The One Thing


Luke 10:38-42
38Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

The story of the beleaguered Martha has long been the subject of discussion and the taking of sides. Who among us can’t sympathize with a woman who has a houseful of people who need to be treated as honored guests? And yet Jesus chastises her, albeit gently, for not choosing to sit at His feet as Mary does. And who among us can’t sympathize with a woman who is visited by the Lord of Universe and finds that all other things drop away as He becomes the only focus? Luke provides us this story because we can understand both of these sisters’ actions.

First of all, let me point out that Jesus honors Mary for her rapt attention to His teaching. Jesus respected, honored, and taught women.

Though women could attend synagogue, learn, and even be learned if their husbands or masters were rabbis, for a rabbi to come into a woman’s house and teach her specifically is unheard of. Thus, not only the role Mary assumes, but also the task Jesus performs in this story is in contrast to what was expected of a Jewish man and woman
(B. Witherington III, Women in the Ministry of Jesus:  [Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1984] 101).

Once again, Jesus walks outside of the expected social norms, which He does on numerous occasions in His dealings with women. He viewed women as equal in value, intellect, and purpose as men. This alone may have have made Him revolutionary and unique.

So – who is doing it correctly, Mary or Martha? The answer is given us by Jesus Himself, so we won’t get it wrong; it’s Mary. But why? I believe it is because Mary has allowed Jesus to be in the proper place in her life. Even though He is guest in her home, He is the Son of God and is truly the only one who has something of value to give. He must be allowed to go first. We are always and forever first and foremost receivers of what God has to bring us. Jesus is the One with gifts to bring, not us. Then our response is fall before Him in humble adoration and worship. Maybe when that has worship has exhausted itself (can that even happen?) it is time to get up and serve the food. Martha got these two things out of order and thus is corrected by Jesus. He honors Mary for her proper choice and I sincerely hope that Martha got the message and sat down next to her.

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