There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. John 12:2
A supper, or dinner for some, and Martha the servant does her thing. But this is some supper, for the man, Lazarus, had been dead for four days, buried in the family crypt, and is here alive to eat, drink, and tell us of life after the grave? Except that Lazarus is not the biggest elephant sitting down to this meal. Jesus, the one who raised Lazarus from the dead, is there with them. So, who do you really want to talk to and ask questions of?
Quite a few people would answer, "Martha!" Why? That is safe ground. No rising dead people involved, just serving a meal to some guests who dropped by. Safe ground and safe, denying, explanations for things that shake the ground under our feet is the desire of many. Otherwise they must face a man dead for four days and raised to life again. Does Lazarus have to die again after that? What if he doesn't behave himself according to the Law during that extra time he got? And what happened to the guy who had the power to raise a dead man to life again? Jesus and Lazarus raise questions of an uncanny nature, and for some it's just safe to go back to Martha serving an evening meal.
Martha would of course point us back to Jesus, the One who is the Life and the Resurrection!
Bucky
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