Jesus Visits Martha And Mary
JESUS VISITS MARTHA AND MARY
LUKE 10:38-42
We, too, can be so busy, even “in the Lord’s work” that we aren’t prepared to listen to him.
John 10:22 suggests that the Lord visited Jerusalem briefly during the last months of his life, apart from the historic journey up from Jericho to the final encounter with the hierarchy, the Passion and the cross. This was no doubt the occasion of the visit to Bethany and the incident here vividly described.
It is possible that the visit took Martha by surprise, and like a good hostess she set busily to work to entertain her guest worthily. Nor was there anything reprehensible in this. John, writing over half a century later, took occasion to remind the church that Jesus loved Martha (John 11:5). The rebuke to Martha, kindly and affectionate enough, must not be taken as a licence for casual entertainment of an honored guest, or diminished care and generosity in Christian hospitality.
But Martha was at fault in losing control of the situation and herself. She was “distracted,” came and “stood over them” (10:40), and rebuked her Master: “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve by myself? Tell her then to lend me a hand.” The Greek text, which no doubt renders the Aramaic conversation well, is racily vivid. “There is need only of one thing,” he replies, “and Mary has chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her.” The reference may be to the dish of honor such as that placed before Benjamin in Joseph’s banquet (Genesis 43:34). Briefly the Lord’s meaning was: we can be deprived of food and comfort without real harm.
That which we cannot safely lack is communion with our Lord. To be robbed of this is to starve indeed. The lesson for us? Unhurried calm in the press of duty, and priority for prayer. It is worth considering how the Martha and Mary incident relates to the parable of the Good Samaritan—two very different reactions nevertheless show love for the same Lord. Note the further implication—unruffled attention to what the Master has to say leads to truest service.