Poor Martha of Bethany. She has been remembered throughout the ages as a busy-body, a silly woman preoccupied with chores, as the sister who is scolded by Jesus. Usually when I play out the Mary and Martha scene, when Jesus speaks He sounds a lot like Mr. Feeny – “Now Miss Martha, look at your sister, who has chosen the better part of listening to me. Be more like her and stop being so worried,” as He shakes His head and wags His finger at her. I’d be willing to bet I’m not alone in this depiction.
But there’s a huge problem with this. When we read the story this way, we’re totally missing who Martha really is. We’re just looking at her in this one less than perfect moment and thinking that just about sums her up… which is wrong… and sad, because we’re supposed to be learning something from her, not feeling sorry for her or judging her. She’s a saint. Sainthood is not just some consolation prize to make people feel better for trying. She’s in heaven with God and we should be looking up to her as an example.
I think it’s time we all give Martha a fighting chance. Let’s start by taking a closer look at the Mary-Martha story in Luke’s gospel. First, we’re told “Martha received Him (Jesus) into her house.”[1] Of her siblings, Mary and Lazarus, Martha is the one who takes initiative and welcomes Jesus into their home. This is actually what enables the rest of her family to encounter Jesus in the first place. Then we learn that as Jesus teaches, Mary sits at His feet, while Martha serves.[2] Now, before we label Martha’s serving as the lesser part and then move on, let’s think about this for a second. Considering that Martha is the one who invited Jesus and His followers into her home, it makes sense that she’s going to be the one to wait on them. On top of that, she’s also a woman, so it would have been expected for her to serve. In fact, that’s why Martha later makes a comment to Jesus about Mary. She’s not serving, and, according to custom, she should be. Martha has a right to be a little peeved here.
But there’s something bigger going on. Yes, quick answer, Jesus. Jesus is the bigger thing, but let’s go deeper, what about Him? What is He trying to teach Martha, Mary, all of us, in this moment? Luke makes sure to tell us that Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, which is the position of a disciple. By sitting at His feet and listening to Him teach, she is taking on the role of a disciple. She wants to follow Jesus, to serve Him with her life. And – pay attention, this is one of the teaching moments – Jesus is not only allowing her to do so, but saying it is “the good portion” and it “shall not be taken away from her.” By this, Jesus is reinforcing His love for all. Anyone can follow Him, regardless of cultural norms, or social status, or nationality, or gender – doesn’t matter. He loves all people and wants to enter into relationship with them. Jesus knows that we were made to follow Him, to receive His mercy and enter back into the perfect love of the Father. Mary has truly chosen the better part.
And Martha is missing it because she is distracted. She is anxious about serving Jesus in terms of the world’s definition of serving. How often are we like Martha, doing exactly the same thing? In prayer, when we try to impress God by telling Him all the good we’re doing, or give Him what we think He needs, all just to earn, what?... A favor? The salvation that is already a gift? The whole process is wrong. This is why Martha is anxious. She was treating God more like a task list than a Savior. Jesus doesn’t need Martha to do anything for Him. He just wants Martha. He just wants you. He just wants me. Why? To love us, to teach us, to show us what it means to truly live.
This is beautiful. Don’t miss it. Be like Martha, because she didn’t miss it. How do I know? In John’s gospel, after her brother Lazarus, has died, look at Martha. She hears Jesus is coming and runs out of town to meet Him on the way. This is the conversation that takes place:
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”[3]
This first bolded response – such faith. Martha knows that Jesus is sent by God, and that anything He asks for will be given, even a triumph over death, a restoring to life. And, in John’s gospel, Jesus hasn’t raised anyone else from the dead, so it’s not like Martha heard that Jesus had done this somewhere else and so she knew He could do it. No. She knew because she had come to know who Jesus really is.
The last bolded quote – really, really cool. In John’s gospel, up until this point, there’s been all this talk of, “Is this the Christ? Could this be the Christ?” and everybody’s trying to figure it out. However, nobody’s flat out said it. And, there’s actually going to be major consequences if any one does. A couple of chapters earlier, we read, “The Jews had agreed that if anyone should confess him (Jesus) to be the Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.”[4] As in kicked out, as in public humiliation, as in not able to properly worship God. But, in spite of all that, Martha declares that Jesus is the Christ. In John’s gospel, she is the one who breaks the news. Her profession of faith is the climax to all this mystery surrounding the person of Jesus. Again, she knows who Jesus really is. And how does she know this? Probably from spending time with Him, from following Him, probably from sitting at His feet. Now, it’s clear, that in her eyes, He truly is a Savior.
So what can we learn from Martha? That God wants you, just you. You don’t have to impress Him. Just be present to Him. And once you do, be bold and courageous in your faith. No matter the cost, proclaim who Jesus truly is, who Martha knew Him to be, love incarnate, “the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
[1] Luke 10:38
[2] Luke 10:39-40
[3] John 11:21-27
[4] John 9:22
But there’s a huge problem with this. When we read the story this way, we’re totally missing who Martha really is. We’re just looking at her in this one less than perfect moment and thinking that just about sums her up… which is wrong… and sad, because we’re supposed to be learning something from her, not feeling sorry for her or judging her. She’s a saint. Sainthood is not just some consolation prize to make people feel better for trying. She’s in heaven with God and we should be looking up to her as an example.
I think it’s time we all give Martha a fighting chance. Let’s start by taking a closer look at the Mary-Martha story in Luke’s gospel. First, we’re told “Martha received Him (Jesus) into her house.”[1] Of her siblings, Mary and Lazarus, Martha is the one who takes initiative and welcomes Jesus into their home. This is actually what enables the rest of her family to encounter Jesus in the first place. Then we learn that as Jesus teaches, Mary sits at His feet, while Martha serves.[2] Now, before we label Martha’s serving as the lesser part and then move on, let’s think about this for a second. Considering that Martha is the one who invited Jesus and His followers into her home, it makes sense that she’s going to be the one to wait on them. On top of that, she’s also a woman, so it would have been expected for her to serve. In fact, that’s why Martha later makes a comment to Jesus about Mary. She’s not serving, and, according to custom, she should be. Martha has a right to be a little peeved here.
But there’s something bigger going on. Yes, quick answer, Jesus. Jesus is the bigger thing, but let’s go deeper, what about Him? What is He trying to teach Martha, Mary, all of us, in this moment? Luke makes sure to tell us that Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, which is the position of a disciple. By sitting at His feet and listening to Him teach, she is taking on the role of a disciple. She wants to follow Jesus, to serve Him with her life. And – pay attention, this is one of the teaching moments – Jesus is not only allowing her to do so, but saying it is “the good portion” and it “shall not be taken away from her.” By this, Jesus is reinforcing His love for all. Anyone can follow Him, regardless of cultural norms, or social status, or nationality, or gender – doesn’t matter. He loves all people and wants to enter into relationship with them. Jesus knows that we were made to follow Him, to receive His mercy and enter back into the perfect love of the Father. Mary has truly chosen the better part.
And Martha is missing it because she is distracted. She is anxious about serving Jesus in terms of the world’s definition of serving. How often are we like Martha, doing exactly the same thing? In prayer, when we try to impress God by telling Him all the good we’re doing, or give Him what we think He needs, all just to earn, what?... A favor? The salvation that is already a gift? The whole process is wrong. This is why Martha is anxious. She was treating God more like a task list than a Savior. Jesus doesn’t need Martha to do anything for Him. He just wants Martha. He just wants you. He just wants me. Why? To love us, to teach us, to show us what it means to truly live.
This is beautiful. Don’t miss it. Be like Martha, because she didn’t miss it. How do I know? In John’s gospel, after her brother Lazarus, has died, look at Martha. She hears Jesus is coming and runs out of town to meet Him on the way. This is the conversation that takes place:
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”[3]
This first bolded response – such faith. Martha knows that Jesus is sent by God, and that anything He asks for will be given, even a triumph over death, a restoring to life. And, in John’s gospel, Jesus hasn’t raised anyone else from the dead, so it’s not like Martha heard that Jesus had done this somewhere else and so she knew He could do it. No. She knew because she had come to know who Jesus really is.
The last bolded quote – really, really cool. In John’s gospel, up until this point, there’s been all this talk of, “Is this the Christ? Could this be the Christ?” and everybody’s trying to figure it out. However, nobody’s flat out said it. And, there’s actually going to be major consequences if any one does. A couple of chapters earlier, we read, “The Jews had agreed that if anyone should confess him (Jesus) to be the Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.”[4] As in kicked out, as in public humiliation, as in not able to properly worship God. But, in spite of all that, Martha declares that Jesus is the Christ. In John’s gospel, she is the one who breaks the news. Her profession of faith is the climax to all this mystery surrounding the person of Jesus. Again, she knows who Jesus really is. And how does she know this? Probably from spending time with Him, from following Him, probably from sitting at His feet. Now, it’s clear, that in her eyes, He truly is a Savior.
So what can we learn from Martha? That God wants you, just you. You don’t have to impress Him. Just be present to Him. And once you do, be bold and courageous in your faith. No matter the cost, proclaim who Jesus truly is, who Martha knew Him to be, love incarnate, “the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
[1] Luke 10:38
[2] Luke 10:39-40
[3] John 11:21-27
[4] John 9:22