Mary and Martha (women of the Bible)

 

TRANSCRIPT

 

Mary and Martha.

These two ladies were instrumental in carrying a message to all women throughout generations to come, yet they never knew just how important their life messages would be.

Let’s get a bit of background on these ladies.

Mary and Martha were sisters and Lazarus is believed to have been their brother. The three of them lived together and were friends of Jesus.

The definitions of their names alone give significant insight into what these 2 women were like.

Though sisters, they were vastly different in their opinions and ways, and the Lord took their differences at stride while loving each of them in terms they could appreciate.

It may be first of all important to note that Jewish tradition did not allow for the training of women in leadership or as a disciple. Jesus broke this mold in His relationships with women, since it is evident that Mary Magdelene, Joanna, and Susana and others were among his closest followers.

Mary means “loved by Yahweh” and Martha means “lady”.

We can tell in many of the passages of scripture that Jesus dearly loved Mary as she seemed to touch his heart and reach him where it really mattered. Martha was a lady by the true definition. She was of great service to her master and to others. She followed protocol, was proper, and knew how to serve her fellow man..

One of the main stories of Mary and Martha prove just how their differences were frustrating to Martha. Martha was irritated with Mary for not helping her serve Jesus. We find the story of this in Luke 10:38-42.

Mary seemed to have no true sense of traditional women’s roles, since rather than helping her sister Martha serve during one of Jesus’ visits, she decides to sit at his feet instead and be taught the Word directly from the master. I imagine Mary saw herself as a pupil of the Master, and she sat in anticipation under the instruction and tutelage of her mentor. Although Mary probably helped around the house, she obviously didn’t bother with homemaking and serving duties when Jesus was around. Her service to Jesus was of a different nature.

We find that when Martha fusses about Mary not helping her out in the kitchen and asks Jesus to make Mary help her, Jesus gently guides Martha into seeing that Mary was doing no wrong and that in fact, her service to the Lord in sitting at his feet was just as important, if not more so, than the busy, practical serving Martha was doing. Martha was tempted to feel somewhat superior to Mary as she resented her for not doing what she felt was the greater duty. Jesus was quick to set Martha straight and show her that there was no need for a judgmental attitude. There was room in the Kingdom of God for different personality types, and Jesus loved the free spirited, non-traditional Mary as much as he loved the stricter, protocol-keeping Martha, and Martha had no right to judge Mary’s character.

It was also evident in other scripture that Mary had been known to display spiritual sensitivity to Jesus’ needs, while Martha always served in the background. (Luke 12:4) Mary oftentimes received criticism for outward displays of affection and emotion, as in the time she poured ointment over Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. The disciples complained that the ointment could have been saved for the poor. However, Jesus rebuked them explaining that she understood his purpose on earth which was to die for our sins, and because of this she grieved for him and anointed him before time.

Mary’s whole demeanor toward Jesus was that of worship.

Jesus was and still is looking for those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. Mary was a true worshipper.

Martha was a true servant and was consistent, stable, and always busy. Martha was always busy preparing and making things happen behind the scenes. Without Martha nothing was bound to be the same. She was needed in her personality and all that she was to the Lord’s world, but her one fault was that she didn’t realize just how needed her despised sister Mary was. I’m sure she loved her sister…but probably just didn’t understand her ways, and may have been irritated by what seemed to be her passivity.

The story of Martha and Mary gives us hope for the future.

How shall we live for God? Will we be of service to him by staying busy with the practical aspects of ministry or religion?

Or will we be of service to him by sitting at His feet as He teaches our hearts His ever-present words of righteousness and truth? Will we worship Him with our attention and affection?

How will we choose to serve our Lord?