Last week we concluded our study of Martha in John 11, but, we are not quite finished with her yet. Martha has one more encounter with Jesus in John 12. Before we get to the events of that day, let’s take a look back and see where Martha has come from throughout this study.
If you recall from our earlier studies in Luke 10 (see the January /February archives), we described Martha with words and phrases like: cumbered about with much serving, distracted, over-driven, overwhelmed, over-occupied, stressed, angry, accusatory, ‘short’, worried, in turmoil, in panic…
Poor Martha was a mess! She ‘chewed out’ Jesus and questioned whether or not he even cared. Remember when we pictured her standing in the doorway with a tomato-stained apron and flour in her hair, with one hand on her hip and the other one shaking a rolling pin at Jesus as she made her ‘case’?
The scene in John 11 started out very similarly. Martha ran to Jesus and said, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother would not have died!” But, she must have learned something that stressful day back in Luke 10, because in the midst of her new face to face encounter with the Lord, she added the word, BUT. “But, Lord, I know…” She had learned that she could trust Him. She had learned that He did care, and that He did have her best interest at heart.
Let’s look back a bit and see exactly what lesson Jesus had in store for her that busy night in Luke.
Jesus’ response to Martha’s cry is found in Luke 10:41. “Martha, Martha, Martha-You are worried and troubled about many things." Remember from “Choosing the Better Part” (February 9), I suggested that Martha CHOSE to allow herself to become overwhelmed with much doing because she thought the things that needed to be done were of utmost importance. She thought her worth and value were wrapped up in her productivity. Well, Jesus had one more thing to say to her during His loving rebuke, “But ONE thing is needed.” Not the many things~One thing! What is that one thing?
“It’s not nearly as much as much as we tend to imagine, yet, at the same time, it is much more than we tend to understand.”
That one thing was the one thing Mary had put at the top of her ‘to-do’ list~BE STILL AND KNOW! (See Jan. 27 for a more detailed study of Psalm 46:10.) According to the teaching notes in my CEF Children’s Ministry Resource Bible, to “be still and know” is “a call to cease from personal efforts and submit to God.” That was the lesson Jesus had for Martha that night!
His words must have spoken to her heart. Because, as mentioned above, just a few weeks later, Martha once again found herself in an overwhelming circumstance. This time, however, her response showed that she knew He did care, and that she knew He could bring peace to the chaos in her life. She went on in John 11:27ff to boldly proclaim her faith in the Lord as the Messiah-Deliverer and then demonstrated that belief when she permitted the stone by Lazarus’ tomb to be rolled away.
Now, as we look at John 12:1, we see Jesus was once again visiting the home of Martha, Mary, AND Lazarus. Another busy, house-filled night of guests to feed and entertain. Did Martha panic? Was she distracted? Was she cumbered about? No, verse 1 says simply, “Martha served”. There is no indication that Mary helped her. Matter of fact, indications are that she was once again in the front room with Jesus, Lazarus, and the disciples. Scripture doesn’t suggest that Martha complained or was stressed. I believe that the simplicity of the statement conveys that she did what had to be done with a humble and gracious spirit. She did it “…heartily unto the Lord, and not unto man” (Colossians 3:23). I think Martha finally ‘got it’.
My question then is:
Marthas~Have you learned to ‘do it’ unto the Lord, and not unto man? Remember, you are not out to impress others, so don’t overwhelm yourself in the doing! Just serve-with a humble and gracious spirit.
Marys~My question for you will come next time! But, as a hint~it will include the same verse and same final conclusion!
Several of the thoughts, quotes, and comments mentioned in this blog were taken from previous posts from our study of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. They can be found in my archives from January and February. References from John 11 can be found in March and April archives.
Serve humbly,
Debbie
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