Peace or Panic?
When Mary and Martha had Jesus over in their home, Martha greeted Him, but quickly became distracted and anxious with all the busy preparations still left to do. She began complaining about her burden and started accusing Christ and Mary.
Luke 10:40:
"But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me".
Those are some mighty bold words from the irritated hostess. She blamed her sister for not helping her and blamed Jesus for not making Mary help her. Her priorities were not where they should have been and what was in her heart was showing in her actions.
We are often filled with so many pressures in this world today as busy women as well as finding the time to get it all done. Along with running around all the time, cooking, cleaning, and caring for everyone is the added anxiety about getting everything done and having it go well. So as women, how do we handle all this stress and pressure? Do we panic or have peace? Returning to the example, the contrasting way that Martha's sister behaves and Jesus' loving response to Martha's statement are humbling indeed.
So what was Mary doing while Martha was running around in the kitchen?
Luke 10: 39:
"And [Martha] had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word."
Martha didn't have time to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His word because she was too busy doing "things". How often do we do that on a daily basis these days? Mary was resting at the Lord's feet, worshiping Him, taking in His every word with a peaceful heart while Martha accused her.
"Are you prone to running around in circles- or do you rest in the Lord? Is your relationship with Jesus your first priority- or are you too busy to sit at His feet and enjoy His presence? The woman whose heart and soul are at rest is the woman who knows one theological truth: Her times are in God's hands (Psalm 31:15). And this truth makes all the difference when it comes to peace or panic" (George 246)!
Luke 10:41-42:
"And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her".
Jesus' loving response was not filled with condemnation or rejection. Instead, He simply asked her to reconsider her priorities. He basically asked her to do a heart check. To make choices based on eternal values, rather than immediate pressures. How often have we needed to hear those same words?
The gift of hospitality is sharing what you have- welcoming, sheltering, and feeding. In Biblical times, it was a necessity in the harsh desert regions. Open hospitality was rewarded (as with Rahab in Joshua 2:12-14) and lack of hospitality was punished (as with Nabal in 1 Sam. 25:2-39).
The New Testament writers call Christians to extend hospitality to one another:
Romans 12:13:
"distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality"
1 Peter 4:9:
"Be hospitable to one another without grumbling"
Galatians 5:13:
"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another"
Matt. 25:40:
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."
Hebrews 13:2:
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels"
along with: 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8
There is a big difference between hospitality and entertainment. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ" (Col 3:23-24). Christian hospitality provides a safe place, seeks to serve others, puts people first, makes what is mine yours, takes no thought of reward or compensation, frames itself according to God's Word, and offers freedom that liberates (see also: Prov 31:21; 1 Pet. 4:8-10; Matt. 10:42; Acts 2:44; Matt. 6:1-4; Matt. 5:43-48; & Rom. 8.2).
Lessons in Faith
Along with the lesson of the heart of hospitality, a valuable lesson of faith can be learned from Martha in another recorded encounter with Jesus. Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus was sick and dying. The sisters sent for Jesus, but He did not come and Lazarus died. When Jesus came to the city to see them, Martha went and met Him while Mary stayed in the house (John 11: 20). Martha stated her faith:
John 11:21-22:
"Now 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".
Her heart was right, she believed in Jesus and trusted in His healing power. She was right to run to Jesus. Also seen in these verses is her continued bold attitude, along with a misconception regarding His deity. Jesus, again, corrects her:
John 11: 25-26:
"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Now contrasting how Martha responded is how Mary responded. As already seen in verse 20 of John chapter 11, Mary "was sitting in the house". She stayed and waited for Jesus. It wasn't until her sister came back and told her that "The Teacher has come and is calling you" (v. 28) that she "arose quickly and came to Him" (v. 29) "as soon as she heard that" (v. 29). When she approaches Jesus, she "fell at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died' (v. 33). Mary's great faith in Jesus is seen in these verses, along with her completely different response of falling at the Lord's feet- how different that is to Martha's bold attitude! Mary's heart of humility, trust and faith are greatly seen. Unlike Martha, Mary did not receive a word of correction after her response. Instead, "when Jesus saw her weeping... He groaned in the spirit and was troubled" (v. 33).
When they went to the tomb where Lazarus was buried, we again see Martha rebuked by the Lord. "Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days" (v. 39). "Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (v. 40). He had just told her to believe Him and she said she did (v. 26-27)! Her belief was already stumbling! Then Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead! I can only imagine how much their faith and belief in Jesus was multiplied that very moment.
The events afterwards further show Martha and Mary's different character traits and faces of love. Jesus went to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus' house. In typical character, Martha was serving (John 12:2) while Mary sat at Jesus' feet, and anointed His feet with expensive oil, then wiped His feet with her hair (v. 3). Martha's heart of service and Mary's heart of worshiping the Lord are once again shown. Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with oil was no small act of worship- the oil she used would have cost a year's worth of wages for the average worker at that time. She was scoffed at (v.-4-6), but Jesus defended and commended her for her heart of service and humility.
From the stories of Mary and Martha, a multitude of lessons can be learned: a true heart of service and hospitality is full of humility, there are numerous ways to serve the Lord, we should never be so busy that we neglect to sit at the feet of our Lord and Savior and worship, we must always have great faith and believe who He is, we must trust Him, we need to be filled with His peace rather than the pressures of the world, and we must call upon Him first in time of need. Praise Him for His grace as we struggle and stumble while we attempt to learn these lessons and take His lessons to heart. We all need heart checks from time to time. May we all be filled with a heart of humility and service as we serve and worship the Lord daily with our lives!
References:
The Women's Study Bible, 2nd Edition. Thomas Nelson, Inc. NKJV.
The Remarkable Women of the Bible by Elizabeth George. Harvest House Publishers.
