There was one village on the way to Jerusalem, where Jesus was made welcome, at least in one home, and that was the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. They had a brother named Lazarus, and Jesus may have been at their home before, on His way to the feasts.
When so many refused Him, it must have been a joy to Him that these welcomed Him. In those times guests might have sat or reclined on couches, and others might sit on low stools or on the floor like Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet so she could listen to all His words.
Martha was worried about serving the meal to this guest and thought Mary should come to help her. No doubt she wanted to serve a nice meal, and it seemed necessary to her that her sister help her. She did not consider how important it was to hear each word of the Lord Jesus, the most wonderful Teacher there could be. She went to Jesus and said, “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.”
Mary Chooses
Jesus answered Martha kindly, but showed she had not chosen the most important thing as she thought. He said, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
What had Mary chosen? To listen to the words of Jesus, the Son of God. The meal served would soon be over, but the words Mary heard were for always. Perhaps Martha could have come and listened too, except she planned a great meal, for it says, she “was cumbered (burdened) about much serving,” and was “careful and troubled about many things.”
If Martha had followed the example of the meals Jesus served, it would have been simple. Twice He had served the people a meal of bread and fish, and after He was risen from the dead, He served another meal of bread and fish (John 21:9, 139As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. (John 21:9)
13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. (John 21:13)).
Martha and Mary Learn
Martha seems to have learned from the Lord’s answer, because later it is written that she served Him and others, and no complaint about “much serving” is recorded (John 12:22There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. (John 12:2)). His answer also shows that He would rather wait for Himself to be served, than to have them miss His words.
When Mary listened so intently to Jesus, she understood what no one else did, not even the disciples; He was to die as the sacrifice for her and others, and because of that, later she brought precious oil to anoint Him, which honored Him so greatly. He said it should always be remembered (John 12:3, 73Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. (John 12:3)
7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. (John 12:7)).
It is right to share the tasks of a home and to do for others for His sake, but first it is of importance to learn more of the Lord Jesus. Even work for Him is not so needed as that. Do we not often, like Martha, miss listening to the Lord’s words because of work we feel we must do?
Further Meditation
1. How could Martha have made her service simpler so that she’d have had more time to listen to the Lord?
2. It’s often easier to be busy doing and being seen doing good things than it is to sit quietly and listen. Why? How has the Lord shown us from His own life as a man the importance of both quiet listening and steady working?
3. Having the right motive is essential to our work and service as believers. You will find excellent help on the subject from the easy-to-read pamphlet Christian Service by W. J. Prost.