I am the resurrection and the life

 

 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.  And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.  Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever You as of God, God will give You."  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."  And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you."  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.

 

- John 11:17-29 

 

On Saturday, we read that a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."  When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.  Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."  The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?"  Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."  These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."  Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."  However Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.  Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.  Nevertheless let us go to him."  Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."

 

  So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.  We remember from our previous reading on Saturday (see above) that Jesus had delayed His trip to Bethany after hearing the news that Lazarus was very ill.  John the Evangelist tells us that Jesus loved Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus, and so this delay is intentional, "that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (again, see Saturday's reading, above).  My study Bible says that there was a rabbinical opinion that the soul lingered about the body for three days, but after four days resuscitation would be impossible.  

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.  And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.  My study Bible tells us that mourning began on the day of a person's death.  Weeping and wailing lasted three days; lamentation lasted one week, and general mourning lasted 30 days.  Here we are told that many from the temple in Jerusalem, likely from the religious Council (John's Gospel frequently uses the term "the Jews" to indicate members of the religious leadership, especially those among them hostile to Christ), came to comfort Martha and Mary and to mourn with them.  Therefore they will be witnesses to the sign that is to come.  From this passage we can possibly understand that Martha and Mary and their brother were from a prominent family, certainly known to many.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.  My study Bible comments that, not unlike the incident of Luke 10:38-42, the two sisters react differently to Christ's arrival.  Martha, who is inclined to active service, rushes out to Meet Jesus, while Mary is in mourning until she is called by Christ (verses 28-29).  Sitting is the traditional posture when mourning and receiving other mourners (Job 2:8, 13; Ezekiel 8:14).  

Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever You as of God, God will give You."  While Martha possesses great faith, my study Bible says, her statements indicate a lack of understanding about Christ.  In saying, "if You had been here, my brother would not have died," Martha reveals she does not fully see that Christ is God, thinking He needed to be present to effect healings (contrast this with John 4:46-54).  By saying, "whatever you ask of God, God will give You," she shows her lack of understanding that Christ possesses full divine authority to act as He wills.  

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."  Jesus says of Himself, "I am the resurrection and the life."   This powerful statement is a declaration of divine authority, even to raise the dead at the last day, but also applies here in this world.  This corrects Martha's misunderstanding:  my study Bible comments that such is the power of these words that Martha is immediately led to a great confession of faith.  Do you believe this? becomes a question directed not only to Martha, but to all of us. 

And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you."  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.  Again, we note the differences in character of Martha and Mary, whom we note arose quickly once she is told the Teacher "is calling for you."  We can understand this as responding to a command.

We can't help but remark upon the differences in character between the two sisters, shown to be consistent throughout the Gospels -- especially in the context of the story in Luke which is noted by my study Bible (see Luke 10:38-42).  Martha is conscientious about performing the duties of hospitality; she goes out to meet Jesus as He approaches their home.  Mary is more concerned with the duties of piety; it is she who sits in mourning according to custom and tradition, and yet it is also Mary who responds quickly when she knows she is being called by the Teacher.  In the story in Luke, it is Martha concerned again with the duties of hospitality, no small thing in the context of culture (and indeed, all the cultures of the Middle East), as well as in the eyes of Christian monastic tradition that would follow, in which the duties of hospitality to visitors at the door would take precedence even over prayer.  It is important that we not minimize hospitality to a concept of mere social nicety or form, and understand it in the context of charity that shaped and defined cultures of the Middle East, and also in the tradition of the story of Abraham, who "entertained angels unawares" (Genesis 18:1-10, Hebrews 13:2).  Hospitality, especially in a desert climate where conditions could be harsh, was a tenet of mercy, especially toward strangers (see also the parable of the Good Samaritan, also in Luke's chapter 10 -  Luke 10:25-37).   Mary, on the other hand, sits at Christ's feet in the story of the two sisters in Luke, which Jesus calls "that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (again, see Luke 10:38-42).   In that context, while Martha served and performed duties of hospitality, Mary sat as a disciple, listening to Jesus teach, something considered to be possibly outside of the norm, as evidenced by Martha's complaint to Jesus about her sister not helping her.  But in both sisters, we can read facets of Christianity and Christian service; each has a way to Christ, Christ loved both, as well as their brother Lazarus.  Martha and Mary have quite different personae, as sisters often do, but each one has her own way of learning from Christ, of being a friend to Christ, calling Him Teacher, and coming to Him in faith.  Each has her own way to a confession of faith.  What we should learn from these sisters, it seems to me, is of the many-faceted living jewel that the Church is, that our faith is, and that each one has a way to come to Christ unique to personality.  Each is called, but our direct path is not necessarily the same even though the goal is the same.   As we have had many occasions to remark of late in our commentaries, when St. Peter made his confession of faith, Jesus told him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17).  Perhaps our Father in heaven, who has created each one of us in unique manner each with unique soul and spirit, also has a way to draw each of us in important ways so that the expression of unique personae becomes a part of our pathway to faith.  One might say that we can see in the saints unique ways that each is called to express faith, that holiness becomes a dynamic expression of potentials that are in that personality, as one is called by God.  For today, the Teacher approaches with His own plan and under the Father's guidance; Martha, the one skilled in hospitality duties, comes out to meet Him, while He calls Mary to Himself.  Each is called to a confession of faith, to the realization of who Jesus truly is.  Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life."   This is an offer of the fullness of life, of life which transcends even death.  He says to Martha, "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"   This is the path of faith, to which we are all called -- but in each unique life that faith will work with us to reveal Christ's power of immortality, like light hitting the facets of a jewel.  For we each need the power of His life in our life.

 

 

 

 

I am the resurrection and the life

 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  Therefore the sisters sent to Him saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."  When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.  Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."  The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?"  Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."  These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."  Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."  However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.  Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.  Nevertheless let us go to him."   Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.  And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.  Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.  Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." 

- John 11:1-27

Yesterday we read that there was a division again among the religious leadership because of these Jesus' responses to them at the Feast of Tabernacles (see Wednesday's reading).  And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad.  Why do you listen to Him?"  Others said, "These are not the words of one who has a demon.  Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"   Then the Gospel turned to the time of the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter (about three months later).  And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.  Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt?  If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."   Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.  But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.  I and My Father are one."  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father.  For which of those works do you stone Me?"  The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God."  Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'?  If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?  If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."  Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.  And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.  Then many came to Him and said, "John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true."  And many believed in Him there.

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  Therefore the sisters sent to Him saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."  When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."   My study bible says that this message about Lazarus' illness is sent back to Mary and Martha to strengthen them, so that when Lazarus dies, they may take confidence in His words.  The Son of God being glorified mustn't be understood to be the cause of Lazarus' dying.  Rather the indication is that Christ will be glorified as a result of his death (occurring from a natural illness) and his being raised from the dead.  We note that Jesus gave a similar teaching about the blindness since birth of the man He healed at the Feast of Tabernacles (see John 9:1-5).   That was the sixth sign in the Gospel.  The raising of Lazarus is the seventh.

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.  Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."  The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?"  Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."  These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."  Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."  However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.  Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.  Nevertheless let us go to him."   Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."  Jesus delays His trip to Bethany (in Judea) so that Lazarus is dead long enough for the corruption of his body to set in.  This would mean that there would be no doubt about the miracle, and the might of the Lord would be clearly seen by all.  The apostles remind Him that the leadership has tried to stone Him (10:29-39), so it is clear that Jesus' choice to return to Judea is deliberate and made with full knowledge of the circumstances into which He walks in order to raise Lazarus before the coming Passover festival.  His words remind us again of events at the previous miracle of healing the man blind from birth, when He said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."  My study bible adds that Thomas's statement is an unwitting prophecy of his own martyr's death.  It also says that it illustrates the path that all believers must take -- that we die daily to the world for the sake of following Christ (Luke 9:23-24). 

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.   There was a contemporary rabbinical opinion that the soul lingered about the body for three days.   But after four days, resuscitation would be impossible.

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.  And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.  Mourning would begin on the day of a person's death.  Weeping and wailing lasted three days, according to my study bible.  Lamentation lasted one week, and general mourning lasted 30 days.  What we seem to be told here is an indication that this is a prominent family; those who come from Jerusalem are among the families of the men who belong to parties in the Council.

Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.  As in the story in Luke 10:38-42, the two sisters respond differently to Christ's arrival.  Martha, the one inclined to active service, rushes out to meet Jesus.  She is concerned with matters of hospitality.  Mary remains in mourning until she is called by Christ (later in the story).  Sitting was the traditional posture in mourning and in receiving other mourners (Job 2:8, 13; Ezekiel 8:14). 

Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."   My study bible comments that while Martha possesses great faith, her statements indicate a lack of understanding about Christ.  When she says, "if You had been here, my brother would not have died," she reveals that she doesn't fully see that Christ is God, as there is an assumption that He would need to be present to effect healings (contrast 5:46-54).  In saying, "whatever you ask of God, God will give You," she shows her lack of understanding that Christ possesses full divine authority to act as He wills.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."  In order to correct Martha's misunderstanding (that He must be present to effect healings), Christ declares His divine authority to raise the dead at the last day (to use Martha's words), as well as here in this world.  The power of Jesus' words is so great that Martha is immediately led to her confession of faith, which is explicit and similar to the one Peter made on behalf of the Twelve earlier in the Gospel (John 66-69).  My study bible says that do you believe this? is a question directed not only to Martha, but to all of us.

It's quite remarkable that John gives us this story of Martha, and we get a picture of a woman making a similar confession to Peter.  In this, we are blessed that John's Gospel fills us with so many good things.  It tells us about the future of this Church to come, and that these women are precious to the ones for whom this Gospel was written even at the time of John, as they are indeed to us.  Another aspect of today's reading is the understanding that Jesus knows very well what He is walking into.  He's not only come to Judea (where, as Thomas reminds Him, it was only recently that the religious leaders wanted to stone Him), but He has come to the home of this prominent family, where there are many who mourn who have come from Jerusalem and are thereby connected to the leadership in the temple.  In addition to that, what He plans to do here is the astounding and unheard-of seventh sign of this Gospel, in which Lazarus is raised.  It is this act, made before witnesses who've come from Jerusalem, that will really tie His future to the Cross.  It is of such extraordinary magnitude that it won't be denied, and its power and impact will be such that the leadership who already has tried to stop Him will be determined to take Him to His death.  Jesus deliberately comes here, outside of Jerusalem, in this season between Hanukkah and  Passover, in order to do what He must do.  As the text tells us, this is the opportunity for the glory of God -- and in Jesus' words and teachings, the ultimate glory for Him will be the Crucifixion.  How can we understand this?  We live in a time when convenience, ease, and simplicity seem to combine as goals with affluence and technological power.  Commonly we are taught to seek that which gives us an easier and more beautiful or "perfect" life through what we can afford to purchase.  But "perfection" takes on a completely different character in Jesus' teaching than a simple life free from difficulties and complexities.  The way the Gospel seems to tell it, we will always have tribulations -- and that is particularly true if we are followers of Christ.  In John's 16th chapter, at the Last Supper, just prior to His Passion, Jesus will tell His disciples, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (16:33).  Our goal, then, for His peace, for our simplicity and for overcoming, even for joy, is to be there with Him.  We are there with Him as His followers, with crosses of our own, in the midst of a world that isn't perfect but rather afflicted with the one who would tear down His work and our harmony.  But it is the Cross that saves.  It is there that we know overcoming, and the power of His victory.  It's in that place where we accept the reality of the world, that we understand perfection is really in how we endeavor to handle what comes to us, in just the endurance that says I will struggle for my faith, with Him.  Our goal is just to abide in Him, as He has taught.  Our goal can't be a problem-free life, because that's not truly reasonable.  It is rather to remember the one thing most needed, to endure, to learn from Him, and to overcome in that place.  This is the win, the victory.  Therein is our joy, our peace, our simple perfection.  His resurrection is not only for the next life, but is right here and now with us through all things.

I am the resurrection and the life

 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.  And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.  Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.  Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you."  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.

- John 11:17-29

Yesterday, we read that a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."  When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days int he place where He was.  Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."  The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?"  Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."  These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."  Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."  However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.  Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.  Nevertheless let us go to him."  Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."

 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.  My study bible explains that there was a rabbinical opinion that the soul lingered about the body for three days, but after four days resuscitation would be impossible.

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.  And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.   The mourning period began on the day of a person's death.  My study bible reports the schedule as follows:  Weeping and wailing lasted three days; lamentation one week; general mourning lasted thirty days.   Here many of those who come to join the woman and comfort them are members of the religious establishment at Jerusalem (as designated by the term "the Jews" in John's Gospel -- once again, we understand that all the people in this story are Jews).

Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.  The character of the two sisters is illustrated by their different roles.  Martha is the one more active in service and hospitality, and she rushes out to meet Jesus as He approaches.  Mary remains in mourning until she is called by Christ (see below).  Sitting is the traditional posture for mourning and receiving other mourners (Job 2:8, 13; Ezekiel 8:14).   We can see the characters of Martha and Mary expressed similarly in Luke 10:38-42.

Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."  My study bible says that while Martha possesses great faith, her statements reveal a lack of understanding about Christ.  A full understanding of His divinity would make it clear that He did not need to be present for healings to take place.  Nor does He need to ask of God; He has full divine authority to act as He wills.

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."   Jesus corrects Martha's misunderstanding of both His divine nature and authority to raise the dead at the last day, and in this world.  Jesus' direct words have an immediate effect, and lead to Martha's confession of faith.  He asks her directly, "Do you believe this?"  One can only imagine what the impact of such a question from Christ would be.  My study bible says that this question isn't directed only to Martha, but to all of us.

And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you."  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.  Mary, sitting in mourning, immediately responds when she's told she is called by Christ.

The two sisters are an interesting contrast.  One is dutiful and active.  Martha carries out the necessities of hospitality, of running a home.  And, one could say, that this must be quite a home.  They must be people of some standing, as important people from the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem come here to be present and comfort them in their mourning for Lazarus.  But this family is important in other ways, important to our Gospel.  For the three are beloved by Christ.  They are close to Him, and truly special friends.  The contrast between the two sisters is consistent as reported by Luke, as well.  Mary is the more reserved, sitting in mourning as taught by custom, until she knows she is being called by the Teacher.  It is she who sat at Christ's feet, listening, in the story told by Luke, as is appropriate to one who wishes to learn (be a disciple) from the Teacher.  In the two sisters, we're given a picture of something of the Body of Christ, with each "member" playing a role for the whole, and each beloved.  Both John and Luke give us these portraits of their characters, and we will learn more about Mary and her love for Christ in the following chapter.  The depth of character we're exposed to is important; we see carefully, in a sense, how Christ relates to each.  He asks Martha a very direct question, "Do you believe this?"  He speaks to her very directly and reveals Himself, and she responds with a confession of faith.  Mary will approach with a statement like her sister's, but Christ's response will be different.  As each member has their own character and part to play, perhaps we can see in this story how Christ responds to each as well.  It is not only God who responds, but also a very human Jesus.  The story could not be told without these women and their brother Lazarus.  We are given depth and dimension to Christ, and even a very fully human Jesus -- as He enacts the seventh and final sign that will seal His fate with those visiting from Jerusalem.  Fully God and fully human, here for us, and always with us.   As John writes in the Revelation, He is the one who is and was and (as Martha says above) is to come.