Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha lived with their brother Lazarus at Bethany, a village not far from Jerusalem. They are mentioned in several episodes in the Gospels.

On one occasion, when Jesus and His disciples were their guests (Luke 10:38-42), Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened to Him while her sister Martha busied herself with preparing food and waiting on the guests, and when Martha complained, Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better part.

When Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died, Jesus came to Bethany. Martha, upon being told that He was approaching, went out to meet Him, while Mary sat still in the house until He sent for her. It was to Martha that Jesus said: "I am the Resurrection and the Life." (John 11:1-44)

Again, about a week before the crucifixion, as Jesus reclined at table, Mary poured a flask of expensive perfume over Jesus' feet. Mary was criticized for wasting what might have been sold to raise money for the poor, and again Jesus spoke on her behalf. (John 12:1-8)

On the basis of these incidents, many Christian writers have seen Mary as representing Contemplation (prayer and devotion), and Martha as representing Action (good works, helping others); or love of God and love of neighbor respectively.

They see the same symbolism also in Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban (Genesis 29 and 35). Leah was dim of sight, but had many children. Rachel had few children, but one of them saved the whole family from destruction. Leah represents Action, which is near-sighted and cannot penetrate very far into the mysteries of God, but produces many worth-while results. Contemplation has fewer results, but one of those results is Faith, without which it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) Yet, there is a sense in which Action comes first -- "If a man love not his brother, whom he hath seen, how shall he love God, whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20) So it is that Leah must be wed before Rachel.

On some calendars, Lazarus is commemorated together with his sisters, on others his resurrection is remembered separately on 17 December.

by James Kiefer

 

What ever happened to Jesus' mother, Mary. I believe Jesus put her in the capable hands of the Apostle John - (Jn 19: 26-27).

Isn't there a tradition that she traveled with John into Spain, for a while?

 

I believe that Peter asked the Lord about what would become of the beloved apostle, John, and Jesus said what is it to you if he lived until I return???

Jesus was telling Peter that such things as to what happened to so and so does not matter and that we need to focus on this one thing, that Jesus was crucified and is now resurrected in power and glory, He is LORD.

BTW Bro Bob.... you bought a 26 brested statue???? shame shameshameshameshame j/k

 

Dr. Bob

Sounds like it was an interesting trip.

I love it when people say the old pagan religions died off; most of it just continued over into "Christianity" -- as your guide wisely observed. That's why I can not personally defend Dec. 25 celebrations or even Easter.

I see more Christ-centered meaning in the holidays of the Bible - what the LORD calls "My feasts" (Lev 23: 1-3).

We worship the same LORD who saved the Israelites out of Egypt (Jude 5), and we can't even keep His feasts (1Cor 5:7-9)? That same LORD saved us out of Egypt, too -- out of sin. Egypt is symbolically compared to sin in the Bible.

http://www.cemnetwork.com/church/ - click on pic

 

wopik, who said we can't keep His feasts?

As long as these feasts don’t violate the New Covenant.

Would you really be OK with sacrificing a lamb at Passover?

IMO anyone can keep a bloodless Passover (which it is now in Talmudic Judaism except for the chicken that is eaten, but it’s not a sacrificial chicken) as a memorial if they wish (especially Christians who are Jewish by bloodline), just don’t tell others that they must or that it is a necessity for salvation or sanctification.

HankD

 

HankD

Christ is our Passover Lamb, as Paul states (1Cor. 5:7-9). Paul connects the sacrifice of Jesus to the Passover.

 

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

OK, but what is your point wopik?

He is speaking hear in metaphorical terms "with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. of the spiritual aspect of the Passover, not the shadow.

The fulfillment of the passover shadow was accomplished by Christ "once" with an everlasting result never to be done again.

Hebrews 9:12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

If you feel the need of a literal feast, go ahead.
But the shedding of the blood of animals is now a thing of the past (which could not take away sin anyway). It was a shadow pointing to a reality, fulfilled by Christs' vicarious atonement.

HankD

 

His death does not mean we stop celebrating the Feast and Holy days! By no means! I believe it actually Glorifies God/Yahweh.

The only thing His death took away was the sacrifice for atonement. We still should observe the holy day as a Sabbath, and a day of fasting and prayer and confession.

The laws are still in place, except the Sacrificial laws -- He was the final Lamb. Should spend the day thanking God for the Gift of his Son, as our Lamb of lambs.

 

Unfortunately, we're so hyperfearful of appearing "catholic-like" that we tend to shy away with any topic relating to Mary. We can discuss the extrabiblical history of, say, Thomas, but when you say the "M" word, everyone turns and ducks for cover.

 

Clearly, I have jumped the proverbial gun. Not that I've ever done that before on this board .

I'm understandably curious myself.