Gospel in Art: Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

St Lazarus with his sisters Martha and Mary Master of Perea Valencian School © Lazaro Galdiano Museum, Madrid

Gospel of 29 July 2026
John 11:19-27

At that time: Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother, Lazarus. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.'

Reflection on the painting

In February 2021, Pope Francis expanded the liturgical memorial of Martha of Bethany to honour not only Martha, but also her siblings, Mary and Lazarus. As the Vatican decree beautifully states, "In the household of Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus." The change recognises that Jesus was not only welcomed by individuals, but embraced by an entire family. Bethany became a place of rest, friendship and affection for Him.

Most of us cherish close friendships with individuals, but there is a unique blessing in being welcomed into the life of a whole family. The home at Bethany reminds us that Christ delights not only in visiting our hearts, but also our homes. When love, hospitality and faith are shared within an entire family, it makes for a very special place indeed.

Martha, Mary and Lazarus appear together several times throughout the Gospels, making them one of the best-known families in the New Testament. In Luke's Gospel, Martha busies herself with serving while Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening to his teaching. In John's Gospel, we encounter the family's deepest sorrow when Lazarus dies, prompting Jesus to perform one of his greatest miracles by raising him from the dead. Later, shortly before the Passion, Jesus returns once more to Bethany for a meal: Martha serves, Lazarus sits at table with him, and Mary lovingly anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume, preparing him for his burial. Together, these three siblings offer us a beautiful portrait of friendship.

This beautiful late Gothic Spanish panel depicts our saints of today, the three siblings of Bethany. Mary of Bethany (left) holds an alabaster jar of precious ointment, recalling her anointing of Jesus with costly perfume shortly before his Passion (John 12:1-8). She is also holding the crown of thorns. Lazarus (centre) is dressed in rich robes and carries a book, symbolising his faith and his witness to Christ after being raised from the dead. At his side hangs a sword, an attribute associated with the medieval tradition that, after leaving Palestine, he became the first bishop of Marseille in southern France and was eventually martyred. Although this later tradition is not found in Scripture, it became widely accepted in medieval Europe. And then Martha (right) holds a processional cross, proclaiming her steadfast faith in Christ. In her other hand she carries a bucket or holy-water vessel, alluding to the medieval legend of the Tarasque, a fearsome dragon said to have terrorised Provence. According to the legend, Martha subdued the beast not by force but by sprinkling it with holy water and making the sign of the Cross. Although legendary rather than historical, this story made the cross and holy-water bucket her distinctive attributes.

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art
Today's image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-11-19-27-2026/