Dead-Alive

[Guest Heart of light-Heart of darkness]

I think Lazarus was (and is) such an interesting story of the Bible to read....because IT JUST IS! I mean Jesus even cried over the death of Lazarus.

Then his sisters told God basically (if he would of came sooner he wouldn't of died.)

But he rose alive out of the place where his sister's told Jesus "It stinketh"

I love the Lazarus story who else does?!!

[tsth]

I do too! I also like to see the progression of Martha and her coming to saving faith in the midst of this story. There's a part, when Jesus finally comes, Mary stays home and sends Martha out to Jesus (alone). This was a defining moment for Martha, she BELIEVES and is SAVED! Mary knew, I think because Mary had been praying for her. This story has many facets to it. I also find it interesting that Jesus cries? I'm not sure I get that? I mean if He knows He's going to raise him from the dead? Why cry? I think there's something else there? But don't know what it is. Probably make a good Word study.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Dad Ernie]

I also find it interesting that Jesus cries?

[nebula]

Respectfully, I see what happened with Martha and Mary a bit differently.

The passage does not say Mary sent out Martha, it only says Martha went out. Perhaps it was because Martha was the elder?

What is interesting is that both Martha and Mary came to Jesus with the same cry, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." A statement of pain, but also a statement of faith. Martha, however, adds something else, "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Mary on the other hand only weeps. Why?

I think that Martha was a person of thought and action. Mary was a person of emotion. As such, Jesus ministered to them on their level; He met them where they needed it. So Jesus offers Martha the comfort she needs - He cradles her mind (thoughts, intellect, knowledge, understanding).

If you notice, Jesus never shared the secrets of the Kingdom lightly. Only with those closest to Him did He actually reveal such things. Yet notice what He spoke to Martha:

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Jesus shared with Martha His most precious secret of the Kingdom - the revelation of who He is! would He have shared this with her if He did not trust her?

Notice Martha's response: "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

Only one other person in all of Scripture (Peter) along with Martha is recorded as having made this statement of faith of who Jesus is. I believe this says a lot about Martha, and I am tending to believe that we traditionally have not given Martha enough credit.

It was a very precious secret Jesus revealed to her, a secret no one else was given, and it was a likewise bold statement on Martha' part to reply with. Though, she did not understand where Jesus was going with this, as is seen later on (just as Peter didn't understand where Jesus was going after Peter made his similar statement of faith).

So, what happened with Mary? Again, while Martha was a woman of thought and action, Mary was a woman of emotion. Martha needed her mind (thoughts, intellect, understanding) ministered to, which Jesus gave. Mary needed her emotions ministered to. So, when Mary comes to Him, with the same cry of faith mixed with pain that Martha gave and weeps, Jesus gives her the comfort she needed - He cries with her. Mary didn't need a teaching nor a revelation but just to know He shared her pain with her.

After He gave both the sisters the time they needed with Him, them He went to the tomb to raise Lazeus.

This is how I have come to understand what happened.

And yes, it is an awesome story!

[other one]

when he weapt, I have always wondered if he was crying because he had died (doesn't seem likely considering his plan) or because he was to bring him back into this world from a place that is much better...... I have always wondered about this.

[tsth]

Really good thought pondering responses. I believe they all leave room for thought.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[tsth]

Respectfully, I see what happened with Martha and Mary a bit differently.

The passage does not say Mary sent out Martha, it only says Martha went out.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Neb,

I have never seen that story like you laid it out. Very good. I would still think though that Jesus wept because of unbelief. I know that when I have cried when someone has died, it was because I empathized with them and would also miss the lost one. Jesus undoubtedly did not have that enter His mind, in fact He came there TO RAISE Lazarus and there was no sorrow in Him over that.

Nevertheless, that was good of you to point out those differences between Martha and Mary.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[nebula]

I agree with you nebula, on the different characteristics of each woman, and how Jesus minestered to each, but I still have to take in the whole picture in the passages below:

Luke 10:38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

I think that particular statement was to identify a difference between the 2, and the importance one placed on time with Jesus, as opposed to Martha who didn't quite recognize Him yet.

In His Love,

Suzanne

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, I'm not sure that would be a matter of not recognizing Him verses what to do about it! I mean, she was "distracted," just as many of us get distracted.

I often wonder, was Martha rebuked because she was not likewise sitting at His feet, or was it because Martha, in expressing love through serving, was trying to take Mary away from how she expressed her love to the Lord?

(Editted for typos)

Edited December 18, 2004 by nebula

[Joe Christian]

Yes, Jesus knew that he was going to raise him from the dead. Just a thought, Jesus is as I understand, exprienced every thing that we face in life. Now, I think possibly he did experience mourning at Lazarus' death, in order to show he knew as a human, what it felt like to mourn a death. Therefore he wept in mourning, as he also had all our other feelings during his life and also his death on the Cross. This is something that I have also thought about. Just my take on it.