Sisters

The Bible is full of stories. The stories are about people, and people don’t change. These people have lives, troubles and sorrows, triumphs and victories. They have families, people they meet and people they work with. Just like us. We can see how godly people deal with life, and how the ungodly deal with life. The Bible doesn’t portray a sanitized world. It tells about people who live their lives God’s way and about the mistakes they make.

Mary and Martha are sisters. They live with their brother Lazarus in Bethany, a town close to Jerusalem. Through the stories in the gospels, we have the chance to see how they interact, and how they react to Jesus’ ministry. One time, Jesus was teaching in their house. Martha was preparing food, but Mary was sitting and listening, and Martha became angry with her sister. (Luke 10:38-42) After Lazarus died, Martha went out on the road to meet Jesus, while Mary stayed in the house to mourn. (John 11) But after speaking to Jesus, Martha went back to the house to call Mary out to speak with Jesus.

Two sisters, different in personality. Martha more outgoing, with words and actions quickly following her feelings; Mary quieter, with her feelings hidden from others. When tragedy occurred, they supported each other. And both loved Jesus, and believed he was the Messiah.