This is the Day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.
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.”
Dear friends in Christ,
Every home has a center of activity; a place where family members gather together – a meeting place – to discuss the events of the day. In my house – it’s the kitchen. The kitchen is where meals are prepared, homework is done, the newspaper is read, advice is given, and it appears, the room where everyone leaves stuff because they don’t like putting it away.
You can learn a lot about a family, especially my family, after spending time in the kitchen.
In our Scripture lesson for today we visit another kitchen, the one belonging to Mary and Martha. There’s a lot to learn from this visit too, so listen carefully. Today we receive:
A Lesson from the Kitchen
1. Martha did a good thing
2. Mary chose a better thing
Sometimes when we read the story of Mary and Martha, Martha comes across as a villain. But that really isn’t the case. As we review the facts, we find out that Martha did something good.
We’re told that Jesus had been traveling with his disciples when they approached the small village of Bethany, located a couple of miles from Jerusalem. We don’t know for sure whether or not the twelve disciples were also invited into Martha’s home, but we are told that Jesus accepted her invitation.
Martha certainly demonstrated her love for her Savior by inviting Jesus into her home. Scripture tells us that on several occasions to and from Jerusalem he stopped to visit Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus. So welcoming Jesus into her home was a good thing.
Martha also sought to honor and serve her Lord. She knew the people would be hungry. She wanted to be a good host. So, she went all out to make their visit pleasant. Remember now, Martha couldn’t just call up the local grocery store and order something out of the deli. She couldn’t call up the local pizza place and have dinner delivered. If she was going to serve a meal, she was going to have to make it herself. Martha was trying to do a good thing. She was trying to give her best to the Lord. The problem was, in the process of trying to do good, Martha missed the best thing.
Look at what we’re told about Martha. First, we’re told that she was distracted. You can understand why can’t you? She had a million things to do. The problem was, Martha was so wrapped up in the details of entertaining that she had no time to enjoy her guest. The Savior of the world was in her living room but she spent all her time in the kitchen. Jesus was in her home sharing the words of life but she was wrapped up in making sure the bread was baked just right and that the table was set properly. The superficial things were keeping her from the important things.
Now picture the kitchen in your mind. Martha is running around trying to get everything ready…the meat cooked, vegetables washed, wine glasses filled…certainlyshe could use a hand in the kitchen. So where’s her sister?
I am positive that if I had been in Martha’s position, I would have done the same thing she did. Here she is trying to get dinner ready and her sister isn’t in the kitchen giving her a hand. No, she’s sitting in the living room visiting with Jesus! Can’t you picture Martha starting to get upset? She probably sighed a few times…and loudly. She may have intentionally slammed a few dishes and a few cupboard doors. I bet she was grumbling under her breath and started to feel sorry for herself. And to make matters worse, her not-so-subtle messages that she needed help weren’t getting through. Finally she had enough. She storms out of the kitchen and into the room where Jesus was teaching and vents her frustration. She says, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (v.40).
Can’t you see yourself doing the same thing? When the stress of life begins to get the better of us, we strike out at those around us. Martha is mad at Mary and seems to even be mad at Jesus. She is feeling under-appreciated, overworked and overwhelmed with all that needs to be done.
In this awkward situation Jesus takes the time to teach Martha some important truths. He says with compassion, “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” (v.41,42).
What is it that Jesus is saying to Martha? He’s saying, “Martha you are missing the thing that is most important. You’re so wrapped up in the details of serving that you’re missing the real reason I am here…to share with you the message that leads to eternal life.”
In Matthew 6 Jesus says something similar. He asks us why we worry about things like food and clothing. God can take care of those things. Instead of worrying about these kinds of things Jesus tells us to “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). In other words, we are to pursue the important things and let everything else fall into place.
Mary understood this. Instead of running around in the kitchen, she sits right at Jesus’ feet and listens. Nothing else was more important to Mary when Jesus was talking. She serves as a great example of someone who had her priorities in order and her focus in place.
Now what do you think you would have done if you had been invited to that meal? Do you think you’d be in the kitchen with Martha, running around trying to get everything done? Or would you choose the better thing, like Mary, and be found sitting at Jesus’ feet?
Here’s the bottom line: is the listening of Mary really better than the doing of Martha? Jesus leaves us no doubt that, yes it is. Our fast-paced world of cell phones, email, and text messages, a world that screams at us to do more things than the day before, makes it difficult to keep our focus. Life is filled with distractions. Everyone is so busy. It’s easy to find yourself living the Martha kind of life.
Let’s admit it – life can be hectic. An aging parent needs your attention. The car needs an oil change. A friend needs a shoulder to lean on. Before you figure out your schedule you have to consult your child’s first because you know theirs is going to have a huge impact on yours. There’s always something at work that demands more of your time. A sick child needs your care. And then there are the bills to pay, phone messages to return, emails to answer, and keeping in touch with family. Pretty soon you like a lawn sprinkler spouting and spinning in every direction – and before you know it, you’ve run out of time…again.
Life is filled with choices. There are lots of good things that can occupy our attention. However, sometimes these good things can get in the way of the best things. You may have already heard of the illustration a physics teacher gave his class. He presented them with a wide-mouth glass jar. He then gave them five big rocks, a handful of marbles, a container of sand and a glass of water. He said, “You’ve got fifteen seconds to put all of these items in the jar."
The physics teacher then stepped back with stopwatch in hand and yelled, “Go!” The students poured in the sand, threw in the marbles and started stuffing the rocks in. After fifteen seconds he shouted, “Times up.” There still sitting on the table were three large rocks and the glass of water. The students started complaining, “It can’t be done. It’s impossible. All that stuff will not fit. The jar is too small.”
The teacher calmly said, “I can put them all in the jar.” The students responded, “Show us.” So they dumped everything back on the table – separated everything and started over. The teacher then took the jar and placed a couple of the big rocks in the jar. He filled in any gaps around the big rocks with the marbles and then added the rest of the big rocks.
The teacher then took the sand and slowly poured it into the jar and watched as it filtered around the rocks and the marbles – filling all the holes and spaces. He then took the glass of water and poured it into the jar. Everything fit perfectly. He then said, “It all fits – but it depends on the order that you put them in the jar – that is a matter of setting priorities. When you set priorities you can make it happen....
And that’s what we have to do too. In our busy lives, we have to make sure that we put the biggest things; the best things first. That’s what Mary did. She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened.
What are the better things? What is really important to you? Is it so important to you that you have the nicest car or the biggest house? Is it important that you have enough money squirreled away to live three lifetimes? For those of us gathered here this morning, we know what is most important don’t we? It’s not money, fame, or material possessions. The most important thing we have is our faith in Jesus Christ. It is incredibly important that we know who Jesus is and what he’s done for us. And then not only for us, but for those we love – for our families. And not only for our families – but for everyone. It’s important that we share our faith with others.
And where do we get that faith? Faith was first created in our hearts at our baptism. And now we are strengthened in faith every time we come into contact with the means of grace: God’s word and sacraments. So where do we find them? They’re found here in church, in Bible study, in our school and in our VacationBibleSchool. The biggest things; the best things, the most important things are found right here. So this is the place we need to be. But unfortunately, all too often we allow our lives to get cluttered with gravel, sand and water and we don’t leave enough room for the bigger rocks, the best things, the most important things.
The best things are the things that will be most important in the end. At the end of our lives, few people will wish they had run themselves more ragged, worked more overtime, or made more money. At the end of our lives, few people will wish they had accumulated more stuff.
The thing that will matter most at that time will be your faith in Jesus as your Savior, and then making sure that those sitting next to you today believe the same as you. Make the Lord your first priority and then don’t worry. Everything else will fall into place.
This message appears to have gotten through to Martha. The next time we see her, at Lazarus’ death; she greets Jesus and listens to him. She expresses her faith, even at a trying time. I think Martha learned her lesson from the kitchen. And I pray that we learn that lesson too.
Amen.
And now may the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, keep our hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.