blocking it. And you hear a voice in the distance. Some one is calling your name. Someone is calling you out of the tomb. and as you move closer you see that it’s Jesus the resurrection and the life. Run to him. Loose the grave close and run to him while he is calling.
If you have been set free from your grave cloths. Bask in the warmth of the Son for Jesus has already set you free.
The Faith, Hope and Love of the resurrection is what has been passed down to you. And now it’s time for you to pass this faith down to your sons and daughters as it was passed down to you.
The admonition that Paul gives to his son in the faith Timothy is the same admonition I give to you today.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.