Martha of Bethany
Luke 10:38-43, John 11: 1-44
“Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:25–27)
Jesus and His disciples were traveling through Bethany when a woman named Martha invited them into her home. She lived there with her sister, Mary, and her brother, Lazarus. Several people were traveling with Jesus, and others likely came to Martha’s house once they realized Jeus was there. To accommodate so many guests, Martha expected Mary to help her cook and serve. Instead, as Jesus began to teach, Mary sat at His feet, listening.
Frustrated, Martha went to Jesus and asked Him to tell Mary to join her in the kitchen. Jesus replied that Mary had chosen what was better listening to Him would benefit her more than preparing a meal for Him.
Martha appears again later in the Bible when her brother Lazarus fell ill. She and Mary sent word to Jesus, asking Him to come. Jesus delayed His arrival, and by the time He reached Bethany, Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days. Martha went out to meet Jesus and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha thought He meant the final resurrection at the end of time. Then Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die.” He asked her, “Do you believe this?”
Martha answered, “Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:25–27).
Immediately, she went and called Mary. When Mary came to Jesus, she cried, along with the mourners with her. Jesus was deeply moved and troubled. He cried as well.
Jesus then went with Martha, Mary, and the neighbors to the tomb. When He asked that the stone be rolled away, Martha protested, saying that after four days, there would be a foul odor. But Jesus prayed to the Father and called out, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came back to life.
It was Martha’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah the Son of God that opened the way for Lazarus to receive new life.
Biblical Principles:
- Service without surrender leads to frustration. (Luke 10:38–42)
- Grief and faith can coexist in the presence of Jesus. (John 11:20–27)
- Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life—not just a future hope. (John 11:25–26)
- Confessing Christ as Messiah unleashes divine power. (John 11:27, 41–44)
Martha of Bethany
Devotional Lesson
Lesson 1: The Danger of Distracted Service
Scripture Focus: Luke 10:38–42
Biblical Principle: Service is good, but when it distracts us from Jesus’ presence, it becomes resentment.
Study Questions:
- Why did Martha expect Mary to help her serve?
- How did Martha’s frustration affect her approach to Jesus?
- What did Jesus mean when He said Mary chose “the good part”?
- How can serving in church or home become a distraction from sitting at Jesus’ feet?
Personal Reflection Prompt: Think of a time you felt resentful while serving others. What was missing in your heart?
Memory Verse: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed or indeed only one.” (Luke 10:41–42, NIV)
Lesson 2: Bringing Your Honest Grief to Jesus
Scripture Focus: John 11:20–27
Biblical Principle: Jesus does not rebuke honest grief; He meets us in it.
Study Questions:
- Why did Martha go out to meet Jesus while Mary stayed home?
- What did Martha mean when she said, “If You had been here…”?
- How did Jesus respond to her grief before correcting her theology?
- Is it acceptable to question God’s timing when you are hurting? Why or why not?
Personal Reflection Prompt: Write a short prayer to Jesus starting with the words, “Lord, if You had been here…”
Memory Verse: “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21, NIV)
Lesson 3: Jesus Is the Resurrection Now
Scripture Focus: John 11:23–26
Biblical Principle: Eternal life is not only future—it is a present reality in Christ.
Study Questions:
- How did Martha misunderstand Jesus’ statement, “Your brother will rise again”?
- What new truth did Jesus reveal about Himself in verse 25?
- How does believing that Jesus is the resurrection change the way you face loss today?
- Why is it important that Jesus said “I am” rather than “I will bring”?
Personal Reflection Prompt: Describe a situation where you need to experience Jesus as your resurrection before the end of time.
Memory Verse: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25, NIV)
Lesson 4: Faith That Moves the Stone
Scripture Focus: John 11:27, 38–44
Biblical Principle: Confessing Jesus as the Messiah opens the way for miraculous intervention.
Study Questions:
- What did Martha confess about Jesus before He raised Lazarus?
- Why did Martha protest when Jesus asked to remove the stone?
- How did Jesus’ prayer to the Father show His relationship with God?
- What “stones” in your life need to be rolled away despite the fear of the smell?
Personal Reflection Prompt: Identify one area of your life that seems “dead and decaying.” What would it look like to let Jesus speak to it today?
Memory Verse: “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:27, NIV)