New Testament · character
Martha
One who confessed faith in the midst of busy serving.
Martha was a woman of Bethany, a person of devoted service who welcomed Jesus, and one who made a deep confession of faith before the death of her brother Lazarus.
Timeline at a glance
- ServingBusy with hospitality (Luke 10)
- GriefThe death of Lazarus (John 11)
- Confession"You are the Messiah" (John 11)
Busy with Serving
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and was busy with preparing food, and was displeased with her sister Mary, who sat at his feet listening. Jesus said, "Martha, you are worried about many things ... but only one thing is needed" (Luke 10).
Faith before Death
Four days after her brother Lazarus had died, Martha went out to meet Jesus, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died," yet still not letting go of hope (John 11).
A Great Confession
When Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life," Martha confessed, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God" — a confession of faith on par with Peter's.
Related verses
- Luke 10:42"But only one thing is needed ... Mary has chosen what is better."
- John 11:27"I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
Frequently asked questions
Does the Martha story dismiss serving?
No. The problem was not serving itself but being "worried about many things." Martha was rebuked for her busyness, yet she is also the one who made the deepest confession of faith in John's Gospel.
How were Martha and Mary related?
The two were sisters living in Bethany, the sisters of Lazarus who died and was raised (John 11). Martha, busy with serving, and Mary, listening at Jesus' feet, are often remembered together as two contrasting pictures.
What does "only one thing is needed" mean?
It does not mean serving is bad, but that listening to Jesus' word matters more than being worried about many things (Luke 10). It is understood as a teaching not to lose sight of priorities even amid busyness.