In Judaism, a Midrash is a form of poetry, that mimics Biblical Styles, and uses it to interpret scripture. It goes deeper, and creatively uses the material, to form deeper understandings of the scripture. However, a Midrash is not scripture. It's rather, a Formative Thought, using the Bible's style and imagery to interpret it.

I have adopted the style for my own purposes, to study the Bible and form a Christian version of the form. As a result, I am pleased with it, as it has deepened my faith and understanding of all scripture.

A midrash, mimicking biblical poetry. As I often say, no work of mine is scripture. This is merely an interpretation of the Bible, and the authentic feelings I have. A midrash is a kind of interpretive form, created by the Jews, where a person creatively explores the concepts of the Bible, and considering I'm a Christian, I'm merging Old and New Testament prophecies together into a synthesis, using Old Testament Prophetic Language, with New Testament Themes.

Also, to explore how books like the Koran or Book of Mormon can explore similar language to that of the Bible, as an experienced writer can write like that. As Hemingway pointed out. "I can write like God, but I don't." A gifted writer can write like the passages of the Bible, so remember scripture isn't because of its tone, but because it is a witness, and can be proven to be so.





This Generation Seeks Me With their Lips

"This generation seeks me with their lips
"But not with their hearts
"They change the prophet's words in order to confound him
"And say, 'he will neither notice, nor take care.'
"Who, I ask you, Who brings the sun through its course?
"Who waters the lilies, and causes the wetlands to dry up?
"Who causes the rains to fall in one place
"Upon the forests, and yet they do not bear their leafs?
"I, the LORD your God."
I heard this and sat in wonder,
Seeing the almighty acts of the LORD
Who to this day was good to me
And has not filled my heart with sorrows.
The nations bray and burst into laughter
When they hear the awesome wonder of our God.
But, I say, it is they who are deceived.
Does not rain fall in one place
And not another?
Does not the warmth shine in one place
And not another?
Is there not cold in places where it is warm,
And warmth where it should be cold?
Do the nations truly deceive themselves
To consider that they truly understand this?
For it is the wrath of the LORD,
And no thing else
That causes my lands to dry up.
I watch, and am sore vexed
As pools of water fill the gullies
But where are the budding flowers?
Are they not in Shevat?
Why then do the nations say,
"Aha! Our idols have told us so!
"We are sore vexed, let us fix it by making the nations even more poor!"
Yet it is because of your idolatry,
And nothing else.
For your dishonoring the Sabbaths
And violating the workers' rights.
For, one man is deathly ill
And you provoke him to come in and do his task.
Another is healthy, but he does not come into work.
One man says, "I wish to have off on the Sabbath."
And the nation laughs him to scorn.
On your holidays, yes, even these,
All men go about their business
Buying and selling, and having no rest.
Therefore the land has no rest,
And it mourns.


Do the flowers bloom in Shevat?
Do they not sleep?
Do the little animals frolic in the winter?
Why then, do you wander to and fro
Looking for you food, and do not take wonder
At the strange thing the LORD has done?
For you wish to place Baal at every street corner.
Must I be like a diviner
And tell you what is not true?
Tell you strange enchantments to get you to listen?
Must I talk to the flowers
And pretend like they listen?
No, for the LORD has told me.
He is sore wroth at this generation
Who has not the rest of the LORD.
To and fro they go,
Therefore, the forests are become a desert.
And the deserts a forest.
The peoples who have not known His name
Shall know it, and the peoples who honor Him
With their lips shall stop taking the name of the LORD on them.
For they are deceitful.
Do not the nations know that the LORD is God?
Yes, they do know, but they stiffen their necks.
Who is it, I ask you, that brings the rains?
Who brings the circle of the earth to bear
And brings light in due season
And shuts up the light in due season?
Is it not the LORD Who created man and the earth?
Why then are you so mad?
Why do you drive your wagons to and fro
Going place to place
Roaring like a lion fed in the wildernesses?

This people dishonors their God
And they take the name of the LORD falsely
Upon their lips.
This prophet shall be at rest.
He shall eat, shall he not?
And even if it is not so,
He shall rest, knowing the wrath of the LORD
Is upon this nation, and he will sleep
And know that the LORD is God.
The evidence is all around you
Why do you not look?
Did you seek God?
Is this why you said, "I cannot see Him."
Is this why you offer incense to that shameful thing Baal?
"Come together, and let us reason,
"Though you sins were red as scarlet
"Yet will I make them white as snow."
Yet, men said to themselves,
"My sins are not scarlet
"They are mine, and mine to bear."
Therefore, you must bear them
Shameful nation of the Philistines.
Had not the LORD spoken
Yet the prophet sealed the vision?
It was sealed for your hardheartedness
Yet none speak the Words of the LORD
Which are loving-kindness to the generations that seek Him. Selah.

Therefore, repent, and throw from yourselves the idols you carry.
Throw them into the waters,
Like the priests of Rome.
For even they, whom the whole world scorns
Know the LORD is awesome and mighty.
They fear Him, whom Israel says, "These are sinners worse than us."
Are they Israel? Is not Judah suffering from an unrighteous king
And yet the priests perform the rituals, and they throw away the abominations?
They live poor, and they minister like workers to cleans the sinners?
What does Israel do, but call the police on the innocent man for a word?
What does Israel do, but band together and stiffen their necks against the prophets?
Yet, I say to you, greater woes come if there is no rest.
This prophet will return to his LORD with an ill report about this generation
Who had not liberated him,
But rather loved to have him poor.
"How have we not liberated him?"
By words accountable, you had not laid accusations
Against the government that did this.
Which professes "Freedom" when there is none.
For this, you band together with arms
Which is just what Satan wanted!
No, I say, repent, in dust and ashes.
You grow worse with every folly
And you grow more cold with every sin.
Rather, a man's work is to be eaten from
And where is this prophet's work?
It is spoiled by Jackals
And you all know just who they are.
Yet you say, "Let us fight!"
No... For then you will lose.
The Assyrian will be broken by the sword
And by the exorcise of laws.
Yet, my people would not have it.
Therefore, this prophet will rest.
What will you do?
Continue to go to and fro
Eating and drinking,
Marrying wives and blessing children.
Mixed wine is in your cups.
Therefore, the nations who have not known the LORD
They shall seek Him and they shall find Him.
Woe to the generation who rejected the LORD their God
Mighty to save and compassionate to a thousand generations.

Was not my command to you that you be charitable?
Yet, you say, "Charity is weak."
Is charity weak? Is it an abomination
To give to those less fortunate than you?
Must you, in your vanities
Perform the service of healing,
Yet heal it superficially?
The daughter was violated
Yet you say to her, "Be still, for it is of none affect."
The man was falsely accused,
Yet you say to him, "It will be alright. Be at peace."
Yet, with what little abundance they had
They gave to the poor, therefore they will be at rest.
What of you, nation of hypocrites?
Your offerings were to the priests
But what of the poor?
The poor you cast off your stoops.
The poor you called "Degenerate"
"Liar"
And "Lazy."
Must I prophesy to you?
Is Esdras in your holy scripture?
Is there not prophecy in it?
Is there not prophecies all around you
To testify the power of the LORD Almighty God?
Does not God show Himself through these things?
How you judge a prophet for a little error of wording
Yet you, by your great abundant hypocrisies
Speak foolishness to thousands?
You tell them, "God loves the powerful one."
You tell them, "God is with the one whose arm has brought him all things."
Yet, to the poor digging through your  garbage you say,
"Get away! Even our garbage is too sacred for you beggars."
When will this generation learn?
Did not the prophet set examples for you?
When to follow laws,
And when not to?
When to give, and what to give
And how did he give of his sustenance what he could afford?
You call him lazy, yet he works every day
Silently finding the truth, seeking his God
Finding wisdom, and telling it to you?
If he has one  fault
And LORD knows what it is,
What faults do you have?
If he has spoken falsehood
It shall fall upon his head,
Yet why do you listen to him
Secretly in his bedchambers?
Is this the light of God?
To spy upon the innocent
And lay to bear his every word
Like you yourselves were God?
Hypocrites!
For the nations are filled with wrath
And the poor man is still not fed.

Was there not one commandment given to you
Above the rest? Who clothed Christ? Who fed Christ?
Who visited Christ in Prison? Who healed Christ when he was sick?
Who had comforting words for Christ? Was it any of you?
Yet you call yourselves greater than this man who speaks to you,
Who did all these things.
You call him a liar for speaking words in utterance hastily.
While you bring it to pass.
Hypocrites. Idolaters. Thieves. Jackals. Serpents.
These words mean nothing to you
Therefore, a new generation will serve the Almighty
And you will altogether go to the pits.



Truth

The LORD destroys those who seek Him,
And established the wicked.
He gave grace to the prideful,
And the prize to those who made war.
He graced the wicked man, and made him ruler.
He gave His people over to the curse.
"Seek, Seek, Seek!"
I have sought, and I have found,
And the LORD has wounded me,
And has made my disease worse every day.
He has caused my kith and kin to hate me
And has taken away even what little I had.
God established the wicked, and gives grace to the sinner.
Those who wish to walk in his statutes are cursed.
Yet I said in my heart, "It is not so!"
Yet it is so, for I suffer and am made a prey.
The LORD lives, but He is mighty
And exalts the wicked and destroys those who seek Him.
He hid Himself from all, and made His face veiled by a dark cloud.
He allowed His adversaries to destroy His Law
And disgrace His Tabernacles.
He allowed the proof of His divine order to fade,
And has given witness that the wicked rule the Earth,
And He  has given them power over men, to rule for one hour.
Lament, oh Zion, pipe like a horn, and cry out o Daughter of my people!
What have we done? We sought you early, and have sought
And have made it our labor, and you gave it to the dogs to devour.
You caused witches to curse us to our faces
And have caused mages to soothsay before us continually.
Our minds have been destroyed, and there is no more proof of Your kindness.
Therefore, to the righteous of the Earth, shelter yourselves for a little while,
And it will pass. Hold fast your virtue, for things have not turned.
Satan has been given power for a little while.
Go into your closets, shut the doors, and be silent.
Hold fast to mercy, and peace, and truth, and righteousness, and wisdom,
And cry out to God, though He allow our adversary to prosper but a little while.
He shall be crushed, and soon we shall say, "Where is the wicked?"
For they shall be no more, who oppressed the Daughter of my People.



Oh My People

Do you not know, oh Daughter of my people,
That working does not save?
Yet you cry, "Then what about righteous deeds?"
Do you not know, oh Daughter of my people,
That your own works cannot save?
Yet you cry, "But I thirst for what's good."
Then listen oh Daughter of my people,
Christ is the Rootstock, and you are the Scion.
Let your wisdom flow from Him,
For the multitudes of arguments cannot win,
For the ungodly have no proof for reason.
Rather, let your Spirit flow with blessing,
And flow with the Father's light.
Be grafted into the Rootstock,
And let your sap be sweet
So you bear hearty fruit,
Choice on the vine,
And savory and sweet.



Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
I have caught your face at a glance.
Did you come to receive me,
And was I gone from my nest?
A little bird, would you gather me
Yet I was gone too long!
And Your word was trampled upon the street
And the heathen were enraged.
They sought my life, to destroy it,
And they put many into the furnace that day.
The smell was unusual,
And a great stink arose from the ashes.
Yet, we patiently await righteousness,
And do no work.
We lay off our burdens from our shoulders,
And we rest in You, and You alone, oh Christ.
For mercy was seeking for me,
And I saw her face, and it was beautiful among 10,000.
Peace, she comes close behind,
And wisdom closer still...
Be still in the LORD...
For He shall strengthen you.
Do not worry, or fret,
And do not put the fetter over your neck,
For His yoke is light, and His burden easy.
You do not have to do a thing...
Rather, ask the LORD to be grafted in the vine,
And await for His righteousness to rain down upon you.
And then rest... o fool! Until the LORD fulfills His covenant with Jacob.

A Midrash on Church Tradition, and the Deaths of the Apostles. As it is, none of my writing is scripture. This is drawn from Martyr's Mirror, and also from memory from the tens of thousands of Sermons I've listened to, with regard to these men and women. And also some other church tradition.

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene began her ministry in Jerusalem, with Peter. Where she studied under him, and then became partnered with a disciple named Maximus, who was one of the 70 whom Jesus sent out to minister by two. And Mary Magdalene ministered with him, and then began to be persecuted by the people of Jerusalem, where she fled on a boat, and became shipwrecked in France. There, she met a Roman General, and his family, and saved them through promising them they would conceive a child if they accepted Christ. To which, the general did conceive a child, and his wife went on a long journey with him, and she and the child died on their course. To which, the General kept the faith, and found Peter and learned from him, so through Mary's prayers, the woman and her child were revived, and reunited with the General when he returned to France. Mary then went to Ephesus, and remained with John Son of Thunder until she died. She did not, however, remain a hermit in France as the legends say, as God does not want hermits or recluses, but people who engage and evangelize, and He wants us to be in community with other men. And some records say Mary cursed this general, and used fear to persuade him, but such is not true. A saint does not curse. Rather, it was a humble thing, and the man found faith, even though God had wounded him severely, through Mary's prayers he was restored his wife and child.

James Son of Thunder

James Son of Thunder began his ministry in Judea and Samaria, and then unsuccessfully in Spain, where he met resistance. So he returned to Jerusalem, where he was opposed by a worthless sorcerer named Hermogenes. He lived until the fourth year of Claudius, when Agabus had predicted a great famine, because the church was being suppressed. And Herod Agrippa persecuted the church in Rome severely. So on a Passover Feast, Herod laid hands on James, and threw him into an awful prison. There, for a short time he remained, until James the Son of Thunder was sentenced to death. The sword beheaded James Son of Thunder, and thus his life ended, as the first of the Twelve to die a death. But, many miracles are witnessed of James, more than many other great men of God, so his time was very fruitful upon the Earth, and he made many converts that he could, more than many other apostles, though his life were shortest of them all. Also, upon execution, his executioner confessed he were Christian too, and asked James to forgive him, and James said "Peace be with thee," though after but a little deliberation. And the two were led to martyrdom together.

Philip

The LORD's second disciple to die, ministered first in Scythia, where he planted many churches. He also was Bishop of Syria and the upper parts of Asia. Philip then came to Phrygia, where none would listen to him. Woe to those who do not listen. These heretical Christians denied the divinity of Christ, and said of Him, He was only a gifted philosopher, or said of Him He was a Prophet only, and not of the Trinity. After ministering to the  Ethiopian, which means Burnt Skin,--thus the Gospel was ministered to the Darkest Skinned people first of all,--he found himself in Phrygia, where he was laid hands on, and his head was fastened to a pillar, like Sisera, but this were a holy death, and Sisera an abomination. Let your death be holy, and not due to being a sinner or because you are active in rebellion.

James the Son of Alphaeus

James was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and one of the three pillars, along with John and Peter. For thirty years he administered this position faithfully, and made many converts. Not only through sound doctrine, but also through holiness did James convert many souls. He was the true author of The Wisdom Book of James, and also austere with food and drink, and was never given to any wine. Though he did not purge his food from the drought like a Roman, but ate modestly. He was brought before the Sanhedrin to force him to deny Christ, and convicted of Blasphemy, for confessing the LORD Jesus. These wolves took James to the very Temple--before Titus would burn it to the ground--and held him prisoner there like Zacharias, and did with him what they would, to force him to blaspheme, and violently treated him in the very hallows of the Sacred Temple. But it only emboldened him to confess more, so he wouldn't be subdued by their enchanting arts. Many saw this, for the wolves did it openly, and converted to Christianity, as James would never deny the LORD's name. They were frightened by this, those who persecuted James, for he might convert the entire city, so they took him and lay him in secret chambers. And there, in the pits of outer darkness, they cast stones upon James, until he die, and see the true light. For, he was not yet dead from the stoning, and many priests begged for his pardon--James' legs were broken, and he was on his knees, as they called James Camel Knees for praying so much, he caloused those knees--and a Pharisee took a rod and broke James' neck with it.

Simon Peter Cephas

Peter was able to convert 3,000 souls a sermon, and fed his sheep--bodily as well as spiritual nourishment, as Shepherds ought to do; first be kind to the sheep, and give them their balms and sheer their fleece, and trim their nails, but also to give them their food, and hold them close to their breast before the day they are slaughtered. He was fiercely threatened to stop preaching and writing, and led by chains to many councils where they would threaten him with death and confinement if he did not stop. Then Herod, a King of certain provinces, was wroth over the Christian doctrine--for what matter, no one knows as these were perverted men and perverted times. So, as it were, under Nero--who killed half a million sheep, where Rome would murder millions more over the next three centuries--he took Peter and placed him under chains, and would crucify him. But, Peter was not fearful of the death, only that some might worship him. So emboldened by the Spirit cried out to be crucified upside down like a woman--which was a shorter death, and by an act of some divine mercy, it was done, for these men know only cruelty and wouldn't do it unless coerced by a greater force. 

Paul

Paul, like many of the LORD's other apostles, ministered in many places, and planted many churches. As you can read about him in Luke's book of Acts. But, what is unknown, he fought wild beasts in arenas, but would not slay a man for spectacle. He was forsaken by friend and ally at the end of his life... and was lonely, and cold. And not joyful. But in mourning all day and night. Which is not unlawful, let no one deceive you, sufferers are not at fault for their sickness of heart. He was then brought before Nero at the end of his life, but joyfully ran faster than his captors, to the beheading. And with joy, and thankfulness, he was beheaded by Nero, for his life was one of torment and suffering, and he went to a better claim.

Andrew

Andrew was obedient unto death, and ministered in Pontus, Galatia, Bethynia, and Anthropophagus, also in both northern and southern countries. He even went so far as Byzantium, and Thracia, and Macedonia, and Thessalia, and Achaia. He preached Christ everywhere, and made loud noises of jubilation when extolling our LORD. What must be understood about some of these men, is they ministered over journeys of twenty thousand miles, publishing the Gospel everywhere they went. Over land and sea, and persecuted from city to city, planting churches wherever they went. Yet, when in Achaia, he converted a governess, which enraged the officials of that county. As is true, they hate the Gospel because it is meek, and they pride themselves on war and struggle, instead of community. They think the Gospel made Rome weak, and thus unable to defend itself. Which is not true, it expanded the empire globally. The Apostle was cheerful to die, and confessed the nearer to death he was, the nearer to the LORD's City he was. And he hung three days. As he hang on the cross, he confessed Jesus to everyone, and would not deny him. He ministered there, upon the instrument, to everyone who passed by. He was not nailed to the cross, but hung there, and some faithful wanted to take him down. For they thought him pitiful. But, he cried out to leave him up on the cross, and commit himself to death, which is the doorway to a better life.

Nathan Bartholomew

Bartholomew ministered in Lyconia, and Syria, and upper Asia, and also in India. He and Thomas left a Gospel of Matthew in India, and planted churches there, now called the Nasrani. He also ministered in Armenia, and Albana, and Albanopolis, and converted an Assyrian King's, King Astyages',  brother. And also his wife and children. He also delivered twelve cities in Assyria, from idolatry, the idolatry of the old Canaanite Pantheons. This caused a great stir, and the people to hate Bartholomew, so they told the king his ministry, and Bartholomew was apprehended. The king was unhappy with the new doctrine taught in his kingdom, and that his brother was taught it. So he threatened Bartholomew with death, unless he would stop talking about the Gospel. Bartholomew would not.  Bartholomew was tortured, crucified upside down, flayed alive, beaten with rods, and then beheaded with an axe. But he was only supposed to be flayed, and not beheaded, but preached the gospel as he was being flayed on the cross, so they beheaded him.

Thomas

Thomas was a man, who could only believe his eyes and hands. Yet, consider, Satan can even misdirect those, thus we need ears. He directed Jude Thaddeus to go to King Agbarus, after Christ had resurrected. To Parthia, India, Ethiopia, beyond the Roman Kingdom were his ministry, as many of the churches still there attest. The Apostles appeared as two witnesses, confirming the Testimony of our LORD in the regions beyond the Roman Empire, where Christ's fame was magnificent. He had persuasive arguments, because he saw God in the flesh, therefore knew Him with his full senses. Thus, no abstract argument could dissuade him, nor any reason, though Christ said better to believe and not see. And this, because seeing, you only have the choice between God or the Devil, and no third option of ignorance. In Calamina in the East Indies, he stopped many idols, by preaching the Word of God. For they had been sun worshippers. Yet, Thomas even commanded Satan himself, and destroyed the idolatry through evil--as evil is subordinate to the good, and must obey, thus, you cast out devils, and break down images even through evil itself. Thus, he was tormented by red hot irons, and skewered by the Oriental King, and thrown into a furnace, where he would not be consumed by the fire. And thus, while he was safely in the fire like Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego--to confirm his testimony--they pierced him through the side like the Centurion did Christ, where his hand had thrust through.

Matthew

Matthew wrote the Gospel in Hebrew, and the Portuguese through Rome's Ignorance burned them in India, where Thomas and Bartholomew went. Matthew was an Apostle in India, where the rivers were. This was his main domacery. His Gospel was also in India, beyond the rivers of Jordan bordering the Ganges, and he performed miracles there, and a great ministry. He would then preach in a city called Naddavar, in Asia, where he would be murdered. A king friendly to the Gospel, named Aeglippus had died, and the new king was unfriendly, and nailed Matthew to the ground, thus martyring him. That new king was Hytacus. First, however, it was through persecution, and then namely, they lay hands on him, and affix him to the ground like Sisera. And then they strike his head off. He preached in a church within the Tamil Borders, where he was apprehended. 

Simon the Zealot and Thaddaeus Judas Alphaeus Labeaus. 

Simon preached in many locations, moving around a lot because he was an adventurer. He went to Egypt, Cyrene, Africa, Mauritania, Libya, and was the first to minister to the Celts and Saxons. He then came down from England, into Persia--he was a great traveller--and in old age, he ministered there, where he found Jude. And the two ministered together, as a powerful force, being both brothers of the LORD. And he sealed his confession with blood. Jude had written his letter, authentically. Jude had travelled to Mesopotamia, Syria, Arabia, and as far as Edessa. Finally, going to Persia, and meeting his brother--the two had great love for one another--they both opposed the Persian idolatry, which was hard because it had good law, but only lacked Christ. And Jude and Simon were both beaten to death for offending the Pagan's Monotheism. 

Matthias

All eleven Apostles were scourged in the temple when they were young, and Matthias made up the twelfth, and Paul the half of Matthias, for the Half Tribes, though Paul was not scourged there, but would be many times. If you are counted worthy to suffer for the cross, rejoice. Though your heart fail, though Satan cause mourning to enter into your bones, though the pains of hell grab hold of you, know your reward is great. Matthias went into Ethiopia, deep, south of Egypt, and bordering the Blue Nile, and ministered where there were rivers, beyond Jordan. He ministered to a barbaric people--cannibal tribes, heathens of diverse religions that appear only for one or two hundred men at most. But Matthias, through his inner light, shined into the Heathen's darkness, and showed their religion were false. Not through argument or persuasion, but through love and the Holy Ghost. For this is what grabs the heathen, and not cunning artifice, is proof of the good. For all other things can pass, and be perverted by the princes of this world, one thing remains, and that is the Spirit, and proof through our unconditional love. Finally, Matthias travelled back to Samaria, Judea and Galilee, where he failed for reason of being a native. So, when Matthias would not sacrifice to Jove, and the Jews wanted him dead for charges of Blasphemy, he was crucified with nails, stoned, and when that wouldn't kill him, he was beheaded with an axe.

The Persecution of Nero

Of the seventy Apostles, many were martyred under Nero. And these were witnesses, who confirmed the Word of our LORD to Luke, and Mark was confirmed to Peter. And Matthew, being literate, wrote in Hebrew and these proto gospels were taken all over Persia. 

John

John was put in a vat of boiling oil, shipwrecked on Patmos, and hand wrote Revelation. The blessed Papias dictated his gospel from his mouth. Assuredly John's Gospel is a witness. It is claimed that he may still live. Perhaps. None know. He ministered to Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of God, and did much work. But, he was also marooned many times, and companion to scorpions, and asps, and wild beasts. John was Bishop of Ephesus, and banished, and then came back to resume his role as bishop there again. He drank hemlock, but did not die. He was imprisoned for years. Tortured many times.

Lazarus

Lazarus was Bishop of Kition in Cyprus, and ministered in France with Mary Magdalene and was company in her Journey there. He was persecuted, and tormented many times. But, he remained steadfast. He lived long, and died of old age, like his sisters. Being one of Jesus' best friends, though not of the Disciples. For Lazarus was a poor man, and helpless, until the LORD unshackled him and gave him purpose, and then raised him to the office of Bishop, and the office of Evangelist of Peace.

Martha

Martha was companion to Mary and Lazarus, and went to France, to flee persecution in Jerusalem. She then established a community there, where she was Mother Superior, and was left behind by Mary when she returned to Ephesus. Martha was faithful, and suffered much for the cross, being Jesus' true friend. And a servant's heart, where she served all her life in France, converting both Kings and Barbarians. She was accountant for the church, and its offices. She managed the operations of the church there, in France; she ministered to her sheep's spiritual well being, and nurtured them with compassion and kindness. But, quickly disciplined the wicked and chastised them, so they would remain pure.