Mary and Martha

Martha and The Old Rugged Cross

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Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 NIV

We often hear this story told with the focus on Mary and how she chose the better part. But Martha was also loved by the Lord, and it is a good thing because a lot more of us are like her than like Mary! In fact, there would be no story at all if it were not for Martha inviting, not only Jesus, but twelve of his friends, who came in her house with dirty feet and the smell of fish about them. Of course, Martha did start rushing about, and got busy doing unimportant things. But Jesus begins His correction by tenderly calling her by name. Yes. Mary did choose the better part that day, but Martha was also precious to Him. If we follow the story of these sisters, we will discover that Martha learns to choose the better part.

After the death and resurrection of their brother Lazarus, Martha hosts another dinner in honor of Jesus, and again she alone serves at the table, but this time there is no more complaining. Her focus is on Jesus, and she quietly honors Him with delight in the best way she understands. Aren’t you glad that God is patient with us, just as Jesus was with Martha? He calls you by name. “Martha – Martha!” You are precious to Him in spite of your failings, weaknesses and choices. As we keep inviting Him to our house and we continue serving at His table, He will gently teach us to listen. As we quiet the anxiety that bangs the pots and pans of our everyday life, we will find that we can choose the better part. Just as Mary did, we will find that same blessing as we come to rest and listen at the feet of Jesus Christ.

This week I was so blessed to have Jim and Carolyn to serve the communion at Watermark. It is so important to have helpers who will be like Martha with a willingness to help. It is a precious thing for these brothers and sisters, in long term care to receive something we take for granted every time we are in church. If you would like to learn more about how you can be involved in nursing home ministry, here, is a link to a book I wrote a while back called, “Nursing Home Ministry, the Heart of Jesus Christ.

Making the Best Choice

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But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 ESV

In raising two boys, my wife and I discovered that showing favoritism was the worst thing we could do. If one got a chocolate chip cookie a piece of pizza or an ice cream bar, then the other had to have the same or there was trouble. In the past when I read today’s passage I was puzzled because it seemed that Jesus was playing favorites. At first glance it seemed that He just liked Mary better. She was quiet and respectful while Martha was loud, pushy and just someone He tolerated. But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus loved Mary and Martha both the same. Martha had a lot going for her. She was the one who had boldly invited Jesus to their house. She volunteered to feed not only Him but also His disciples. Jesus was in no way saying that Martha was a loser. Instead, He just pointed out that Mary had chosen what was better that day. So just what did Mary do?

First she began with the decision to put her full attention on Jesus. She watched as He came in their house and heard Him begin to teach and decided that no matter what anyone else thought, she wanted to hear what Jesus had to say. Maybe she had things she had been asked to do, but she laid aside her list of chores and sat quietly at the feet of Jesus. Then Mary followed up her choice by carefully listening to what He had to say. I confess that all too often I have come to my quiet time with a mind filled with things I need to do. Then I rush through my prayer and Bible reading so I can get to the “Important stuff.” But Mary decided that she didn’t have more important things to do later. She knew that Jesus would not be at her house for long and that while He was there she wanted to hear everything He had to say. When we pray, are we looking at our wrist watch, wondering about some activity to do later, or are we eagerly listening for what Jesus has to say today?

Last of all Mary decided to sit at Jesus feet no matter what other people thought. By sitting at His feet and putting her focus only on Jesus, she turned the focus of others on Him too. Martha never slowed down long enough to look at Jesus. In her frenzy of serving all Martha could see was that Mary was not helping. Martha had forgotten why she had invited Jesus in the first place. But Jesus still loved Martha and He tenderly corrected her, Martha – Martha was a phrase of endearment, not disdain. “Martha – Martha,” He is almost pleading; “open your eyes and see Me! I came to your house for you – not your food or your service, but for you! And Jesus is coming to your house and my house and a million million other homes today as well. He loves and cares for us even when we are weighed down with the worries of life and He still quietly points us to people like Mary in our life and says, “She has chosen that better part. It will not be taken away from her – but I want it for you too!”

Listening or Hearing?

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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: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus. John 12:1-3

Many years ago as we sat through an average Sunday service our pastor began to preach about the cross. First he described the terrible beating that Jesus received and then how the crown of thorns was pressed down on his head. “Next they took the nails” pastor went on, “And they drove them through His hands.” While we adults who had heard this message many times sat quietly; suddenly the stillness in the sanctuary was pierced by a tiny voice. “EEEW!” a little girl in the back cried out. The rest of us had heard the message. But in God’s eyes she was the only person actually listening to the message!

In our scripture passage today it seems that just like that little girl; only Mary seemed to be listening. Only she understood that Jesus would not be with them much longer. Jesus had told them many times that He was going to Jerusalem to die. But Mary who chose to sit at Jesus’ feet listening did something to give Jesus her best blessing while she still had time. Others people were celebrating and relaxing at the supper but Mary poured out her alabaster box of perfumed oil on the Master’s feet. Everybody listens to someone. Who you are listening to today? Filling the room we are in with the fragrance of the presence of Christ all depends on listening and then acting on the words of Jesus Christ!