The Clarke Window.

Jesus and his disciples in the house of Martha and Mary

This window depicts two stories from the New Testament.

The top section of the window depicts the story of Mary and Martha as told in Luke’s Gospel Chapter 10, verses 38 to 42. Mary can be seen sitting at Jesus’ feet, as she listens to his every word. Martha reacts to the fact that Mary isn’t helping. She says to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”  Jesus responds to Martha’s complaints “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.” He then continues with the words detailed in the window. He says, “Mary hath chosen that good part.”

The bottom section of this window depicts the moment when Jesus raises Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha, from death. Mary can be seen at Jesus’ feet, and Martha stands beside Jesus, next to the tomb.

What is so striking about these two scenes is the journey of faith for both Martha and Mary. In the first story, both Martha and Mary recognised something special in Jesus. However, Mary knew that Jesus’ words were far more important than preparing food and Jesus confirmed this in his words to Martha. “Mary hath chosen that good part.”

Later on in Jesus ministry we see how their faith has grown. When Jesus meets Martha on the road shortly after Lazarus has died, he is told by her, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Martha knew that Jesus was  “the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” She had grown in her faith.

Mary, too, recognised more in Jesus. She meets him at the entrance of the tomb and says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary also believed that Jesus could have saved her brother.

Jesus doesn’t let them down; he recognises their grief. In fact the Bible tells us that Jesus is moved to tears. In the shortest verse in the whole of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, we are told, “Jesus wept.” (John Chapter 11, verse 35). Jesus then calls to Lazarus, “Lazarus, come out!” at which point we return to the picture in the window. Lazarus is alive once more.

The Bible tells us that this event caused a change in the lives of many people. We are told “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.”