Mary's choice (Luke 10:38-41)

Mary's choice 

Luke 10:38-41
Key verse 42b

Introduction:

What motivate you to do the thing you are doing right now? We do things because we like to do; or because we should do it as a duty or obligation or because we do it believing that it will bring me great benefit. We can listen to our desire for comfort or easiness, desire for great benefit, and listen to fear arising in our hearts.  

Here in today’s passage, Martha chose to serve Jesus and his company through serving them food. But Mary, though she could do the same thing as her sister was doing, chose totally different thing. This led her to greater blessing of God.

As we look into these two ladies, we like to learn what is the better way to know and to serve Jesus.

V38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

A.   Worry about Indeed only one

Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus were living at a small village called Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem. We do not know when this happened. But Jesus and his disciples dropped by their house. Martha, most likely the oldest one among three, welcomed Jesus and his disciples. They might have arrived well late afternoon. So, Martha was busy preparing dinner.  It was a lot to cook for more than 13 people. Since it was already late for dinner, everyone might be very hungry. Knowing this Martha moved quickly so as to prepare food as soon as possible.

39-40a  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

While Martha was running here and there to prepare food, she could not find Mary at the kitchen. On the other room were many disciples and they were listening to Jesus’ teaching as usual. There at the foot of Jesus was Mary sitting and listening to Jesus. Her eyes were fixed on Jesus and her ears were up to catch every word that came out of Jesus’ mouth.  She was so much enjoying the words of Jesus; she wasn’t even notice that she was the only one lady among all men. She even did not know how busy her sister Martha was in preparing for food.

While Mary was having such a good time listening to Jesus, Martha was busy preparing for the dinner for more than 10 people. Jewish guests are served four things; as a starter wine diluted honey or milk is served; and this is followed by three courses of meal. The meat must be prepared. All the vegetables must be cleaned and cut in order to make soup. More woods must be brought to kitchen for the fire.  She had to go to the well to get more water. It was too much for her alone. Simply she was overwhelmed with so much work to prepare dinner. Mary usually helped her in the kitchen. But that day, she sat with the guests and was listening to Jesus at the foot of him. Martha thought that Mary would soon come back to help her. So she waited for 10, min, 20 min. But she was still there listening to Jesus. She did not have any sign to move.  So in Martha’s mind, Mary was lazy and selfish and Mary deserted her in order to take herself easy. She was upset. She finally thought that Mary’s bad habit must be changed and Jesus had to know Mary’s uncaring heart or her laziness. So Martha went to Jesus. Jesus was still talking to his disciples and Mary was still sitting at the foot of Jesus. Martha came close to Jesus and all the guests turned their eyes from Jesus to Martha and Jesus stopped talking and turned to her. She stood there and said this to Jesus;

40b, 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!"

Here we noticed few things about Martha

In Martha’s understanding, the most important thing for Mary was to help cook the food for the guests. Mary should help her instead of listening to Jesus. She might have thought that listening to Jesus was not so important particularly for Mary and listening to Jesus was not her job at that time.

In those times, women did not sit in front.  As we read in Mark 15: 40-41, women helped Jesus and his disciples in their needs such as food and clothing or other necessities. According to the tradition, Jewish Rabi would not teach women Torah. It was considered a shame and they would reject absolutely teaching women the words of God. This was the ways of life for women.

Martha’s understanding was simple and ordinary and that was the norm of the society. So her request was well justified and good. 

Contrary to Martha’s way of thinking, Jesus said something totally different;

41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed--or indeed only one.

Jesus called her name twice with gentle and caring voice.  In this way Jesus conveyed his love for her and comforted her with these words;

“you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed--or indeed only one.”

She became worries and upset because she felt she had to prepare many things in a short period of time and with little resources. It was duty driven or task driven. When she felt that the dinner must be served no later than 7:30 pm. By now 7:15, still soup was not ready, meat was still in the pot, and vegetables were yet to be marinated.   These were the sources of her worries and the reason why she was upset. If Mary could help, then all could be finished on time!

At beginning she was happy and welcomed Jesus because she loved Jesus and she wanted to serve all of his disciples as well. But in the course of time, she lost all her joy and became worried and upset. Serving God or loving others must be done with joy. But when her mind was driven by duty or obligation, it loses its purpose. 

What was the answer to these demands that she felt to meet? Only few things or even only one thing is needed. May be just a bowl of soup and corn might be good enough! Or even one big bowl of soup might be sufficient! Simply Jesus was telling her that Jesus did not expect her to do beyond what she could. What she could do well is one thing, whatever it might be! Jesus did not expect anyone do a super woman or superman job.  One thing is sufficient. One bowl of soup, she could, then it was good and perfectly ok. Important thing is that what she could do, do it with her best in joy and, loving and serving heart! 

It is interesting that Jesus did not think that Mary was the source of Martha’s worries or upset mind. Jesus was saying implicitly that if you do your job with joy, then that was good enough! Even if there is only one dish, that would be sufficient! This is very important for all of us. Once in a while, I become upset that once in a while Reb goes out not telling me where she was going. Suddenly I felt burdened so much works that I had to do. Also, in addition, I had to do many menial things around the house.

We tend to have such mindset when we are driven by duty or obligations, or certain target driven. In the last week’s study, we came to know that an expert in the law felt obliged to do what was written in the Law of Moses. He thought that if he meets the requirements of the law, then he would be welcomed to the kingdom of God. Isn’t Martha’s thought in line with the expert in the Law? Actually many of us carry such idea. So we often act like Martha in order to meet the deadline for a task! Or to meet his or other’s expectations!

In that process, we put others in our box and we ourselves become upset and angry.  Against such thought, Jesus said that Martha needed only one thing! One thing she could do all by herself with singing. 

Then what is the one thing for you? One of the important things in godly life is simplicity and trust in God’s provision!   

No matter how much demanding is the work, we can do it one at a time with joy and faith. It is far more efficient and far more productive.

Once Jesus said this:

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Jesus told his disciples that they worry one thing, the things for that day!  One thing right now and one thing for the day!  We all live now and today. So we do one thing now with joy and happiness. Let all other things be left in God‘s hand until we get to them.  

In God’s work, no matter how many things are needed to be done, we should not become busy minded or bugged down by demands, obligations, or deadlines! Do it by faith one at a time! It is living by faith! It is the way we do not snub out the joy in us!

B.   Mary has chosen what it better

But how did Jesus understand Mary’s action?

Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (42b)

Martha thought that Mary went to sit with the guests because she wanted to take easy for herself. She thought Mary was selfish and lazy.  She thought that Mary deserted her. But Mary chose to listen to Jesus over all other things, including helping her sister Martha. Jesus not only recognized this choice as good but also recognized that her choice was better one.  In order to understand what Jesus meant in saying that what she chose was better one, let’s go back to see what Mary was doing;

39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

As we look at carefully the original language, it translates like this; she put herself at the feet of Jesus. Here Mary’s strong will and decisive action was included in this action. She did not tell this to Martha. She did not tell this to Jesus. But her action spoke of this and Jesus knew that sitting at Jesus feet was her intentional and deliberate choice! Why?

Also for Jews, teaching the Bible (Torah) to women was forbidden. Men simply rejected to teach women the Bible. But where was she sitting? It was not far back in the corner of the crowd. But she was just in front of Jesus beside his feet. In general this was the place reserved for the best honored disciples. (Act 22:3) This was totally unlikely attitude of the woman of the time. But it was her willful and deliberate choice as Jesus recognized as her choice. It was more than likely that Mary knew that her sister Martha would be upset on her as well.  Why did she do that, even by breaking the norms of the day? What motivated her to do so? Or what compelled her to do so? Why did she sit in front of all other men disciples? 

As Jesus honored her choice as one better, we can deduce few things from this action.

First it was her deep love, respect and honor to Jesus. This love and honor to Jesus was so strong that she let go of her duty or obligation as the kitchen. So we can call it love and honor driven decision! Listening in love and trust is the beginning of knowing! Knowing in full extent!

Second, it was her desire to know Jesus and his truth. She valued that listening to Jesus was far more important than preparing for food for Jesus and his guests. In flip side, this meant that she had a strong need to find the solutions for her problems of life in Jesus. Unless she found the answers of life, all else might not matter too much. Mary felt that that life was in Jesus and by listening to Jesus she could garner all wisdom and knowledge that were necessary for life.

Third, she believed that Jesus was the king and the Messiah, the only one that could bring life to her.

What else is more important than finding true life! So she put aside the anger of her sister Martha, she rejected to follow the norms of the society, putting all Jesus’ disciple behind her. It was a daring decision for her and the once in a life time to take this position for her life. She would not let it pass by!

What impact of such decision or deliberate choice led her to? In order to find it, I like to step out for a second from this passage and want to look at few incidents that involved Mary and Martha’s household.

There are three events about Mary recorded in the four Gospels;

1.    Today’s event comes first

2.    Second event is written in John 11:1-42. Here Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead. These two sisters experience the power of life; At this time Martha objected to remove the stone at the door of the tomb. But Mary was silent and did not say a word of unbelief. Eventually Jesus called their brother to life. In her mind there was a deep flowing faith that would believe that Jesus even could raise the dead to life?

3.    Third event is in all for gospels; John placed this even most accurately in terms of its chronology. It was just before Jesus entering to Jerusalem as the King of Israel (John 12:1-11) Jesus and his disciples had eating fellowship. Mary came it and poured oil on Jesus’ feet/or his head. Nobody understood what she was doing. Mark describe it more specifically on what Jesus said: 
Mark 14:8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.
No one understood and accepted what Jesus was going to do, i.e.  his death on the cross. But Mary might be the only one exception; Jesus revealed what was in her mind.  She knew Jesus’ death and accepted His will and yet still honored Jesus fully as the Lord and the Savior.  Her anointing tells us these two things; Jesus implied it to his death and anointing was for the Lord and King only! Through this, it is not too farfetched to say that Mary was the only one who accepted and believed Jesus’ suffering and death as well as Jesus’ resurrection. How could this be possible? I believe that it began Mary’s choice to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to him in every word that came from his mouth. Jesus recognized and honored Mary’s will and choice. Could it be possible that Jesus even revealed his power of resurrection for the sake of or in honor of Mary’s faith! 

For Mary it was not just choosing one over the other. It was the thing that she had to do. So she put behind her sister’s hard work, behind the norm of the society, and she put all of the well-respected and honored Jesus’ disciples behind her. For one reason, to listen to Jesus!

In that room were many people, 12 disciples and even many other respected leaders of the town,  and all of them were men. In Mary’s mind, or realistically speaking, there was only two, Jesus and before him, Mary herself.  All others were behind her. She did not see them and she did not hear them. Her ears and eyes were all given to Jesus and his words! This is her total dependence and her love at best.

This is the beginning of understanding of Jesus and his truth. This is the love and honor and respect to Jesus as the Lord and the Savior. This is how one begins to find a secret to unlock all clutters of life.

What does this tell us?

Certainly we would not follow the steps of Martha. How has your life been driven by? Was it a duty driven or obligation driven? Or like Martha your life is hung on many things and driven to many directions. The law demands us to do many things. But this does not lead us anywhere.

On the other hand, Mary chose to listen to Jesus over all other things; in this way she showed her total dependence on Jesus and His word!

What did you learn from Mary? Sitting just before Jesus and listening to his word is the beginning of spiritual victory. It enriches your spirit and widens your understanding of life and deepens the depth of wisdom in life.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

We need many things for life. Those many thing come to us through the knowleghe of Him.

John 14:7 If you really know me, you will know1 my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (Joh 14:7 NIV)

Also knowing Jesus means knowing God the Father.

I struggle with the words of God every week, spending much more time than ever before. I found true joy of knowing him and understand his truth.  This joy and this truth are far better than anything that I have had. Psalmist expressed the similar joy: 

Psalm 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Our success in life depends on how much quality time we spend before Jesus.

So, now I dare to challenge you to throw off all business of this life like Mary; Throw off all Martha’s anger, throw off all human customs and rules of life,  and throw off all the eyes watching with disdainful thoughts. And sit at the foot of Jesus and listen to every single word that comes out of His mouth. God will surely lead you to the victory in Jesus power of resurrection!