Winter 1995
The Household of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
Wade E Taylor

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that He
entered into a certain village: and a certain
woman named Martha received Him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also
sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word" Luke 10:38-39.

"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany,
the town of Mary and her sister Martha ... Now Jesus
loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus" John 11:1,5.

Jesus often went to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus as He felt welcomed in this household. Within were two sisters and a brother, who present to us a picture of the workings of the Lord in the preparation of His Bride.

In the Holy Land a sign reads, "It is believed that this is the site of the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Indeed, they live much closer to us than that. Those of us who have fully committed our lives to the Lord and desire His abiding presence are being built up as "an habitation of God."

"In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom
ye also are builded together for an habitation
of God through the Spirit" Eph 2:21-22.

In the outworking of this, all that affects us in our daily activities is very similar to that which transpired within the household of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

Just as God reveals Himself in three; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and created us to reflect His image in three dimensions; body, soul, and spirit, so also, there are three actors within this household which represent the completion He desires. These two sisters and their brother set forth those ways by which we relate to the Lord as He seeks to bring us into the fullness that He intends for us.

Jesus was drawn to this household because there was a balanced, threefold functioning on their part that attracted His attention. There is within each one of us as well, the potential for just such an arrangement that may arouse within Jesus that same desire to visit the "household" which we are becoming.

Martha, for example, intensely desired to serve Jesus. This she began to do as soon as He entered their home. Thus, our ministry, or service, can be considered as being feminine and corresponds to Martha. Paul said, "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power" Eph 3:7. Our ministry is a gift, therefore we are dependent upon the Lord to receive from Him the enabling grace for the outworking of the ministry that He has given us.

Jesus is seeking out a Bride from within His Church and potentially, we are that Bride. Mary, who represents this Bride, sat at the feet of Jesus in submission to Him, desiring to receive from Him. This is pictured also in the book of Ruth, where Ruth placed herself at the feet of Boaz and became his bride.

"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and
came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care
that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid
her therefore that she help me" Luke 10:40.

Mary desired to know Her Lord while Martha was intent upon serving Him. Therefore, Martha criticized Mary, for service will always place demands upon devotion. It is much easier for us to become active in "service" than to quietly "wait upon Him" in His presence. Thus, if allowed to do so, service will push devotion from our lives.

If we are to have a devotional life, we must actively contend for it. Jesus did not tell Martha to stop serving and sit with Mary. Rather, Martha is to continue serving, but Mary is to stay at His feet. Our "service" and our "devotion" are both valid and necessary. Each has its rightful place.

The two sisters also had a brother named Lazarus, who represents the Lord's dealings with who we are. The "male" aspect speaks of our Adamic nature which is sick unto death. Since the judgment for Adam's transgression was death, Adam (Lazarus) cannot be healed, reformed, or educated; he must die.

Both Martha and Mary were very concerned about Lazarus being sick and they sent for Jesus to come and heal him. Because the only hope for our Adamic nature is death and resurrection, Jesus purposely delayed His arrival for an additional two days.

In II Peter 3:7, we see that a thousand years is as one day. Therefore, this "two days" speaks of the church age in which the Lord is waiting for us to die to our own ways that He might come and lift us into resurrection life.

All that transpired within this household is a picture of what should take place when Jesus comes within our "house." Martha (that which we do for Him) will be stirred and begin to "serve." Mary (our desire to know Him) will sit at His feet to "become." Lazarus (our self nature) will begin to "die."

All this speaks of a divinely arranged balance in which all three aspects of His intention to change us into His image and likeness work together in harmony. These three aspects are not to be separated as they are a part of one family. Each one is as important as the others, but each must function in its particular place, and all at the same time. There should be this balance in the presentation of the Gospel.

Thus, when the presence of the Lord comes into our house, our "ministry" will begin to function, the "devotional" aspect of our being will partake of His life, and our "Adamic nature" will further die. The coming together of these three aspects is a divine arrangement in which this "balance" finds its full outworking through the operation of the Holy Spirit.

A balanced ministry will make room for the moving of the Holy Spirit, that the full operation of this three-fold function of service, devotion, and the work of the cross, may have its full effect. This will take place as room is made for the Lord to have His way in the building up of this habitation, which we are.

As a result, "the household of God" will be fully established, furnished, and made ready. Then He will lift it unto Himself and move within, where He will again find the satisfaction which He once knew.