Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they made him a supper; and Martha served
The story behind And Martha Served
Luke's familiar account of Mary and Martha in Luke chapter 10 is a powerful teaching moment for all who may feel overwhelmed, who believe, however momentarily that their pain is unknown or forgotten by the Lord. This encounter between Martha and the Savior is not, however, the last time we see Martha. Yet, many times it seems that this is the only story of Martha many seem to recognize and, therefore, judge her by. In the hopes of communicating a more accurate understanding of Martha's truly devoted discipleship and testimony of Christ, this image depicts a less recognized moment in Martha's life, and one which happened after the aforementioned story from Luke. After all, it is Martha who courageously declared, "Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world" (John 11:27), even before she witnessed the Savior raised her brother from the dead.
In addition, this painting also contains reminders that peace is available to any who might be, from time to time, like Martha--"careful and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:40). Martha's heartfelt plea, "Lord, Dost thou not care?" (Luke 10:40) is much the same question the terrified Apostles asked Christ aboard a tempest-tossed ship: "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38).
During such moments of doubt or fear, the Savior's testimony to Martha is the ultimate solution: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). This "one thing" (see Luke 10:42) is the solution to every worry, every stress, every fear: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). When we, like Martha, follow the Savior through service, our own burdens are made light.
Symbolism in And Martha Served
Furthermore, when the Savior multiplied the loaves and fishes for the five thousand, He expressed thanks to God (see John 6:11)--another lesson for any who may be careworn or troubled. Our own efforts to overcome are "multiplied" as we "give thanks [to God] in all things" (Mosiah 26:39).
The two olive trees behind Martha remind the viewer of the Savior's Atoning sacrifice in Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:30 and Luke 22:39). (In addition to the fact that Bethany, where Martha lived, was also located east of the Mount of Olives.) The stone edifice behind the figure has a door with no visible handle, a visual token of the Savior's words, "I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). As we, like Martha, serve even the humblest within our care, we invite the Savior in, for, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).
Bibliography
Copyright and terms of use
© By Elspeth Young, All Rights Reserved. You may not print, copy, or reproduce this artwork or make derivative works from it without the prior written consent of the copyright holder. For permissions, please review our FAQ page.From the Newsroom
By Al R. Young
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We have framed our own artworks for more than 30 years, and during that time we have provided a variety of framing services to patrons upon request. For many reasons—including constant changes in the availability of moulding styles—we cannot offer off-the-shelf framing options or response times typically associated with such a service. Of necessity, all of our framing projects are aproached, priced, and billed as constuling projects... Read more »
Tags: Into The West, Spring Rain, North Country, The Grey Havens, Journey's End, Looking Back, Enchanted Stillness, Bedtime Story, In The High Valley, The Daydream, Before The Ball, Old Shannon, Pavane, Sweet Brier, Legend, Mountain Home, And I...
By Al R. Young Women of the New Testament by Camille Fronk Olson is the companion volume to Women of the Old Testament, published by Deseret Book in 2009.
The New Testament volume features fifty six illustrations from the Artists of Al Young Studios, listed here under the Studios' fine art collections and portfolios to which they belong.
From the Women of the Bible Fine Art CollectionFull-color details (cropped images) from the following 29 paintings appeared in the book (in the order in which they appear here)... Read more »
Tags: I Shall Be Whole, I Say Unto Thee, Arise, The Windows Of Heaven, The Miracle Of Forgiveness, What Is Truth, Under Whose Wings Thou Art Come To Trust, Unto The City Of David, A Damsel Came To Hearken, By The Wayside, Living Water, Waiting...
By Al R. Young
The New Testament Made Easier, published by Cedar Fort, featured five original oil paintings by Elspeth Young and one of Ashton Young's original oil paintings, all from Al Young Studios' Women of the Bible Fine Art Collection.Go Forth To Meet The BridegroomAnd Martha ServedAnd He Shall Direct Thy PathsShe Worketh Willingly With Her HandsEstablished In The FaithA Damsel Came To Hearken... Read more »
Tags: A Damsel Came To Hearken, And He Shall Direct Thy Paths, She Worketh Willingly With Her Hands, Established In The Faith, And Martha Served, Go Forth To Meet The Bridegroom, 3rd-party Publications, 2014, News
By Al R. Young This blank-book journal sells for $32 (plus shipping) direct from Al Young Studios. Printed in full color on heavy paper, the book is bound with black plastic spiral to rest flat when open.
At Home: A Personal Journal features 128 original artworks consisting of 51 original oil paintings from the Artists of Al Young Studios, 44 images from the Studios' Limited Editions Collection, nine pen and ink drawings and block prints by Ashton, seven of Al's exquisitely crafted pencil drawings, and one lithograph from his private portfolios... Read more »
Tags: North Shore, Nasturtium, Wald Kirche, Scabiosa, Foxglove, Narcissus on beige paper, July, Columbine, Maine, Final Draft, Unfurling, Back Shore, Summer's End, Gifts of Morn, Black-eyed Susan, Land's End, Solitude, The Limberlost, Perdita,
By Al R. Young This blank-book journal sells for $32 (plus shipping) direct from Al Young Studios. Printed in full color on heavy paper, the book is bound with black plastic spiral to rest flat when open.
Inspirations features 163 artworks along with 53 commentaries—written by the Artists of Al Young Studios especially for this journal—on such topics as their creative process, the creative environment of the Studios, technical approaches to their artwork, and inspiration from the works of other artists... Read more »
Tags: Untitled, In the Clearing, Anne Girl, Spring Rain, Journey's End, Enchanted Stillness, Bedtime Story, In The High Valley, Mountain Home, And I Will Not Deny The Christ, Sara Crewe, And My Soul Hungered, 3.00.0246.010, The Road To Melek, We...
By Al R. Young The 2011 Calendar: Women of the New Testament, published by Deseret Book, featured 13 original oil paintings from Al Young Studios, ten by Elspeth Young and three by Al R. Young. Twelve of the paintings are part of Al Young Studios' Women of the Bible Fine Art Collection. One painting is part of The Messiah Collection.
Commentaries (in the calendar) accompanying each painting provide a reference passage from the Bible, a summary of the character featured in the painting, and an artist's commentary concerning the painting itself... Read more »
Tags: I Shall Be Whole, One By One, The Windows Of Heaven, Living Water, The Substance Of Hope, Forsaking All, Blessed Is She That Believed, As It Began To Dawn, According To Thy Word, She Worketh Willingly With Her Hands, And Martha Served, She...
By Al R. Young
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Tags: And Martha Served, 2009, People and Stories of the Bible
By Al R. Young And Martha Served is the newest oil painting to be added to the line of original artworks from Al Young Studios.
Click here to see a larger image of the new painting, read the artist's commentary, and look at the selection of prints--if any are available.... Read more »
Tags: And Martha Served, 2009, Elspeth C. Young, Legacy, News, Oil paintings and prints, The Messiah Art Collection, Women of the Bible Art Collection