Mary, the rule-breaker

I was all set to teach a quick series on the Apostles in the days following the Resurrection, when I realized that this Sunday is Mother's Day. So, I suppose that it is only fitting that I pick something especially for the ladies.

Several weeks ago, I spoke on the raising of Lazarus in John 11, within it is reference to Mary and Martha. Since they have been on my mind, I think they are the perfect lesson for the week. While we will get back to John 11, the bulk of our time will be in Luke chapter 10.

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 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. 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!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Through the years, I've heard a lot of messages on the contrast between Mary and Martha, based on this passage of Scripture. Most of the messages have criticized Martha simply for getting upset with Mary, but I believe that there is actually a little more going on here than simple sibling rivalry or a concern about who is working harder.

I do want to note, as we start, the passage's placement in Scripture. The previous verses are telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, a passage used to explain the importance of showing love and hospitality to strangers. Immediately following the parable, we see Martha opening her home to Jesus and acting as the perfect host to a seeming stranger...but His reaction is not what one would expect. I think the placement of the two stories and the contrast is not an accident, but more of a "you've heard in old days, the law said <fill in the blank>, but I tell you, <expounds with practical application>.

I think Luke was trying to remind us that serving God and taking care of others is important, but there is also more.

Verse 38 would make it seem that Martha was not previously acquainted with Jesus. Rather, she had probably heard of Him, and was being a proper host by welcoming Him into her home. An action that would have been socially acceptable and also expected, based on OT tradition. Often, travelers would come to the gates of the city looking for lodging for the night and an elder of the city would take them in and offer them protection, food, and shelter. This was common and expected. So Mary, was acting as a good Hebrew woman should.

We don't really know much about Martha. We know that it was her house, which would seem to mean that she was probably a widow. But the fact that she owned a house was a bit unusual. And while she owns a house, she doesn't appear to be wealthy, as she has no servants to prepare the meal for her guests. So, she is busy making all of the preparations and working to make them (thirteen of them?) comfortable. When she turns to see what her sister, Mary is busy doing, she is surprised to find her sitting at the feet of Jesus.

For those wondering, yes, it is significant that Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus. In fact, each time we meet Mary in Scriptures, she is at the feet of Jesus. But what does that tell us?

In Jewish culture, teachers and Rabbis had students. When the teacher would sit down to teach, he generally sat in an elevated position (so that everyone could hear). While guests might sit on seats, the teacher's disciples would sit at their feet. This can be found throughout the New Testament, as well as extra-Biblical accounts.

But, why is this important? To be frank, because the culture at the time would have been one of, "the woman's place is in the home." It would have been rare for a woman to give up her household duties and become a learner. I suspect that this is part of the reason that Martha is upset. It's not just that she is doing more work, it's that she is afraid that Mary is being forward (at best) or disrespectful (at worst).

So, and this is my opinion based on cultural norms of the time, I think that Martha was not only trying to get Mary to work, but was worried that she was embarrassing herself by taking a seat at His feet. Notice that Jesus's response is that Martha is worried and upset about "many" things. But He continues that very few things are really needed...or only one...and Mary has chosen it.

People assume that Jesus was reprimanding Martha for worrying about work over worship. And there is definitely a good sermon in there somewhere. But I think that Jesus is expounding on the parable of the Good Samaritan, by suggesting that being hospitable is good, but there is something better: learning as a disciple.

The point wasn't that Martha was trying to make Mary work, it was that Mary was doing something that was generally reserved for educated men. Martha was trying to save her the embarrassment by asking Jesus to politely remind her of her place. Jesus replies that a place of love and learning is absolutely where she should be, regardless of the fact that she was a woman. This was a rather radical idea for both of them. He was suggesting that it might actually be ok to ignore tradition and think about things in a new way!

What I don't believe is that Jesus was chastising Martha in any way. He was suggesting that it's ok to sit at His feet and worship.

Now, back to John 11. I want to point out one simple truth here.

verse 5 says: Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus

verse 20 tells us that Martha went out to meet <Jesus> while Mary stayed home.

verse 21 tells us that Martha declared plainly that she knows that Jesus could have prevented the death, had He been there.

verse 27 says that Martha understood that He was the Messiah.

Whether you believe that Martha was being chastised in Luke is not even my point. At their next meeting, notice two things: First: Jesus loved them both. Period. Jesus loved them both. This had nothing to do with whether one was a worker or a whiner or disciple. JESUS LOVED THEM BOTH.

Second: Martha is the one who rushed out to meet Jesus, before He was even there. Martha is the one who declared that He was the Messiah, while Mary stayed at home this time!

The next time we see both of the sisters is at Jesus' anointing, some days later, as told in John 12. Martha was serving, according to verse 12, and once again Mary is seated, and indeed cleaning, Jesus feet.

Both serving Him in their own way. Both serving in harmony.

It's ok to be radical in your relationship.

It's ok to be unconventional.

It's ok to live your life in a way that our culture doesn't always understand.

As long as we're worshiping.