Martha chose the expectation…Mary chose the necessity.
While a lot of us want to see ourselves as Mary – the truth is… we’re a bunch of Martha’s.
Martha’s story is always read with a “tsk” or a disappointment in her culturally acceptable question. Martha was fulfilling her duty as hostess. She was hustling and bustling in the kitchen – she was doing her work. And there sits Mary, at Jesus’s feet – not helping, and certainly a position, culturally, a woman was not meant to be.
Martha’s question is…valid. But the greatest part of this story is that while Martha is watching her sister remove herself from the responsibility of serving, we learn something that is incredibly important.
Martha looks at Jesus and is like, “I’m here in the kitchen – being responsible. Doing my duties. Tending to my guests. Maybe let Mary know where she should actually be.” And the greatest answer of all comes from Jesus.
But the Lord answered her,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42 ESV
A woman isn’t banished to the kitchen.
A woman isn’t separated or unequal to a man in the importance of walking with God.
A woman’s main concern is not to meet the societal expectations.
There wasn’t a declaration of “No uteruses allowed.” or “First I teach the men – then I teach the women.” Dare I also add, there was no declaration that women shouldn’t be learned at all….
A woman is to be seated at the foot of our Saviour – learning, spending time with Him, being in His presence. That is her duty. That is her spiritual expectation. That is the necessary thing that Mary chose.
It doesn’t negate responsibility – but it outranks the societal expectation. What the Lord is telling Martha here is that His expectation is what comes first.
It’s a lesson that is actually taught throughout the bible that the expectation of society or government is not outweighed or outranked by our Lord and Saviour’s instruction.
But this is the part that is often and always overlooked – Martha’s trajectory. Martha has a part two that is significant – wildly significant. We always stop at the end of Luke 10 and are like, “Ugh. Martha.” Shake our heads, declare us ‘Mary’s’ and keep reading.
But – Martha’s story doesn’t end there. No one discusses the part where Martha obeyed.
John Chapter 11.
We’re back with Martha and Mary, and brother Lazarus – the Lazarus. Raised from the dead after 4 days Lazarus.
Jesus arrives and Mary runs to meet Him.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know whatever you ask from God, God will give you”
John 11:21-22 ESV
When Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again, she responds
“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
Verse 24 ESV
Martha understands the resurrection that will happen – in fact it can be perhaps deduced that she wasn’t even asking for her brother to be resurrected but Jesus continues in telling her,
Jesus said to her “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Verse 25-26 ESV
A question is posed to Martha, does she know who Jesus is and what He is. Her response immediately follows in verse 27, and there is no indication of hesitation or pause. Her answer is given immediately.
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Her declaration and understanding of who Jesus is – her belief shows that she took the instruction of learning to heart and grew in wisdom and understanding. The proof of her trajectory proven in the question that was posed to Peter to whose response was exactly that – Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
But remember, that was a declaration made by Peter – the very statement that Christ would build His church on. The very same declaration made in front of the twelve but was forbidden to be uttered again by Jesus.
But Martha knows.
Martha learned.
Martha grew in the Word and came to know the Truth and declared it so.
So, my Martha’s in Christ…sit down – let’s learn about Jesus.
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