Lessons Learned: Martha

It Must Get Done!

I struggled with the Lord on this one because I did not want to write it!  That is because Martha is a lot like me.  Every day I have a long list of things I must get done.  Most of them I struggle to get done but I am determined.  I need to be more like Mary, Martha’s sister, and sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him.  Do you put your to do list before everything else in your life?  Or do you sit and enjoy life and fellowship?  These are questions I need to answer about myself while writing this story.  Portions of Martha’s story will be quotes from the New Living Translation and is in italics.  John 11:1-44, Luke 10:38-42, John 12

Martha’s Story

We are a close threesome, my brother Lazarus, my sister Mary and I.  Lazarus is a successful businessman.  Mary and I are both widows but neither of us have children.  We all live in the same house. 

We became friends with Jesus last year when He came to Bethany to preach and heal.  We all believed immediately Jesus was the Messiah.  We had Jesus at our house many times.

Mary and I are so different.  Mary loves to sit and learn.  I am a doer.  When I see something that needs done I do it.  I love to entertain but it is a lot of work. 

An example of this is one day when Jesus was visiting Mary sat by His feet and listened to Jesus teaching.  I was making a big dinner for Jesus.  I wanted it to be special.  I went to him a complained.

“Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

Instead of making Mary help me Jesus said

“My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

So, Mary was right!  Jesus wanted me to realize his teaching was more important than making an elaborate meal.  I should have realized, Jesus would rather I pay attention to him.  We ended up having a simple meal that evening instead of the many courses I originally planned.  I learned a lot about Jesus that day and from him.  My heart is still warm from the remembrance of how Jesus taught with love about many things.

One day the unthinkable happened.  Lazarus became extremely ill.  We sent word to Jesus to come quickly but he did not come until it was too late.  I was so upset!  Many people came to mourn for Lazarus, but Jesus did not come until four days after Lazarus died.  When I heard Jesus had come into Bethany, I ran out to meet him. 

“Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus answered me “Your brother will rise again.”

Yes,” (I) said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”

25Jesus told me, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

27“Yes, Lord,” I told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

I went back to the house to tell Mary Jesus was here and wanted to see her.  Mary went to where Jesus was and fell at his feet weeping. “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

There was a lot of mourners with Mary and Jesus looked very troubled and asked.

34“Where have you put him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus started crying.  People around us were whispering.  Some said Jesus loved Lazarus while others said if he could heal why did he not heal Lazarus before he died.  Mary and I, along with the others, took Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb.  Then an amazing thing happened.  There was a large stone in front of the tomb to protect the body. 

39“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.

I looked at Jesus and said “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

40Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”  ThenJesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out! 

And suddenly Lazarus came out of his tomb!  Jesus said to unwrap him from his burial cloths.  I was so happy!  My brother was alive!  Jesus truly is the Son of God!

After that day Jesus stayed away from Bethany because it was so close to Jerusalem.  The Jewish leaders sought to kill Jesus.  Then six days before the Passover Jesus came again to our house.  I made a nice meal for everyone but not an elaborate one like the first one when I got so upset.  That day Mary was so happy to have our brother back again she did something very unusual.  She went and got her jar of expensive perfume.  She broke it open and poured it on Jesus’ feet.  Then she did something no self-respecting Jewish woman would ever do; she undid her hair and wiped Jesus’ feet.  I was so proud of her though.  The room smelled amazing but more importantly, Jesus was worshipped in this incredibly special way. 

Some of the others did not get it though.  Judas Iscariot said, 5“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”  I have heard rumors Judas carries the bag of money for Jesus and his disciples and often helps himself to it.  Thief!

Jesus promptly told Judas off and said “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Back then I wondered what Jesus meant when he said it was in preparation for my burial.  Now I know.

The next day Jesus entered Jerusalem.  People were shouting and we thought Jesus would become king.  But by Friday Jesus had died on a cross a horrible death.  We were heartbroken.  Then on Sunday, we learned Jesus rose from the grave, just like Lazarus.  We saw Jesus one more time before he ascended into Heaven.  I look forward to Jesus’ return when we can live with him forever!

Lessons Learned from Martha

At the time I thought about writing this story I felt a lot of stress over all the things I needed to get done.  I was stressed out to the point it was making me ill and I was having episodes of vertigo.  Not good!  I have been trying to get one story or blog post written per week and post it in a Facebook sharing group to comment on Monday mornings.  Then continue to post it in the sharing group along with other social media to get maximum exposure.  This, and working almost 40 hours per week, while wearing a mask and constantly cleaning registers, I got worn out.  (I work at Walmart in the self-check area.) 

So, I eased up on myself and rested a lot and now I am feeling better.  I think Jesus wanted me to slow down.  I think he was telling me housework and blog posting will always need to be done but rest and listening to me (Jesus) is more important.  So be more like Mary and less like Martha.

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Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Audiobook on CD By Joanna Weaver The life of a woman today isn’t really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord’s feet…but the daily demands of a busy world just won’t leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him… yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy. Then comes Jesus, into the midst of your busy life, to extend the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters from Bethany. Tenderly, he invites you to choose “the better part”, a joyful intimacy with him that flows naturally into loving service. With her fresh approach to the familiar Bible story and its creative, practical strategies, Joanna shows how all of us-Marys and Marthas alike-can draw closer to our Lord, deepening our devotion, strengthening our service, and doing both with less stress and greater joy. Unabridged. Read by Jill Gajkowski. 6 CDs. 9 hours.

Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done By Katie M. Reid Are you a Martha who feels guilty for not being a Mary? Good news! Jesus loves you just the way you are! Drawing on the timeless story of Martha and Mary, Katie M. Reid shows how to rest in your heavenly Father without compromising your God-given gift as a do-er.With “It is Finished” activities at the end of each chapter and a five-week Bible study for individuals and groups. Made Like Martha helps you find rest from striving even as you celebrate your God-given design to “do.”