19th November 2006 AM

TWO WOMEN Pastor Linton Smith

We live in a frantic world, a world of hurry, of almost ceaseless activity.

For many, busyness is badge of honor.

Stress experts now talk about ‘hurry sickness’ [Radio Bible Class/ODB 25/10/06].

How can we slow down - and with a clear conscience?

Luke describes a scene that may help us.

Luke 10:38-42.. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

There are three people in this scene. We begin with..

MARY

Mary is described as the sister of Martha. Very likely she was the younger sister. Martha seems to own the home and be the hostess

Luke writes.. Luke 10:38,39..

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

It is easy to find fault with Mary. Martha had opened her home to Jesus and very likely also His disciples.. more than 15 people in all.. and Mary sits and listens to Jesus rather than help her sister.

But was she at fault? Was she lazy? I do not think so.

The New King James Version reads..

Luke 10:39.. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

Mary also sat at Jesus’ feet. This may suggest that Mary helped Martha as well as sitting at the feet of Jesus.

I picture the scene like this. Mary had been helping Martha prepare for the guests.. putting all the finishing touches to the room.. the table.. the meal.. but had decided that enough was enough. Jesus is here. I am going to make the most of His visit and sit down and listen to Him.

We get another glimpse of her in John 11 and 12. Mary’s brother was Lazarus. He had fallen ill and Mary and Martha had sent for Jesus. Lazarus died and still Jesus had not come. At last He came.

John writes.. John 11:20,28,29.32..

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.. She went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet..

Martha went out to meet Jesus, but Mary stayed at home. Martha came back and told her Jesus was asking for her. She got up quickly and went to Him. Perhaps Mary left it to Martha to go out and meet Him.. because that was the role Martha normally played in the family.

But when she did go out to meet Jesus she fell at His feet.

There is something very special about Mary and her attitude to Jesus.

John adds to this in the next chapter. Once again Jesus was in the home of Martha and Mary.. sitting at a meal. John tells us..

John 12:3.. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Mary sat His feet and listened to His teaching.. she fell at His feet.. and now she anoints His feet with expensive perfume.

Here was a woman who worshipped Jesus.. held Him in the highest and purest esteem.. and loved Him deeply!

Now let’s look at..

MARTHA

Martha was more like most of us.. or we like her. Luke writes..

Luke 10:38,40.. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.. Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Just as we did with Mary, we get another glimpse of her in John 11 & 12

John 11:20.. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him..

Martha was quick to respond. She was the kind of person who would return your call or e-mail quickly.. I like people like that!

And she was a woman of faith.

John 11:27.. Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

She firmly believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.. the Messiah her people had been waiting for.

Then.. at the meal in her home where Mary anointed the feet of Jesus.. what do you think she was doing

John 12:1,2.. Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served..

Martha served.

I picture a woman who put a very high value on service. She was eager to do everything well. She was very generous. She opened her home and fed something like 15 people – or more. She appears to have done this more than once.. and the last time.. she put herself in danger.. for by then the authorities were determined to be rid of Jesus.

Martha has a lot to commend her.

But there is another side to her. She was prone to let her serving get on top of her.. and to complain.

Luke 10:40 [Revised Standard Version].. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

I like this translation. Distracted with much serving. She did not know when to stop.. where to draw the line.. when to say, That is enough. There are more important things in life than an elegant dinner table! And as she went on making the preparations she became hotter and hotter inside every time she glanced at her sister sitting at the feet of Jesus.. and she went to Jesus.. interrupted what He was saying.. and demanded, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.

She was annoyed with her sister.. and worse than that.. she was annoyed with Jesus!

Now, let’s look at..

JESUS

How did He respond to Martha’s demand? Luke writes..

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

How do you think Jesus said this? With what tone.. what body language?

In John 11:5 we are told.. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

I picture Him speaking gently.. lovingly. I hear pity in His voice. This wonderful woman has got herself into a right state over things that do not really matter. Gently He rebukes her.. Martha, You have got it wrong, and Mary has got it right.

She has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.

Why is it better?

It is better because Jesus is God.

Long before Mary sat at the feet of Jesus.. the Psalmist said to God..

Psalm 84:10.. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere..

There is no greater privilege in life than to spend time in the presence of God.. and that is what Mary did.

It is better because there in His presence.. we find out what life is all about.. we get things in perspective.

In Psalm 73 the Psalmist was all churned up about the unfairness of life.. until He entered the sanctuary of God. Then he saw the destiny of the wicked. Then he got things in their true perspective.

It is better because there in His presence.. sitting at His feet.. hearing His word.. we discover forgiveness.. peace.. strength.. and grow in likeness to Him.

We read His word.. see we have failed.. confess.. and are forgiven.. we are reminded how much we need the Holy Spirit.. invite Him afresh to live in us and through us.. and we are changed.. little by little.

It is better because Jesus said Mary had chosen something that would not be taken away from her.

There in His presence we build a relationship with Him that will never be taken away from us. We prepare ourselves for eternity.. when we will be with Him for ever.

The older I get the more I realise this. One day.. all the other things I have invested time in will be irrelevant. Then it will be.. just Jesus and me. So I had better get to know Him better now!

It is better because rather than much serving Jesus wants our love!

He says to the church at Ephesus..

Revelation 2:2-4.. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

Are we frantically busy? Do we long to slow down?

Jesus tells us to do just that.. but not just to take time out.. take a holiday.. go for a walk.. but to take the Mary option – to sit at His feet and hear His word.

How do we do that? We do it when we come aside to be part of a church service.. part of a small group.. when we sit quietly in our own home.. with an open Bible.. reading and praying..

Let’s do it.

Take a ruthless look at your life.

Be prepared to say, No, to some of the invitations to activity.

Choose what is better.

Choose what will never be taken away from you.

Choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.

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