3b. Let us take a quick and short look at the story of Jesus’ friend Lazarus and his two sisters Martha and Mary, that lived in the town of Bethany. The purpose of this story is to show us that there are three types of believers, and each one of us can find our self in this parable of believers.
Martha’s name mean mystery and she was master and lord of her house, she was a worker, doing something, always busy serving and was much detracted, wanting her sister Mary to help in all the preparing, as spoken of in Luke ten. You could say she was caught up in all the stuff this life can bring about. Maybe a little controlling as we see in her trying to get the Lord to make her sister help in the chores. Martha can’t see beyond her on needs, finding fault in those that don’t think the way she thinks, she leans on her on strength, so busy that she never finds her freedom in the Lord to just set down and enjoy Him. Probably thinks if she don’t do then the work won’t get done, not ever knowing the rest and peace she could have in the Lord because of her business and running to and fro. So all the Martha’s out there, let the potter mold the clay, there’s so much that God can do if your flesh wasn’t in way. The only thing that the Martha’s are hearing is the call, but not the caller, if they’d place their eyes on Jesus, the Shepherd, He alone can bring can bring them to that peace and rest.
Mary’s name means contrary and rebellious and her attitude is like the ones that were left in the wilderness with Moses. She has put her past life behind her, enjoys sitting at the feet of Jesus, but still looks upon Him outwardly, wanting to know more, wanting to be closer to Christ, but still not quite getting there. Mary is broken to the point that she wants Him, and is always mentioned in scripture as being at Jesus’ feet, always listening to her Lord. But still has a distance to go before she receives all that Jesus speaks about, and can enter in. Mary knows Christ and loves Him, but still sees him outwardly, and as long as she can see Him her faith seems strong. Just as Peter, as long as he was looking at Jesus he could walk on top of the water, both are completely dependent on Christ to be next to them, but have not as yet received His truth internally. Thomas also had to be proved to that the risen and returned Christ was truly that of Jesus. The Mary’s of this world love the Lord and seek Him, but do not as yet totally understand nor receive Him as the completion of their faith.
Lazarus’ name means ‘God is help’, and it is here that we understand that our flesh has, or can say shall be brought to its’ end or destruction. Lazarus was dead to this world and his will on this earth had ended. He was dead, buried and by now stinking, but when Jesus had arrived and spoke in that loud voice, Lazarus could not hear Him, since he was stinking, his ear drums were probably beginning to turn back into dust. So when he was raised from the dead and the grave it was because of the power in Jesus. So then we can say, that only the words that Jesus spoke, only the power in Christ is the reason that he now lived. Not only is he totally dependent on Christ, but would not have any real life if it were not for Him. Jesus alone sustains Lazarus, and he is no longer in the same world as that of Martha’s or Mary’s. Lazarus is now resting over on the other side of life, alive, at peace and enjoying the fruits of his sustaining Lord. The last we ever hear of about him is that he is feasting with the Son. The death of himself is now recognize, he has ceased from all his labors, there is no more strife within him, an empty vessel, the things he knew in life, the knowledge, the worrying, the fears and frets, and so on are now left far behind him.
Now Martha, she’s that outer man trying hard to win, work and earn her way to the Lord, while Mary is the soul that doesn’t realize Christ is within. Lazarus is the Spirit that lives in harmony, not hindered by his flesh or soul, he walks in liberty.
Now here is the tabernacle found in the wilderness; Martha is the outer court mentioned in Revelations eleven, where we begin our rest. Mary is that Holy place, the inner court, where the priestly work is done. The place where our lives have been transitioned. From the fleshly, outer man, now sitting and seeking and listening to our Lord, Lazarus is that most Holy place, the Holy of Holy’s, where God and man are one.
Yet some would choose to be a Martha, and some may choose to be a Mary, but Lazarus doesn’t choose things any more. The power that is now keeping Lazarus is the Lord. The last thing that kept him attached to humanity was his grave closes, and Jesus commanded that they should be removed and to set him free. Yes, Jesus came to set us all free from the perils of this world, and to walk and eat with Him, in that harmony that the world or the outer life could never give.