Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a large group of people?
We're taking our way through the story of Jesus in Luke's gospel.
Luke tells us about a moment like this where things got awkward.
We're in Luke chapter 10.
Let me just read for you the first couple verses.
Luke 10 verse 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.
She had a sister called Mary.
So Jesus and his disciples, they come to this village
where this woman named Martha opens her home to Jesus.
And Luke just tells us Martha had a sister named Mary.
We know from later on in the story,
and specifically from the gospel of John,
that Martha and Mary lived together in the village of Bethany,
which was just about two miles southeast from Jerusalem.
What's also interesting is that Bethany is the last stop on the highway
coming into Jerusalem from the city of Jericho.
And so that may explain why Jesus used the road from Jerusalem to Jericho
in the parable of the Good Samaritan,
which came right before this.
Jesus and his disciples, they might be traveling into Jerusalem
for another of the annual festivals at this time,
and just kind of doing ministry along the way.
We also know from the gospel of John
that Martha and Mary have a brother named Lazarus.
And Lazarus later gets sick and dies,
and ends up being raised from the dead by Jesus.
We read about that later on in John chapter 11.
And also in John 11, we read this.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So Martha and Mary end up being very close friends with Jesus.
We don't actually know from the gospel accounts
when this connection happened,
when Martha and Mary and Lazarus first met Jesus.
Did the women meet Jesus through Lazarus?
Was it in Jerusalem at one of the festivals?
Was this the first time that Jesus met up with Martha?
Or was it just the first time that she welcomed him into her home?
We don't know any of that.
It's the first mention of Martha and Mary in Luke's account.
Whatever it was, Luke tells us that Martha opens her home to Jesus.
She welcomes him and extends hospitality to him.
Now, Luke doesn't waste any time telling us about this visit.
And he really only highlights one moment in particular from this visit.
Something happened here at Martha's house.
There was this tension in the house.
This sort of awkward moment.
And the tension arises between Martha and Mary, the two sisters.
And it has to do with what each of them is doing.
And Luke tells us what they were doing.
Martha 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.
So just try and imagine this for a moment.
What would you do when 13 men show up at your front door?
That's Jesus and his 12 disciples.
Well, you welcome them into the house.
Come on in.
You give them greetings.
And then, if you're like Martha, the one who extended the invitation,
you get right to work on the hosting part, right?
These 13 men aren't going to feed themselves.
There's probably some rearranging of the furniture that needs to be done
just to get everyone a place to sit in this first century home
in this little village of Bethany.
And is anyone thirsty?
Does anyone need a drink of water?
And the list goes on.
Luke says Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
I don't know if you've ever felt like that when having a large gathering at your house.
Have you ever had a moment like that?
You can almost just imagine Martha scurrying around in the home
trying to look after all these things.
And meanwhile, Luke says that her sister Mary is just there
sitting down at the feet of Jesus, listening to him.
Let's flip over to Mary's perspective.
Can you really blame her for wanting to just sit there and listen to Jesus?
I mean, this is Jesus himself right there in her own living room.
And he's talking.
We don't even get from Luke the details of what Jesus was saying.
But whatever it was, Mary didn't want to miss a word.
She just wanted to sit there and soak it in.
And this is where the tension begins to build.
Imagine that you're Martha
and you feel the weight of responsibility to host this large group of guests.
And there's one person here who could be a real help to you,
who knows the house, who knows where everything is.
And she's just sitting there on the floor, listening to Jesus.
Well, that's fine for a few minutes.
But then time begins to pass.
And she isn't politely excusing herself and coming to help with all the hosting stuff.
You can imagine the frustration beginning to rise in Martha's heart.
And maybe she just kept it quiet at first.
She doesn't want to embarrass her sister in front of the guests.
And so she just, we don't know, just imagining.
She keeps working harder, keeps going faster.
Try to get all the things ready.
Well, I imagine that all of them in the house
could feel Martha's temperature rising.
And eventually it sort of comes to this moment
where Martha just can't take it anymore.
She's well past frustrated.
She's in the anger zone.
She doesn't even speak to Mary herself.
But she speaks to Jesus.
She came to Jesus and asked,
Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?
Tell her to help me.
Well, if I'm Peter or one of the other disciples,
I'm thinking,
this is awkward.
Sibling conflict
between two women over who should be doing house stuff.
And maybe I'm even feeling a little guilty
since my being here
is causing indirectly this stress to Martha.
I'm also thinking about all the other times
that Jesus has been called on
to settle disputes between people.
Martha calls on the guest of honor
to direct her own sister
to help her.
Now, if Jesus were just an ordinary man like me,
this would be one of those moments
where I pause
and consider very carefully
what I say next.
You know, the last thing I want to do
is take sides here
between two sisters
about the hospitality stuff
in their own house.
And if I don't watch what I say
very carefully here,
one of those sisters
is probably going to be upset with me
for the rest of the evening.
But Jesus is no ordinary man.
He's not afraid to take sides.
He doesn't live to please people.
He just gently and firmly
speaks the truth to everyone and anyone
wherever He is.
And listen to what He says.
In response,
Martha, Martha,
you are worried and upset
about many things,
but few things are needed,
or indeed only one.
Mary has chosen what is better,
and it will not be taken away from her.
Did Jesus, the guest,
just chide,
or even gently rebuke
His host?
Yeah, He did.
And it was probably
somewhat humiliating
for Martha in this moment
to receive that word of correction.
But then I'm sure
as she thought about it
and
pondered it,
she knew that Jesus was right.
This is one of those reasons
why Jesus is just so amazing.
This is the kind of person He is.
He doesn't just tell people
what they want to hear.
He was a true friend.
He comes over to your house
as the guest,
and He gently rebukes you
as the host.
Who else does that?
Let's also notice, though,
Jesus does make it clear.
He understands
how she feels.
He says,
you're worried and upset
about many things.
Maybe up until this moment,
Martha had even been wondering,
like,
does anybody
see the problem here?
Does anybody understand
what I'm feeling?
Well, Jesus saw it,
and He knew it.
He didn't say that
that was right,
but He did acknowledge it.
And then we see this contrast
that Jesus brings out here.
Martha, Martha,
you're worried about
many things,
but few things are needed,
or indeed,
only one.
I think it's kind of obvious
what Jesus means
when He's talking about
the many things.
That's the hospitality stuff.
That's all the preparations
that she's working on.
But then,
what does He mean
by the contrast?
What's the few,
or what's the one
that's really needed?
Now,
why does He say at first,
few,
but then narrow it down
to one?
Which is it?
Few or one?
Well,
let's wade into that
a little bit.
First,
there is a bit
of a textual issue here.
Most English translations
simply say,
say this,
but one thing is necessary.
You're worried about
many things,
but one thing
is necessary.
There's a shorter variation.
There's a longer variation.
And truth be told,
if you look back
at the ancient manuscripts,
there's several variations
at this point.
And scholars
and translators,
of course,
they recognize this
as a difficult textual issue.
The evidence kind of leans
in favor of the shorter reading
being the original one,
which is why most English translations
just say this,
but one thing is necessary
or needed.
If the few things
is part of what Jesus said,
Jesus could be saying
something like,
Martha,
you don't have to go all out.
Simple hospitality
will suffice.
We don't need extravagance.
A few things will do.
But at the end of this,
I'm really at your place
not for what you can do for me,
but for you,
to be with you.
And here we kind of notice,
either way,
Jesus seems to be
shifting it away
from hospitality
and toward relationship
with what he says.
The main point
Jesus is making here
seems to be that
Mary has chosen
what is better.
There she is
sitting at Jesus' feet,
listening to his words.
And she's chosen
relationship
over hospitality,
over service.
The one thing needed
is not more activity
for Jesus,
but attention to Jesus.
In fact,
I think we can even
push it a little bit
further than that.
What does Jesus
really want Martha
to do right now?
You ever thought about that?
What does Jesus
really want Martha to do?
Well, he wants her
to stop being distracted
and anxious
and come sit down
at his feet
with Mary.
I mean,
Jesus doesn't say
this word for word,
but I think it's sort of
implied, isn't it?
I came here to see you
and to spend time
with you
and with Mary.
Or to put it another way,
if Mary has chosen
the better thing,
Jesus says it
right point blank,
then what does Jesus
want for Martha
to do right now
in this moment?
Yeah.
Isn't he inviting her?
Come, Martha.
Sit at my feet.
Join us.
Be with us.
Be with me.
That's all that's needed.
I'm not going to make
Mary go help you
in the kitchen.
It's her choice
and she has chosen well.
And this is it.
This is all we get
from Luke
about this visit
to Mary and Martha's house.
Just this short
little conversation
following this tension
in the house.
Why is this here
in the Bible?
Well, it must be
in Luke's mind
and ultimately
in God's mind
it must be
that there's enough
of a lesson here
to be learned.
Not just for Martha
but for others
who would read this
as well.
For us.
And what is that lesson?
What's that main truth
in all of this?
I think very simply
what Luke is showing
what God is saying
what Jesus is getting at
and what Martha learned
is that relationship
with Jesus
is the most important thing.
Relationship with Jesus
is the most important thing.
Now there's a couple ways
we could
say it differently.
We could use
some of Jesus' own words.
Relationship with Jesus
is the better thing.
Or since there's only
one thing that's needed
relationship with Jesus
is the best thing.
Not that there isn't
goodness to the other things
but relationship with Jesus
is the best thing.
And I think when we hear that
we kind of know that
in our hearts, right?
Or we could bring in
that other word of Jesus.
Relationship with Jesus
is the only thing
truly needed.
But one thing is needed.
Relationship with Jesus
is the only thing
truly needed.
And when I say it that way
I think,
that's a little harder
to accept sometimes,
isn't it?
Do you feel that?
What about this?
What about that?
Don't we need
those things too?
Part of me wants
to defend Martha
a little bit here.
Somebody's got to look
after supper
or we're all going
to be really hungry.
And that's true.
But honestly,
what do we need more?
The meal
or to be with Jesus?
In fact,
God really kind of
answered that
a long time ago.
Back in Deuteronomy
8 verse 3,
man shall not live
by bread alone
but by every word
that comes
from the mouth of God.
There is something
even more essential
to life
than even the food
we eat.
And it's our relationship
with God.
And specifically
that part of our relationship
where we listen
to God's word.
Where we listen
to the words
of Jesus.
If you have to choose
between food
and Jesus,
one fills your belly
till tomorrow.
The other fills
your soul.
and your heart
and your mind
with life
and with light
that lasts forever.
One is the food
and drink
that after eating
we get hungry
again.
We get thirsty
again.
Jesus offers us
living water
and the bread
of life
and says
that it will
quench our thirst
and satisfy our hunger
forever.
I'm reminded
of these words
from John's gospel.
John 6
verse 35
Jesus declared
I am the bread
of life
whoever comes
to me
will never
go hungry
and whoever
believes in me
will never
be thirsty.
or maybe
we could
frame it
this way
the very
son of God
God
in human
flesh
is coming
to your
house
this evening.
what's better
that you put
out a fine
spread of
appetizers
and refreshments
and cook him
a fine meal
and offer him
the best
and most
comfortable stay
at the cost
of being
with him
or that
everyone goes
hungry
and gets
parched
by the end
of the evening
but you enjoy
several hours
of close
relationship
with
Jesus
listening to
him
talking
with him
heart
to heart
I think
when we put
it that way
we kind of
all recognize
that it's
true
relationship
with Jesus
is
the only
thing
truly needed
it is
the better
thing
it is
the best
thing
the one
thing
if
you've
been
exposed
to the
Bible
or Christian
teaching
that truth
probably
comes as
no surprise
you're probably
thinking
yeah we've
heard this
a lot
even just
last Sunday
the religious
lawyer who
talked with
Jesus
knew that
this was
the truth
he knew
that the
greatest
commandment
in the
law
was to
love the
Lord your
God
with all
your heart
soul
mind
and strength
he too
knew that
relationship
with God
is the
most
important
thing
but as
we saw
with him
last week
in the
passage just
above this
it's possible
to know
this truth
and yet
not actually
respond to
it
we have
to go
beyond just
knowing it
we have
to respond
to it
relationship
with Jesus
is the
only
thing
truly
needed
it's the
better
thing
it's the
best
thing
it's the
one
thing
but along
with that
truth
comes an
invitation
from Christ
to you
and to
me
again
what did
Jesus
really want
Martha to
do
it's
implied in
his answer
isn't it
drop all
the worries
and the
frets
and leave
those
distractions
and come
and sit
at my
feet
be with
me
just
imagine
for a
moment
that you
were
Martha
and Jesus
said these
words
that we
just read
to you
will you
come
will you
sit
at my
feet
will you
come and
do this
better
thing
that Mary
has
chosen
would you
do it
would you
just drop
all the
preparations
and do
it
how would
you respond
to Jesus
I think
it's the
same
invitation
to Martha
that Jesus
gives to
all of us
today
come
sit at
my feet
don't worry
about all
those other
things
come be
with me
come listen
to my
words
now
there is
one thing
that's
really
different
from then
to now
Martha
had Jesus
physically
present
in her
home
in flesh
and blood
and so
we know
exactly
what the
relationship
with Jesus
meant
for her
back then
but
2,000
years later
some things
have changed
the story
goes on
Jesus
dies
he rose
again
from the
dead
he ascended
into heaven
and right
now
he's sitting
in heaven
at the right
hand of God
until that
day that he
returns
we also know
that not long
after he ascended
into heaven
he sent
his spirit
to indwell
us
to live
inside of
us
and so
relationship
with Jesus
for us
today
it looks
really
different
than it
did back
then for
Martha
and Mary
he doesn't
come to
our house
he doesn't
sleep in
our guest
room
and we
can't just
physically
sit at his
feet like
Mary did
now
we talk
to Jesus
by prayer
and his
spirit
living in
us
hears
our
prayers
in that
sense
we actually
have one
thing
better
than Mary
and Martha
had
we can
talk to
Jesus
anytime
now
we don't
have to
wait
for him
to come
over
to our
house
wherever
we are
at any
time
we can
pray
and Jesus
hears us
but now
how do we
sit at his
feet
and listen
to him
Jesus
talks to us
now by
his spirit
through
the written
words of
God
through our
Bibles
maybe I'll
say it
this way
you might
think differently
about it
but there's
a way
here that
Mary and
Martha
had it a
little
better
than us
they got
to see
Jesus
face to
face
and sit
there and
listen to
him
for us
it's
different
Jesus
is in
heaven
and we
come to
sit at
his feet
through a
book
we have
to open
it
we have
to read
it
we have
to meditate
on words
that he
has already
spoken in
the past
but as
we do
he speaks
to us
through
these
words
in the
present
that's
what
relationship
with
Jesus
looks like
for us
today
prayer
is how
we
talk
to
him
and
meditation
on his
written
word
is how
we
listen
to
him
and
yes
that
isn't
the way
that I
probably
that we
would prefer
it to be
we
would rather
it be
face to
face
wouldn't
we
voice to
ear
but Jesus
said that
this is how
it's going
to be
in another
parable
he told
the disciples
how he
is like a
king
going away
to be
crowned
and who
will later
return
but we
his servants
are kind
of left
in the
meantime
to serve
and to
await his
return
he
as we
heard earlier
in the
service
has gone
to prepare
a place
for us
so that
we can
be with
him
but for
now
we wait
for him
to return
and so
our relationship
with him
it's very
different
but even
though it's
different
I don't
think it
changes
the invitation
of Jesus
to us
he invites
us all
come
sit at
my feet
listen
to my
words
draw
near
open
the Bible
I will
speak to
you
and
it might
feel weird
at first
to try
and have
relationship
with
God
with Jesus
through a
book
especially
if
you're
not
someone
who
really
enjoys
reading
and never
have
but there's
a different
kind of
reading
we can
read
for
relationship
I still
remember
the days
before
FaceTime
and video
chat
were a
thing
we did
this thing
where we
used to
write
letters
first
it was
hand
written
delivered
by the
postal
service
then it
was
type
written
then it
was
email
have you
ever
received
a
precious
personal
letter
a letter
of
relationship
from
someone
I mean
usually
that sort
of thing
happened
when two
people
were
separated
after I
graduated
from Bible
college
there was
this
summer
where
Jen and
I
were
dating
but not
yet
engaged
we just
started
our
relationship
in
January
and I
really
wanted
to marry
Jen
I was
already
sold
but you
got to
go through
the process
you got to
you know
take your
time
and
she was
off having
an adventure
in Morocco
on a
missions
trip
and I
was
sitting at
home
worried
that she
was going
to start
feeling
called
to go
be a
missionary
in
Morocco
meanwhile
I felt
God
calling
me
to be
a
pastor
in
North
America
well that
month
that she
was gone
felt like
forever
to me
I didn't
hear from
her while
she was
gone
the
relationship
was
distanced
I didn't
know what
she was
thinking
or feeling
and how
this was
going to
work
itself
out
in the
future
and then
one day
this
handwritten
letter
came
in the
mail
and it
meant the
world to
me
I didn't
just read
it to get
information
about
Jen
the words
on the
page
were her
speaking to
me
and I
treasured
those
words
I
would
have
rather
been
with
her
in
person
but
her
words
on the
page
were
better
than
nothing
that's
how we
must
relate
to
Jesus
right
now
while
he
is
away
God
has
written
letters
to us
through
the
centuries
we
have
them
all
recorded
in
different
kinds
some
of the
words
of the
prophets
some
are
actual
letters
accounts
of what
happened
things
that he
has
said
things
that he
has
done
revealing
who
he
is
to
us
some
are
instruction
about
how
to
live
others
are
just
telling
us
about
the
things
he
has
waiting
for
us
in
the
future
the
things
he's
promised
even
if
reading
for
other
purposes
isn't
our
thing
this
is
relational
reading
where
it
can
be
do
you
hear
the
invitation
of
Jesus
to
come
and
sit
at
his
feet
have
you
been
like
Mary
just
enjoying
his
words
often
soaking
in
everything
God
has
to
say
as
you
open
up
your
Bible
throughout
the
week
or
have
you
been
like
Martha
of
late
distracted
by
the
many
things
too
busy
to
find
time
to
sit
down
and
be
quiet
and
open
up
his
letter
and
read
it
are
you
making
time
throughout
each
week
to
be
with
Jesus
to
talk
with
him
to
listen
to
him
does
what
Jesus
said
to
Martha
bring
conviction
maybe
your
priorities
are
out
of
order
have
you
been
neglecting
the
one
thing
needed
for
the
many
things
do
you
need
to
change
how
you
structure
your
mornings
or
your
evenings
or
your
days
or
your
weeks
so
that
you
have
that
time
guarded
and
protected
to
sit
at the
feet
of
Jesus
now
I know
it's
easy to
hear
those
kinds
of
questions
and
think
yeah
I
need
to
do
more
and
then
jump
right
back
into
the
busyness
and
distractedness
of
life
and
forget
it
all
and
so
I
want
to
offer
a
couple
practical
helps
that
really
can
make
a
difference
one
is
this
little
yellow
book
it's
called
before
you
open
your
Bible
nine
heart
postures
for
approaching
God's
word
I got
two
of
these
they'll
be
on
the
mailbox
table
at
the
back
you
could
read
one
of
these
heart
postures
in
less
than
five
minutes
and
just
encourage
us
about
how
for
relationship
with
him
it
gets
us
thinking
and
then
we
can
jump
into
our
reading
and
meet
with
him
so
that's
available
and
if
we
need
to
order
more
we
can
order
more
Bible
reading
plans
are
also
helpful
sometimes
that
decision
of
where
do
I
read
becomes
a
barrier
well
the
plan
can
help
you
know
well
just
go
to
the
next
spot
keep
carrying
on
with
where
you
were
and
with
those
don't
worry
about
falling
behind
most
of
them
are
laid
out
to
get
through
the
Bible
in
a
year
don't
worry
about
falling
behind
just
pick
up
wherever
you
left
off
just
like
you
do
with
a
friend
and
last
maybe
it's
really
just
the
motivation
maybe
Jesus
invitation
is
enough
to
bring
you
near
today
but
you
feel
like
you
just
need
!
more
reminders
of
how
important
it
is
to
spend
time
with
Jesus
throughout
the
week
I
want
to
encourage
you
to
spend
some
time
in
Psalm
119
it's
got
22
chunks
in it
eight
verses
each
and
the
whole
focus
of
Psalm
119
is
the
value
of
God's
word
of
what
it
is
to
us
and
let
God
convince
you
and
motivate
you
to
draw
near
and
listen
the more
we soak
our minds
in that
truth
the easier
it gets
to just
cast aside
the other
things
the distractions
and just
focus
come
and sit
at Jesus
feet
so those
are three
things
in closing
relationship
with Jesus
is the most
important thing
but we need
to draw
near
we need
to come
we need
to engage
in it
with our
hearts
father in
heaven
pull us
closer
to you
draw us
in
as only
you can
do
lord we
confess
and we
admit
that
often
we are
so easily
distracted
we go
all over
the place
we do
all sorts
of things
we get
interested
in new
hobbies
and
things
but we
really only
have so much
time in our
lives
and it is
precious
it is a
gift
and we
can enjoy
some of those
good things
but let's not
miss the most
important thing
lord that's what
we ask
is that you
would
draw us
close to you
so that we
are with you
and that our
relationship
grows stronger
and sweeter
day by day
i pray that
that would
be the
truth
in our
individual
lives
in our
corporate
life
as a
church
that we
would be
known
in our
community
as a
people
who love
you
and who
love
your word
do that
work in us
we pray
in jesus name
amen