Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served.  John 12:1

At the first time when Martha had Jesus in her home and she began to complain about her sister Jesus corrected her. Yet Jesus didn’t say, “Stop what you are doing and sit down with Mary!” Jesus said, “Stop being anxious in the midst of all your activity.”  Each of us have different days that lie ahead. Some will have a quiet day listening. Some will have pain, problems and unanswered questions to deal with. Some of us simply feel like we are drowning in busyness.

At their second encounter Jesus meets Martha outside of Bethany. She had sent for Him when Lazarus had been sick. Lazarus had grown weaker and weaker then died and Martha had buried him and wondered why Jesus had not come. In her grief-stricken state she met Jesus as He after He finally showed up saying what many of us tell God today, “If you had been here my brother would not have died!” But there in her sorrow, her brokenness and even a touch of anger Jesus gave her the words, “I Am the resurrection and the life!” Those words were given only to Martha. They were the special message Jesus had just for her! So if you wish you could be more like Mary or Lazarus and even your best efforts seem a failure don’t give up. In each of our lives Jesus comes with the words we need. Mary hears them at the feet of Jesus. Lazarus listens quietly at His side and Martha smiles and remembers them as she sets the food on the table, filled with gratitude for all He has done!