Welcome to the Saintly Sixteen! From 32 saints we have narrowed the field to 16. For this round, rather than the basic biographical information we enter the realm of Quirks and Quotes. Our brilliant Celebrity Bloggers will provide unusual information or legends surrounding their saints along with quotes either by or about their saints.
Don’t forget, you can always go to the Bracket Tab, deftly managed by Bracket Czar Adam Thomas, to easily find previous battles if you need to refresh your basic knowledge on these saints. This is yet another free courtesy extended to you, the Lent Madness Global Public.
In yesterday's Santa vs. Rudolph Showdown, okay Beatdown, Nicholas of Myra trounced Rudolph of Gubbio by the historic margin of 92% to 8%. Yes, the bracketologists have diligently researched this topic and determined that this has indeed surpassed the previous largest margin of victory. That was just last year when Maria Skobtsova, the Russian Nazi-fighting nun, defeated Quiteria, the early Christian nonuplet warrior 91% to 9%
The Saintly Sixteen gets started with a Biblical battle between Martha of Bethany and Nicodemus. At stake? The very first spot in the Elate Eight. Let's get to it.
Martha of Bethany
Who was Martha of Bethany? Domestic busybody and foil for her enlightened sister or Daenerys-Targaryen-like tamer of dragons and symbol of female power? Perhaps the medieval biographer Pseudo-Marcilia said it best. In her life, “Martha chose to perform her own ministry, which pleased God greatly.”
Little is known of Martha beyond her portrayal in Luke as the counterpart to her sister. Thanks to early church fathers like Origen and Augustine, the sisters became symbols of classical dualism--Martha, with her earthly concerns as a hostess and Mary, the contemplative. However, she is also a theologian in the Biblical text, confessing her faith in Jesus as a savior in John the same way Peter does in the Synoptics. For this reason, contemporary Biblical scholars see Martha as one of the disciples in Jesus’ inner circle. She has this role in the gnostic gospel Pistis Sophia, where she and other female disciples receive knowledge of the highest mysteries from the resurrected Jesus.
Martha took on an increasingly important role in the middle ages when legend credits her with many fascinating miracles that range from the Christlike to the bizarre. Once a boy drowned in a river across which he was swimming in an attempt to hear her preach, and Martha brought him back to life. Like the perfect hostess she was, she is also credited with changing water into wine at a banquet in her honor. Another legend tells that Martha knew the date of her death and eight days before it arrived she had a vision of her sister Mary’s soul ascending to heaven, held aloft by choirs of angels. After she died, Bishop Fronto of Périgueux fell asleep during a mass at his church and was miraculously carried to Tarascón to officiate over Martha’s funeral.
Devotion to Martha through the middle ages led to an evolving view of her, one where her life of austerity and service reconciled the dualism the early church ascribed to her and Mary. She was seen as an exemplar of both actio and contemplio, two complementary ways of being, both dependent on the other. In this wholeness, Martha becomes a symbol of the church, where spiritual insight fuels worldly service to others.
For this reason, in the church dedicated to her in Tarascón, she is shown with a dragon at her feet. The symbolism is not merely of the miracle attributed to her--the salvation of the town from the Tirascurus, a huge half animal/half fish beast. Martha is shown as the Apocalyptic Woman (Revelation 12), a multi-faceted symbol of female power associated with the Church, and the Virgin Mary, women who confront evil serpents and become a new Eve to partner with Christ the new Adam, and through their active work and generative power help transform the earth into the new creation.
Nicodemus
Nicodemus appears three times in scripture. Once to hear Jesus’ teaching by night (John 3:1-21), then as a member of the Sanhedrin who suggests that the accused deserved a trial before judgment (John 7:5-51), and finally at the Crucifixion where he not only provides the spices for embalming the dead body of our Lord, but also to assist Joseph of Arimathea in burying his body (John 19:39-42). There is scant, canonical material that suggests he said much of anything at all.
So let’s get Apocryphal. Apocryphal. I wanna get Apocryphal!
He has an entire gospel attributed to him and perhaps some of the most interesting parts of the Gospel of Nicodemus are where he describes the Harrowing of Hell. Just before Jesus arrives at Hell’s Gates, Satan, the Prince of Death, has an argument with Beelzebul, the Prince of Hell, about just who Jesus is. They keep going back and forth, arguing about whether he’s actually powerful or not, until suddenly “there was a voice as of thunder and the rushing of winds, saying, Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lift up, O everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall come in.” Jesus really knows how to make an entrance. The Prince of Hell then tells Satan to leave unless he is powerful enough to fight the “King of Glory” (Satan leaves), and then Beelzebul instructs his hellions to bar the gates.
Upon hearing the voice announcing the coming of Christ, the dead begin to revolt, yelling at the Prince of Hell “Open thy gates that the King of Glory may come in.” David, Isaiah, and other prophets and prominent Hebrew Bible figures begin reciting their prophecies of the coming Messiah. After again refusing to open the Gates of Hell, the Prince of Hell falls right into the trap of asking “who is this King of Glory?” King David responds with “the Lord strong and powerful, the Lord mighty in battle: he is the King of Glory” and just then Jesus “appeared in the form of a man, and enlightened those places which had ever before been in darkness, And broke asunder the fetters which before could not be broken; and with his invincible power visited those who sat in the deep darkness by iniquity, and the shadow of death by sin.” Jesus then proceeds to lay the holy smackdown in Hell and leaves with the souls of the righteous.
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124 comments on “Martha of Bethany vs. Nicodemus”
Martha speaks to the contemporary view of spiritual growth through action and pray, so I gave her my vote. However, my spiritual imagination took flight contemplating the evolution of the Nicodemus story as nomadic and small settlements of people sat by campfires under a vast, starlit desert sky of people sharing storied traditions that could transfer from one generation to the next an explanation of life's end and the great mystery of death and beyond.
Amber Belldene’s write up brings Martha into complete focus. Many thanks!
I’ve never felt entirely comfortable with the common tendency to wag a finger at the lady whose hosting God for lunch. What host wouldn’t be scrambling for a delightful time, and, the table won’t set itself....
This year’s foray into the life of Martha reveals her as a servant on her journey to maturity in the faith. In scripture I find a strong thread that deeper understanding and insight comes from obeying God. This is now how I view the Mary/Martha narrative. Each woman was free to inhabit their gift and church tradition reminds me that of course they bloomed in all sorts of directions just like the faithful servants we see in the parable of the talents.
I voted for Martha for two reasons, one it is my sister's name even though I was the Martha and she was the Mary and two Martha always seems to get the "put down" in the story. I am glad to have the "rest of the story" told.
I voted for Martha because she had the more creative afterlife, a sign of the Holy Spirit working overtime to bring us closer to maturity in Christ.
Who wants a busybody for Best Saint?
Not a busybody, rather a busy body.
Either way, it’s the 1st century equivalent of a Church Lady - not pretty.
Parishes would be in deep trouble without the dedicated, spirited service of church ladies.
Martha's exemplification of actio and contemplio gets my vote.
Michael Wachter gets my vote. He's extremely talented!
Ol' Nic is going down! He's very indecisive; thus, he deserves a wee bit o'ridicule. This goes back to the adage: "Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies". He comes to Jesus by night asking what must be done, and then doesn't like the answer. Sorry, bro.
Martha, dear sis of Mary and Lazarus, knew her job and did it, to the sad scorn of Jesus' pity. But she accepted His answer, and chose the lesser part, which was also not to be taken from her. So, Martha for the win!
Luke 10:42 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
42 there is need of only one thing.[a] Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
He’s not indecisive (very or otherwise) and it doesn’t say he doesn’t like the answer, he is working to understand.
Read John 3.
Nicodemus for insisting on a trial and not just summary execution and for showing up with spices to help Joseph of Arimathea prepare our Lord's body for burial.
We don't hear of Peter, James, John, or any of the other apostles showing up to help.
Michael, your songs get better and better. Definitely a God-given talent. Bless you for a bright spot in my mornings!
As one who believes that a well-rounded Christian life requires both actio and contemplatio, my vote goes to Martha (although my Welsh heritage prompts me to question the routing of dragons!)
Nicodemis because “the wind blows where it wills.”
I'm going with Nic at Night in this round, for inspiring/eliciting the declaration of John 3:16, and for reminding the Sanhedrin that Jesus had the right to at least a hearing (I'm a lawyer), and because I think his care for Jesus's body shows that he became a follower of the Way after that conversation with Jesus about his need to be "born from above." But I'll also be happy if Martha gets the nod - both of these are Golden Halo-worthy, imho!
Tough call today, but as a member of Altar Guild, I feel compelled to cast my vote for Martha, the faithful servant and disciple who exemplifies service along with her piety!
I do love Martha. We housewives struggle to find time for contemplio in the midst of our actio. Yet, the legendary difficulty Christ met at the Harrowing thrilled me. Wow, thanks, Bloggers.
Amber, great write up about Martha. Marcus, thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting that song in my head to last ah, maybe all day. I voted for Martha because of another song "I am Woman Hear Me Roar"
I have to vote for Martha. My mother was Martha, and her grandmother was Martha whose twin was Mary.
Tough choice, but I went for Nicodemus. The story of the Harrowing of Hell is fascinating and encouraging--just because someone lived before the birth of Jesus doesn't mean they have to stay in Hell forever. And long ago our choir sang the anthem "Most Glorious Lord of Life", with the lines,
"and having harrowed hell, didst bring away
captivity thence captive, us to win."
Marcus Halley - I see what you did there with the Olivia Newton-John reference in the middle of that write-up. What an ear worm to have stuck in my head all day!
OK I like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6yIgN54R7k but Martha gets my vote.
Just a general comment about Lent Madness: we are using the booklet for our Sunday School teachings during Lent, and the kids are so fascinated that they chose to skip Eucharist to continue what they were doing, and then took their hospitality hour snacks back to their classroom to talk and explore further! Now THAT is impact!
Today's dilemma - do I vote for Martha because she's who I want to win or do I vote for Nicodemus because I suspect Marthas going to win and I don't want Nic to get beat too badly 🙂
Oh, Hell, I’m voting for Nicodemus. He had his very own gospel, who could ask for anything more?
(Who can write a lyric about him to the tune of “I Got Rhythm” and ending with “Who could ask for anything more?” I’ve tried, and can’t.)
M
I know--I wish writing holy parodies of show tunes were my spiritual gift, too, but, alas, it is not.
Nicodemus
Sure could be us
Questioned Jesus,
Who could ask for anything more?
Jesus hell-bound
Had us spellbound
Old Nic came around,
Who could ask for anything more?
Yes!
Well, I’ll be! That’s great!
I'm a Martha, for sure. Rooting for her all the way to the Golden Halo!
I spent six years as Principal of the House of Bethany in Liberia, the girls' half of the Episcopal High School in Robertsport, Liberia. That didn't help me in the round of 32, but now, of course, I'm voting for Martha.
Although I like Nicodemus, Martha is a saintly hero! In the gospels, only 4 people proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah - One is the woman at the well, one is Andrew when he brings his brother, Peter, to Jesus, one is Peter when he answers Jesus' question "who do you say that I am", and the last person is Martha. But Martha not only says Jesus is the messiah - but she uses 3 messianic titles - the only person to do so before the Resurrection. In response to her, Jesus gives the greatest of his "I am" statements: "I am the Resurrection and the life..." I think for too long Martha has been relegated to the role of housekeeper or the "practical" one. However, I think she too started sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening with her sister Mary, and then became an important leader in the early church.
"Jesus then proceeds to lay the holy smackdown in Hell...."
So the Gospel of Nicodemus details how Christ won the WWE Nether World Champion Belt.
Nicodemus embodies the Way of the Small, as does Martha. The writers here focus on legend and apocryphal accounts, but I think more of the direct scripture. I love Martha, and the comments here helped me find a way to go beyond the dualism of Martha and Mary. Martha is inspiring, yet I relate more to Nicodemus, who exemplifies to me the path of Jesus that evolves from unknowing, to questioning, to experiencing a different view that runs counter to popular thinking, and then becoming more intimate with Jesus, as Nicodemus did by helping prepare God's body for burial. Christ died for Nicodemus, and for people like him, that they might come more fully to God. Nicodemus gives me strength and hope, an example that wherever I am and whoever I am that I can come closer to Christ in my own life.
Before I voted I went back and read the article about the Jewish Burial Society, performing their duties ,chevra kadisha, to clean up after the massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg, PA. The article is "Their Bloods Cry Out from the Ground" by Shira Teluskin, Nov. 1, 2018. I imagine Nicodemus doing all this, in accordance with Jewish law, for Jesus. I imagine such detail was not recorded because Jews were routinely murdered for being Jews and many of us are still not well versed in the details of many Jewish rituals. In my simple mind, Nicodemus, could very easily have been a principle player in, say...Easter morning! I think he was there for a reason. The story is there for a reason.
This was a hard one for me. But I went with Nicodemus because that scene of Christ harrowing hell is so vivid and cinematic. (I can almost imagine it being done with muppets. But I digress…) I especially loved the quotation of the psalm, the Biblical figures speaking their writings, and Satan taking his line!