X 24 WOMEN OF THE BIBLE:  Mary and Martha

1. Read John 11:1-44 and Luke 10:38-42
2. From reading about these two different women, we can take away a lesson for ourselves.  

1. Martha was a busily working person
2. Mary was a person who wanted to learn about Jesus and worship him
3. Both these women were faithful believers in Jesus
4. We learn from this that although many of us are different, our activities are different, we can still be dedicated believers in Jesus

3. Martha, concerned to give to Jesus the best of food and accommodations, was stressed about doing all this while Mary sat listening and learning.  
4. While both activities are important, Jesus stressed that to understand his message was the most important.  If we want to be like him, we have to understand him.
5. Both Martha and Mary treated Jesus like a trusted friend.  So we, too, can treat him in our thoughts and conversation as the trusted friend he is.  He will always keep his promise that he will be there to strengthen us when we need it.  Take your concerns, your worries, your thoughts to God, through Jesus, in prayer .  Ask him for guidance, for wisdom, for strength to handle the difficult things. He will help you.  You may not realise it at the moment but thinking about it afterwards, you will realise he did give you strength to handle your troubling circumstances.  We know he will keep his promise to return to this violent, Godless, troubled world and bring peace and safety.  It will happen.  Just believe and obey him, love him with all your heart and you will be there to see this happen.  It is a guarantee!
6. When these two sisters' brother, Lazarus, was sick and dying, they knew Jesus could heal him.  They called for him.  Jesus came only after Lazarus had been dead 4 days.  In raising Lazarus from the dead, many people believed Jesus as the Messiah.  Jesus used these opportunities to show his power, to convince people that he was sent from God as the Messiah.