Published by Luke narrates that Jesus visits the home of the two sisters, Mary and Martha. They are contrasted: Martha was a busy-body, almost cumbered about many things; Mary had chosen the better part as she listened to Jesus’ discourse (see Luke 10:38-42).
John, for his part, has made Martha and Mary to appear in two incidents: first, in the raising from the dead of their brother Lazarus (John 11), and the anointing of Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper (John 12:3).
In the first instance, Jesus meets with the sisters in turn. Martha goes immediately to meet Jesus as he arrives. Mary is staying insider their house and waits until she’s called. Somehow, this aggressive Martha and conservative Mary typology is in consonance with the Lucan identities of the two sisters.
The two sisters had similar lament: ‘Lord, if you had been before, my brother would not have died” (John 11: 21, 32). Interestingly, Jesus’ response to Mary is more emotional; his response to Martha is instructional that seems to call her to hope and faith.
One may conjecture: is this (that Jesus gave diverging kinds of response to the two sisters) significant insofar as the sisters with completely distinct personalities are concerned?
In the second instance of the sisters’ appearance in John, Martha serves at meal that was held in honor of Jesus (Lazarus, her brother is also present) (see John 12:1-8). That this meal took place at the home of Simon the Leper may be conjectured from Matthew (26:6-13) and Mark (14:3-9); for in John the locale of the meal was scantily referred to as Bethany. At this meal, a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume.
Still, in this second instance, Martha and Mary seem to be set in distinction. Martha, who must be the older sister, is still the practical and the efficient. She’s the gregarious and hospitable of the two sisters. In Luke, Mary sat at the foot of Jesus and intently listened to him. In John, Mary is being portrayed to be so humble, convicted and dedicated to Jesus and his teaching – evidenced from her not minding the expense or the demands for her to honor the Lord. Mary pours an expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet.
It may serve us better should we consider the Catholic tradition’s view on the two sisters. Mary is (very often) equated with Mary Magdalene. John hints that Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived at Bethany. Luke, however, implies that at one time they lived in Galilee, or more specifically in Magdala. Hence, one may understand the appellative “Magdalene.” Martha, according to 13th century legends, left Judea after the death of Jesus (around AD 48). She was with her sister Mary and brother Lazarus. They settled in Avignon (now in France).
very well said Kabayan. you have my like on this.