We move within the structure of the kingdom as God’s people, which is why we should understand its different levels of heavens coupled to the element of water. This is revealed from the Hebrew word ‘mamlākāh’, which is used for the term ‘kingdom’.
This Hebrew word begins twice with the Hebrew letter ‘Mem’, which is associated with ‘water’, among other things, as well as carrying the numerical value ‘40’. The Hebrew word used in the Word of God for ‘water’ is ‘Majim’ and is used exclusively in the plural form. It begins with the Hebrew letter ‘Mem’ and ends with it at the same time. (Note: part excerpt from the Elberfelder Study Bible on the word ‘mamlākāh – kingdom’ with the word key number 4542)
Accordingly, it is no coincidence that, among other things, the creation record is linked to the Spirit of God hovering over the waters and that there is also a sea of glass before the throne of God (cf. Genesis 1:1-2; Revelation 4:6a).
Genesis 1:1-2:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Revelation 4:6a:
6a Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. …
6a Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. …
Jesus Christ in the House of Martha and Mary
In this context, I was led to the Bible passage from Luke 10:38-40, where Jesus was in transition with His disciples and went to a certain village to the house of Martha. At that time, there was also her sister Mary who was sitting at Jesus’ feet while He was speaking on an important subject, which I assume was about the power of prayer and intercession.
Luke 10:38-40:
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40 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!”
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40 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!”
I see this connected with the fact that after this encounter Jesus taught His disciples how to pray by using the structure of the later called ‘Lord’s Prayer’ (cf. Luke 11:1-4).
Luke 11:1-4:
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”
In the same way how Jesus Christ entered the house of Martha and Mary, there are phases in our lives when Jesus Christ, as the Word of God, enters our sphere to teach us, through His Spirit, the things of God that are on His heart (cf. John 1:14 i.c.w. Revelation 19:13).
John 1:14:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Revelation 19:13:
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
This visitation is akin to the movement of the revelatory Word of God that went forth from the mouth of God at the beginning of creation to align as light with the Spirit hovering over the waters. This happened to reveal the dimension of ‘contrasts’ or ‘Yes!’ and ‘No!’ that contribute to a new day in the church – the Ekklēsia (cf. Genesis 1:2-5 i.c.w. Matthew 5:37).
Genesis 1:2-5:
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.
Matthew 5:37:
37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
The ‘Waters’ set ablaze in the House by the Sonship of God
When Jesus entered Martha’s house with His disciples, He stirred up the ‘waters’, which is evident from the name of Martha and Mary as their names carry revelation.
The name ‘Mary’ is of Hebrew origin and originally reads ‘Miriam – מִרְיָם’, which means ‘bitterness, fatness’. The name carries the numerical value 260.
The name ‘Martha – מרתא’ is of Aramaic origin and means ‘mistress’ and carries the numerical value of 641.
It is of great importance that both first names begin with the Hebrew letter ‘Mem’, which is related to the ‘stirred water’.
The Hebrew name ‘Miriam’ as well as like the already mentioned Hebrew word for ‘water – Majim’ has a ‘Mem’ at the beginning as well as at the end.
In this, the realm of heaven and earth as well as spirit and soul is evident in the identity of God as the ‘Alpha’ and ‘Omega’ and the impact of His kingdom (note: Hebrew ‘mamlākāh’; cf. Revelation 1:8).
Revelation 1:8:
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The name of Mary or Miriam clearly show that it is necessary for us as believers in Christ to go forward with a humble heart through the experiences we have had, as indicated by the numerical value and meaning.
Based on the Word of God, it is also clear that some women with the name went through challenges and achieved beneficial results through the help of God. Women such as Mary Magdalene, who received adoption, forgiveness and release from demonic powers; Mary the sinner, who received forgiveness through Jesus Christ, as well as Mary the mother of Jesus, through whose soul a sword passed, but later received comfort through Jesus’ victory on the cross and His resurrection.
It was the sonship of God (Note: Jesus Christ) that entered the realm of the relationship of the church – Ekklēsia (Note: Martha) with the apostolic standard of the Heavenly Father (Note: the disciples of Jesus) to point to the higher or better way of the Spirit expressed in true discipleship in the kingdom of God (Note: Mary) to Jesus Christ (cf. Luke 10:39-42 i.c.w. 1 Corinthians 12:31b).
Luke 10:39-42:
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40 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!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40 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!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
1 Corinthians 12:31b:
… 31b And yet I will show you the most excellent (higher) way (Note: the way of God’s true love – agąpē).
… 31b And yet I will show you the most excellent (higher) way (Note: the way of God’s true love – agąpē).
True discipleship points to believers in Christ who are continually learning, growing, and humbly seeking more knowledge of their callings and purposes, as well as implementing what they learn based on the truth of God’s Word (cf. John 14:23).
John 14:23:
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Jesus’ presence in Martha’s house caused her to strive in her own strength in ‘serving’, instead of listening to Jesus’ teaching at that moment. This teaching carried great importance for the future, since the death and resurrection of Lazarus was yet to come, in which the intercession or power of a righteous man’s prayer played an important role (cf. James 5:16b).
James 5:16b:
… 16b The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
… 16b The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
The meaning of the name ‘Martha – mistress’ and the numerical value of her first name of 641 indicate a high spiritual potential, but in turn must be properly administered. An unreasonable eagerness and existing arrogance here point to the unnecessary danger of losing the right focus in the end.
We can learn here not to miss the moment of the necessary instruction of the Word of God.
A humble attitude of heart and true submission to Jesus Christ is crucial in order to get into an elevated spiritual position and to correctly recognize the moment of visitation (cf. 1 Peter 5:5b).
1 Peter 5:5b:
… 5b All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (cf. Proverbs 3:34).”
… 5b All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (cf. Proverbs 3:34).”
Waters are also linked in the Word of God to soul attitudes and the Spirit of God is the one who searches our hearts, so it is up to us to let the Holy Spirit lead us deeper into the structures of the Kingdom of God.
Leaving this dimension of Martha and entering the dimension of Mary requires a renunciation of our own aspirations and subtle pride in order to clear the way for God’s power and His glory, based on the reflection of God’s greatness in sincere humility.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
