Look at the Message version of how Jesus rebukes Martha...
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."
Mary Listens While Martha Labors (see study guide source & link at the bottom*)
Even though it cuts across the grain of societal expectations, even though it means neglecting her regular duties, Mary has correctly discerned that listening to Jesus and learning his ways is more important than anything -- anything else she can choose. And no one can rip this precious spiritual food away from her.
Two lessons to be learned could be:
- Listening to what Jesus is teaching is the highest way to show him honor, and preferable to any human way we seek to honor him.
- The good is the enemy of the best. We must be willing to shift our priorities in order to follow Jesus.
The study guide goes to another pair of siblings who sought to honor God -- Cain and Abel.
"Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast." (Genesis 4:2-5)
Apparently, God has preferences on the way people respond to him and worship him. All forms of worship are NOT equal in God's eyes. In the case of Jesus, putting on a great dinner for the Master doesn't compare to listening to him and obeying him.
Jesus certainly wasn't too hard on Martha. But he tried very gently to explain how Mary's choice was better, and that she shouldn't be deprived of it by having to be marched off to the kitchen by her older sister.
What is it that you are trying to offer Jesus? Your talents and abilities? The open doors and opportunities afforded by your position in the community? Faithful service as a Sunday school teacher even though you might prefer to do something else? All these can be good. And I am sure that Jesus wants each of these from you in their own time.
But the one thing that Jesus seeks above all else is time that you spend time listening to him, "sitting at his feet," as it were. That needs to come first, before all these other things. That is where peace is found. That is the only place of spiritual rest.
"Martha, why don't you take off your apron and sit down for a few minutes. Dinner can wait. There's something very dear to my heart that I'd like to share with you -- you personally. Do you have some time right now?"
* Source: “Mary Listens While Martha Labors,” Jesus Walk Bible Study Series, Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
3 comments:
as I read the story of Martha and Mary, I think of typical siblings squabbling over chores--dishes, setting the table. NOt the message the writer intended, but so very human. In martha's defense, the women are expected to do as she was doing.
The other thing that struck me was that all the illnesses are demons --shriveled hands, blindness, seizures, vaginal bldg. Wouldn't it be simple if all mondern illnesses were demons that could be driven out--but maybe in some aspects they are. Just a few stray thoughts as I listened to the study on CD. Karen
Even though Jesus seemed to side with Mary in this instance, what if Mary had been the one doing the criticizing? Then might Jesus may have changed His response? I think we need some Martha and some Mary characteristics to be well rounded Christians. James 2:15-16 says, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?"
I have heard the saying that it is possible to be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good, and I think this can be true of the supposed Marys of the world. So I think the timing is what makes a Martha or Mary action appropriate. In this case it appears Mary had it right and was doing the right thing at the right time, but in some other circumstance I think it might be different.
I am guilty of being Martha far too often. In my volunteering busy-ness, I sometimes miss the real presence of my Lord. In my frantic need for perfect hospitality, I sometimes miss the needs of those I'm serving. This was a timely reflection on a great lesson from Jesus, Himself.
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