Reflections from my recap of the Bible Recap Day 302:
I consistently hear on the radio or see in memes “Jesus will meet you where you are…” It seems to be a theme these days. I was reading from John 11 the story of “The Death of Lazarus” and I was struck again with the sharp differences in the personalities of Martha and Mary.
AND ACTUALLY more than that I noticed how differently Jesus engaged with the two of them... individually. He didn’t just meet them “where” they were (as our cute Christian culture likes to remind us), but He engaged them with WHO they are. On their “level”. He engaged with their quirks and specific personalities. As a Nana, I engage with each of my grandkids differently (we have six grands!) because I care about communicating with them individually. I care about understanding who they are… what makes them tick. I can only imagine how much MORE the Lord cares about us. When I do try to imagine it - it blows my mind.
As I’ve participated in Biblical counseling the last few years looking at what makes me tick (it always goes back to family of origin, right? :D) - I’ve realized I am often trapped into believing that I must conform to others expectations to be acceptable…therefore leaving my true self ignored. So, to realize in John how Jesus responded to Martha and especially Mary made my eyes fill up with tears. To know that He cares about who I am - loves me in my flaws and all - not just where I am.
As I was doing a little deep dive into Martha & Mary’s personalities I read from Luke 10:38-42 as well. It’s so interesting to see the drastic differences. Take a look:
“38 …Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
John 11: “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus… 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.” 28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 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.”
How did Jesus engage with Martha? How did He engage with Mary? Have you experienced a time in your life where Jesus met you so personally, so intimately?
“Jesus saw Mary weeping… he was deeply moved… and He wept.”
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