Martha (13 page)

“Wake him up?” Martha's eyes widened.

“Yes. Then Peter said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.'”

“The Lord said Lazarus was asleep?”

“We misunderstood. Finally he told us plainly that your brother was dead, and that he was glad for their sakes that he was not there, that they might believe.”

“And that's when you started for Bethany?”

“Yes, the disciples were concerned about the Jewish leaders and the danger to the Master.” Nathan shook his head. “Thomas agreed they should all go, and if they died, they died.”

Martha shook her head as fresh tears seeped out and streamed down her cheeks. “Thank you, Nathan.” Her thoughts tumbled in confusion, but she said no more.

She entered the house and leaned over, whispering in Mary's ear. “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.”

As soon as Mary heard those words, she gave a glad cry, laid aside her harp, and hurried to the gate. Unlike Martha, she ran up the road to where Jesus had waited.

Neighbors and friends who had been talking quietly, comforting Mary, watched her go and got up to follow her. As they passed Martha, she overheard one woman say, “She must be going to the tomb to weep. Let us go and weep with her.”

Martha hurried to catch up with her sister.

When Mary saw Jesus, she gave a glad cry and fell at his feet as Martha had done. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Martha saw Jesus look up at the crowd that surged toward him. A groan escaped his lips and his countenance was troubled.

He reached for her hands and lifted Mary as he had done with Martha. Sighing deeply, he asked, “Where have you laid him?”

Martha stepped forward. “Lord, come and see.” At least the Lord wanted to visit her brother's grave.

Jesus followed the sisters, and as Martha glanced at his face, she was startled to see tears coursing down his cheeks.

The Jews around them murmured to one another, “See how he loved him!”

One of their neighbors who walked behind Martha murmured aloud, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” Couldn't he?

The group approached the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled up against the entrance. Jesus turned and gestured toward the grave.

In a firm voice he commanded, “Take away the stone.”

Martha gasped. “Lord, by this time there is a stench. He has been dead four days.”

He turned, and she felt the full impact of his gaze. “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

Bewildered, she turned to Nathan, who hesitated, but only for a moment. He motioned to Simon and Tobias, and the three men pushed until the large stone slowly moved away from the entrance to the tomb.

The people watching stepped back, covering their noses. Martha raised her shawl to her nose. The smell could be terrible. What was the Lord doing? Why would he put them through this agony?

Everyone watched Jesus expectantly. Tension buzzed through the crowd like a hive of bees.

Martha saw Jesus lift his eyes toward the heavens and heard him say in a voice that carried through the crowd, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Then he cried out, “Lazarus, come forth!”

Martha froze. She held her breath, her eyes were riveted on the opening of the cave. Something was happening. She clutched Mary's arm, her eyes wide with fear. A shuffling sound was heard within the cave, and Martha saw what appeared to be a dark shape in the shadows. Then, to her astonishment, a wrapped figure moved slowly from the darkness of the cave and shuffled into the sunlight. Bound head and foot with the grave clothes, his face covered with the burial cloth, the figure stood swaying before them. The crowd gasped. There were shrieks of disbelief and some cried out in fear that it was a ghost. Others fell on their faces, giving glory to God.

Martha's fist went to her mouth. Her heart pounded and her mouth opened and closed but no sound came forth. Her feet felt as if they were rooted to the ground, but Mary, weeping with joy, hugged her.

Jesus waved a hand. “Loose him and let him go.”

Mary pulled her forward. “Sister, our brother is restored to us.”

Martha allowed Mary to bring her closer to the body. An odor seeped from the grave clothes as she reached out hesitantly to touch him. “Lazarus?”

A muffled voice answered.

Mary quickly pulled the cloth off his face, and Martha gasped as she once again looked upon her beloved younger brother. She and Mary began to frantically tear the wrappings from him. Nathan stepped forward suddenly to steady Lazarus as he was being set free. Nathan's eyes, wide with astonishment, looked at Lazarus, and he slowly shook his head. When at last Lazarus was free and he stood before them clad only in a loincloth, his skin nearly glowed with vitality. He smiled at his sisters and gathered them in an embrace. In her joy at the reunion, Martha realized there was no smell of death on him. His skin was healthy and pink.

Martha thought her heart would burst from her chest. “Lazarus, oh my dear brother, you are alive.”

Lazarus examined his hands with wonder. “It would appear that I am.” He turned as Jesus approached him and the two embraced.

“Master? Master,” he repeated softly.

There were cries of “I believe!” “This is truly the Son of God!” People surged forward, wanting to touch Lazarus yet holding back. Was it a dead body that would make them unclean, or was he alive?

A few on the outskirts of the crowd took off on a dead run for Jerusalem. Martha, wiping her eyes on her shawl, saw them leave. Nathan also watched them leave.

“They will tell the leaders,” he said firmly, “and now they will believe.”

Martha's heart was filled with righteous indignation. How can they not recognize Jesus as the Messiah? Who else but God could raise a man from the dead? She hung her head. “I doubted him, Nathan. I thought because he didn't come that he didn't care.”

Nathan looked down at her. “Don't feel badly, Martha. How could you know what he intended to do?”

Tobias came forward and grasped Lazarus's hand. “Welcome back, my friend.”

Martha turned to Chloe. “Go to our home and bring sandals, a tunic, and cloak for Lazarus.”

His bare feet would be cut on the rocky road and the sun was rising high in the sky. The temperature soared. When the items were brought, Mary stooped to put the sandals on her brother's feet as he lifted the tunic over his head. Martha placed the cloak about his shoulders. Jesus walked with Lazarus as they slowly made their way back home. The crowd followed as they walked through the village. Some people reached out to touch Lazarus as he passed by. Some women wept, calling out blessings to him. Some smiled and murmured among themselves, and many loudly praised God for the miracle.

They entered the courtyard and as many as could crowded inside. Others stood outside the gate.

Martha saw the weariness on Jesus's face and turned to Peter who was standing nearby, her eyes pleading with him to do something. Peter's size could be as intimidating as Nathan's.

Peter drew himself up and turned to the crowd. “The family is grateful for your support and we rejoice with you at this blessing, but the Master is weary from a long trip, and our friend Lazarus must rest from his ordeal. Return to your homes and share this day's miracle with others.”

Peter and the other disciples stood near the gate as some of the people reluctantly filed out, calling last-minute words of encouragement to Lazarus and glancing back at the still figure of Jesus, who did not refute Peter's words.

Some of their close friends and neighbors, including Nathan, stayed. Martha, still numb with shock, suddenly realized she must put together a meal. She glanced up as the men gathered together and caught Nathan's eyes as he seated Lazarus by Jesus. For the first time she became aware of the gentleness that replaced Nathan's usual stern countenance. With a sense of wonder, she thought of the many changes in their household and among their friends since Jesus had come.

She gathered bread, cheeses, ripe olives, fruit, and raisin cakes made during the last grape harvest. Mary put bread on the table as Martha stared down at the pot of lentil stew. It would give them something warm to eat, but was there enough to feed all of her guests? With a sigh she determined to serve what she had until it was gone.

She watched the pot as the men dipped their pieces of bread in again and again. When the pot should have been empty, there was still stew left. Shaking her head, she looked at the Master, who merely glanced up with a smile playing around his lips.

Jesus and his disciples remained at Lazarus's home for two days. From morning to evening, as many villagers as possible crowded into the small courtyard to see the Master and to observe Lazarus. Many still wanted to touch Lazarus and prove to themselves he was alive and well.

As the evening shadows fell the second evening, Jesus turned to Martha. “I must go. There are those who plot against me and I can no longer walk openly among the Jews. We will travel into the country, near Ephraim, and remain there for a while. I will come to you again soon.”

“When, Lord?”

He looked toward Jerusalem. “Six days before the Passover.”

Jesus embraced Lazarus warmly and smiled at the sisters. “Remember this day in the troubled days to come. It gave me joy to restore one I love dearly to his family.”

“We cannot begin to express our gratitude to God for this great gift,” Martha began but choked up with tears again.

Mary could only kiss the Master's hand and show her gratitude with her eyes.

When all had gone and the courtyard was quiet, Lazarus put an arm around his sisters. “I can hardly believe I am here with you again.”

Mary looked up at his face. “What was it like, brother? Did you feel anything?”

He looked up at the star-glittered sky. “I was in a dark place, a place of silence, yet I felt no fear. Then I heard a voice calling my name and I awoke. I was able to sit up and I felt hands lifting me, moving me toward the entrance of the cave. Then I was standing in the sunshine, and you were unwrapping the cloths that bound me. When Mary took off the veil, I saw all of you, but then I saw the Lord.” Lazarus's eyes were alight with wonder. “His clothes were shining like the sun itself and he was smiling at me. I knew I was alive and he'd brought me back from the grave.”

Martha shook her head slowly as a sense of shame rose within her heart. “I doubted him. I thought that because he did not come right away, that he was not coming. And I couldn't understand.”

Mary beamed. “Yet he knew all along what he was going to do.”

Lazarus put a hand on Martha's shoulder. “I would have felt the same if it were you, dear sister. Do not sorrow for what is past. Let us rejoice in today and be thankful.”

With a yawn, he turned toward his pallet. “I for one feel I have not slept in days. Let us take our rest. There will be more curious visitors tomorrow as word spreads. I feel like a prize ram on exhibit.” He lay down and closed his eyes.

Martha and Mary could not help but stare down at him, reluctant to leave his side. Finally Lazarus opened one eye and looked up at their anxious faces.

“Don't worry,” he grinned, “I shall still be with you in the morning.”

 19 

Lazarus, who could not go about his usual chores without an audience of curious onlookers, was frustrated. People came up with small tasks of brickwork just to watch him. He flung up his hands, facing Martha. “How am I to go into Jerusalem now?”

Hanniel journeyed to Bethany as soon as he heard the news of the miracle and called on the family, embracing Lazarus with joy. Sherah was not with him.

To Martha's query he replied, “She has been ill and is forced to conserve her strength. She sends her love to all of you.”

As they sat together to eat the evening meal, Lazarus pressed him for news.

“It does not look good,” Hanniel said. “There is word that the leaders have offered a ransom to anyone bringing them word of Jesus's whereabouts. They seek to arrest him.”

Lazarus huffed. “Jesus called them ‘whitewashed tombs' full of dead men's bones. They see but they are blind. They hear but they do not listen.”

“Ah, that is a good description, my young friend, but they have the power and if they find Jesus, who knows what they will do.”

Martha could no longer remain silent. She paused in serving and looked at Hanniel. “He taught in the Temple, in plain sight. If they were going to arrest him, why didn't they do it then?”

“They are afraid of the people. If they do anything at all, they will do it as secretly as possible.”

Martha was adamant. “If the Master does not want to be found, they will not find him. I'd venture to say he will stay away from Jerusalem.”

“Will he?” Hanniel stroked his beard. “The Scriptures talk of two Messiahs, one the conquering king, and the other a suffering one. Which one is he? Jesus has the support of the people right now and they would gladly crown him their king. What then of the Romans? Would they stand by and allow this? Would they consider it a rebellion against their puppet king, Herod? Pilate would call for more soldiers to protect his post and none of us would be safe from his retribution.”

Lazarus stroked his beard, his brow furrowed. “If what you say is true, what then can we do?”

“We can do nothing but wait.” The old man's countenance was grieved as he turned to Lazarus. “I do not wish to bring sorrow on this house, but I bring other news. It concerns you, Lazarus.”

Lazarus glanced at his sisters who hovered nearby, listening with growing alarm on their faces. “I believe I know what you wish to tell me. I have a friend who works in the household of Caiphas. They speak against me also, do they not?”

Hanniel nodded. “Many have believed in Jesus because of you. I do not believe there is immediate danger, but you must be careful if you come to Jerusalem. I will keep my ears open and warn you if I hear anything more.”

Lazarus bowed his head. “I cannot go anywhere outside the house, let alone Jerusalem, without curious onlookers.”

Martha thought of the rugs she wove that Lazarus sold in the marketplace for her. “If Lazarus cannot go into the marketplace, how then can he sell my weavings? That is part of our income.”

Lazarus thought a moment. “Tobias. He would be glad to take them to the marketplace for us.”

Hanniel shook his head. “Selling your sister's weavings is the least of your troubles, Lazarus. You are a curiosity to the people and a stumbling block to the Jewish leaders. You must be alert and watchful at all times.”

That night, as the others slept, Martha lay awake, pondering Hanniel's words. Her world was changing rapidly and the unknown frightened her. Would the leaders seek to get rid of her brother? What choices did they have? Were they all in danger? Soft snores came from the pallets of Hanniel and Lazarus. At least they could sleep. She glanced over at Mary and in the dim light saw she was awake. Martha reached out a hand and Mary clasped it tightly with her own.

The next morning as Hanniel prepared to return to his home, Tobias and Nathan came by and the men went to the corner of the courtyard, speaking in low tones so Martha could not understand their words. She felt a growing alarm. What they were discussing was obviously not for her ears. She pursed her lips, determined to ask Lazarus about it later.

When Hanniel had gone, Lazarus went with Tobias and Nathan to Nathan's blacksmith shop. He was gone most of the day, and she assumed he was helping Nathan with some work. When he finally returned for the evening meal, she started to question him and received no response. Lazarus gave her a look that precluded any more questions. Was there some danger he was trying to keep from her? She bit her lip and said no more.

When she and Mary completed their duties, Martha quietly went up on the roof and fell to her knees to beseech the God Who Sees for the protection of her family. As the soft notes of Mary's lyre drifted up from the courtyard, in the gathering darkness Martha poured out her heart to the Lord.