Martha is one of the Biblical figures in the Bible. She is featured in two book in the gospels namely Luke and john. She is described as Martha of Bethany. She resided with her two siblings, Lazarus and Mary[1]. She witnessed the grand miracle of Jesus resurrecting her brother Lazarus. She was one of Christ’s closest friends and disciples. John in a scripture reports that Jesus did indeed love Martha and her siblings (John 11:5). Many argued that Martha had garnered a very considerable amount of respect among the earliest followers of Christ Jesus since her name was always mentioned before Lazarus.
Over the years, Martha has been described as having many attributes that make her a leader. She has been constantly compared to the Apostle Peter. They were both practical in their ways, very impulsive and even exhibited traits of short tempered. Martha got to a point of rebuking Christ himself. The first aspect that depicts Martha as a leader was the fact that she was the eldest of her siblings, and she took the role so serious. When the brother, Lazarus, dies both the two sisters play prominent roles in the story. The two sisters have personalities that contrast each other. Although both sisters were disappointed that Jesus was late, Martha still rushes out to meet him while Mary does not[2].
Studies by critics of the Bible show that Martha was more practical than spiritual[3]. This particular factor makes her more of a leader as it is a quality that is rarely exhibited by many. One of the key qualities that make a leader was the fact that she was meditative and practical.
A comparison between the two sisters of Lazarus tends to bring out Martha as one who did all the serving while Mary did all the sitting. She took it upon herself to handle the task at hand with objectivity just like a leader would. Although the fact that Mary was the one said to be meditative because she often sat with Jesus to listen, in another instance we find out that Martha was also found at the Lord’s feet listening from time to time. A leader should be able to sit down and listen to advice so that she can meditate on it and internalize so as to put it in practice. This is clearly seen in Martha in the Bible. Martha is accused of ignoring what is important when she rebukes her sister of just sitting and listening to Jesus rather than assist her with the serving[4]. As much as this is true, unlike Mary, it shows and proves she was a better fit to be a leader. Judging by her line of though, Martha did not for a moment think that sitting there was beyond her supposed spiritual capacity but instead was pragmatic enough to conclude that serving and feeding the Lord was just as important as remaining site and waiting on his word. The pragmatic nature fashioned her to be a leader.
Leaders must be hospitable; in order to serve others, the kindness and humility that comes solely from being hospitable must exist. Martha is believed to have been very hospitable. When we read about Martha in the Bible, we get this view that she received Jesus into her home. This particular phrase suggests that she was the owner. When Jesus was sent for to come to aid after Lazarus had passed on, Martha went ahead to meet him and bade him welcome (John 11:20, 30). Jesus later on implies that the gesture meant lot to Him. In his sermons he says that he “the Son of Man” had no place to stay but when he went to Jerusalem in a place called Bethany, Martha not only received him but gave him supper as well.
Martha can put her grief aside and still manage to serve those around her[5]. This is a unique leadership quality. Her brother Lazarus yet she still gathers herself up enough to be jubilant and energetic by going out to meet Jesus. When you compare her to Mary, Mary is depicted as the weaker sibling as she stays behind to mourn. Martha is described by scholars as a hospitable woman who waits to minister to Jesus exhaustion, as well as weariness. She is gentle in her ways.
Another attribute that links Martha to leadership was the fact that she was a loving person as well as sympathetic. Martha is believed to have deeply loved Jesus. All the food that Martha presents on the table too is said to be constructed or built out of sympathy. The feast that she prepared is referred to as being devised from the solicitude of Jesus and therefore had neither other form nor existence apart from that solicitude.
Other qualities that made her a leader were the fact that she had enough courage to confront Jesus when she thought he was encouraging the impractical ways of Mary. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40). Martha was also known to be loyal, criticize with tact and joyful. All these attributes made her capable to be a leader hence she deserves the title of one of the women leaders in the Bible.
References
Cameron, B. (2013). Her restless heart: A woman’s longing for love and acceptance. S.l.: Abingdon.
Lockyer, H. (1967). All the women of the Bible: The life and times of all the women of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House.
Reisman, K., & Youngman, J. (n.d.). Christ-centered woman: Finding balance in a world of extremes: Leader guide.
Sampson, R. (2005). The heart of wisdom teaching approach: Bible-based homeschooling. United States: Heart of Wisdom Publishing.
Yanney, W. (2006). A passion for the living Christ: The Gospel of John, play scripted with exposition. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford.
[1] Lockyer, H. (1967). All the women of the Bible: The life and times of all the women of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House.
[2] Reisman, K., & Youngman, J. (n.d.). Christ-centered woman: Finding balance in a world of extremes: Leader guide.
[3] Sampson, R. (2005). The heart of wisdom teaching approach: Bible-based homeschooling. United States: Heart of Wisdom Publishing.
[4] Yanney, W. (2006). A passion for the living Christ: The Gospel of John, play scripted with exposition. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford.
[5] Cameron, B. (2013). Her restless heart: A woman’s longing for love and acceptance. S.l.: Abingdon
