Many Comforting Martha and Mary - John 11:19

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent you may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off”, and in chapter eleven and verse nineteen of his book John shared how, “many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them” where we read:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

The verse reads, “And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, ...” John began with the words, “and many of the Jews” which means “and a lot or great number of people who were Jewish by origin, religion or birth” “came to Martha” or “arose and approached Martha whose name means she was rebellious” “and Mary” which means “and Mary whose name means their rebellion”. John shared how a great number of people approached “Martha and Mary” for the following reason and cause.

The verse goes on to say, “... to comfort them concerning their brother.” John continued with the words, “to comfort them” which means “to calm, console and encourage Martha and Mary” “concerning their brother” or “about and because of Martha and Mary's male sibling”. John shared how the “Jewish people” gathered themselves unto “Martha and Mary” to “console and encourage” them because of the death of their brother “Lazarus”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn about people who comforted “Martha and Mary” when their “brother Lazarus” died. People who care for one another demonstrate the principle that is within God as He cared for every person in the world by sending His Son Jesus to die for their sins. There is no “comfort and consolation” that is greater than the ministry Jesus provided when He died on the cross so people could have a personal relationship with God. Let all who read these words allow the example of those who “mourned” with “Martha and Mary” serve to demonstrate the way God cares for them through His Son Jesus.

Next time John shares how, “Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".