Bible Study With The Bishops: Martha's Confession, Mary's Accusation

Reading Plan Text for May 1: John 11:24-33

Today we read what is probably the most important of the "I am" statements in this Gospel:

I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. (11:25-26)

In response to Jesus asking her if she believes this, Martha responds with the most complete statement of belief John has recorded:

Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world. (11:27)

What jumps out at me as I read her powerful affirmation is that this "most comprehensive expression of faith in all that Jesus is," as Burridge writes in his commentary ( p. 147), comes from the lips of A WOMAN. Burridge says that it is the "female version of Peter's confession" (p. 147), which we read in 6:69. I would argue that Burridge's first statement of it being "the most comprehensive" is the correct one. Martha's confession is not simply a femal version of Peter's, it far exceeds his.

After this conversation, Martha returns to her home and tells her sister Mary that Jesus is asking for her. Mary immediately leaves the house and goes to Jesus. When she meets him, she repeats Martha's reproach word for word,

Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (11:32; see Martha's in 11:21)

Here Jesus' reaction startles me.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and greatly moved. (11:33)

He was "greatly disturbed"??? He waits four days to make sure Lazarus is dead beyond question so that "the Son of God may be glorified" (11:4), and he's "greatly disturbed" by Mary's weeping? Burridge notes

This time, Jesus does not respond with conventional expressions of sympathy or probing questions of faith, as he did with Martha. Mary's distraught position at his feet answers all of those already. When he sees her grief, all Jesus can do is also to be "deeply moved in spirit and troubled" (11:33) Sometimes, "to week with those who weep" is not only all we can do, but also the best we can offer. (p.147)

Another day I might find that comforting. Today, however, Jesus' need to provide a miracle so that he may be glorified rather than go immediately and heal a friend makes this expression of grief surreal and even shallow.

Peace,
Jeffri