Loyal, OK

Pastor Leon Seaton

Sometimes we are guilty of putting Martha down because she had a bad day when she was tired and stressed out. So this morning I want to speak in defense of this fine lady! Mary and Martha were sisters, and they had a brother named Lazarus. The three were close personal friends of Jesus.   It can’t be documented, but I would guess that Martha was the same age as Jesus – 33 years old. Martha was also the head of their household.  Mary was probably younger, perhaps a teenager. Like most sisters, they had conflicts because they had different personalities, roles, and simply the fact that they were siblings.  Since the scriptures do not quote Lazarus, we know little about him! Evidently he was a man of few words! Probably the strong, silent type… and I would guess his age to be between the two sisters.

 

As the "homemaker," Martha was concerned about household details. She was hospitable by nature and wanted everything to be done right. Mary appears to be a more spiritual woman; sitting at Jesus' feet suggests that she was His student/disciple.

 

In our scripture for today Jesus gently rebukes Martha for being "worried and distracted" by her many tasks and her resentment of Mary's behavior. It was not the work that was the problem, it was her attitude.

 

Let’s face it, we all have a bad attitude at times. She was tired, exasperated, and trying to feed at least 17 people - 13 adult male guests plus her sister, brother and herself.

 

Due to the stress Martha lost her focus. Serving was no longer pleasant, but a task to be preformed. When Jesus said that she only needed only one thing, He was trying to help her refocus. The text does not suggest He told her to sit down and listen quietly!

 

Actually, had food been needed, Jesus could have performed another miracle. He had indicated that to the disciples when they were worried about forgetting bread when they were crossing the lake; He wanted to teach about the yeast of the Pharisees.

 

Jesus wanted Martha to focus on “loving God and loving her neighbors as herself.”

 

John’s description of Mary and Martha at the death of Lazarus (John 11:1--12:11), gives us another view of Martha and her siblings. They showed a lot of courage by calling Jesus for help when Lazarus was very ill. Since they did not have telephones or the internet, it took a few days for the message to get to Jesus. Jesus then waited two more days before starting for their home. Jesus was risking His life to see them. His disciples feared that Jesus would be killed. When they saw that He was committed to going one of them said, “Well, we might as well die with Him!”

 

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Martha rushed out to meet Him. Mary stayed at home. Martha spoke eloquently about who Jesus was – the Messiah. She stated that she knew that God would honor Jesus’ prayers – but, like us, she staggered at God’s promises – the thought that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead was just too amazing to comprehend!

 

Lazarus has been dead for four days by the time Jesus and the disciples arrived in the village. The sisters were in mourning. Here Martha is a strong, dynamic woman… Martha shows her deep faith and she is not “distracted” by any thing.

 

As you think about their conversation, please remember that these are close, personal friends. Although Martha complained about His tardiness, she affirms her belief that even now God will do anything Jesus asks.

 

Jesus says that He is the "resurrection and the life" and asks if she believes this. Martha confesses, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One coming into the world" (John 11:27). (Her words are similar Simon Peter's reply to Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15-16).

 

After making this statement, Martha fetches Mary, telling her that Jesus is calling her. Mary answers Jesus' invitation, runs out, and falls down weeping at His feet. Her faith is not as deep as Martha's. She says, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:32b).

 

No matter how deep our faith, there are times and situations when it will be  shaken… times when we have doubts, fears and frustrations. We’ve all been there!

 

To judge Martha for being short with Jesus is a little silly. I certainly would not want to be one of the Bible characters! Preachers a few hundred years from now would have a delightful time sharing all of my short comings!

 

There was a lot of rejoicing when Lazarus was raised from the dead – from those that loved Lazarus and his family, and from those that loved Jesus. However, there was also a lot of consternation from those that hated Jesus! Never forget that we are in a spiritual BATTLE and will be for the rest of our lives.

 

John tells about Mary being at Jesus' feet on two different occasions. The second incident occurs during Holy Week as Jesus returns to Bethany at Passover. The religious leaders of Jerusalem were actively seeking to arrest Jesus. They wanted Jesus dead!

 

After Lazarus had been raised, and despite the danger to Jesus and themselves, Lazarus, Mary, Martha, courageously give a dinner for their friend. Martha serves, Lazarus sits at the table with Him, and Mary anoints Jesus' feet with a costly perfume, wiping them with her hair. The anointing anticipates Jesus' death.

My purpose in speaking in defense of Martha is simply this… We all make mistakes! We all get bent out of shape at times, and we all get tired and exasperated!

When that happens we need to forgive ourselves, and when others mess up, just forgive them and let it pass! The people in the Bible were just as human as we are… all prone to shortcomings. God sees us as we can be at our maximum potential. We should do so also – not only for ourselves, but for others!

After we explore the importance of loving everyone, then it is easy to resolve the problem! After all, love is a command – and a choice. The good news is that we do not have to feel like loving them. Feelings cannot always be trusted, and feelings follow decisions.

Although Jesus gave Martha a gentle rebuke I think that Jesus showed her so much love that she did not feel put down. Unfortunately many of us have improperly labeled Martha from that one incident. The truth is she was a loving, caring person. As Romans 12:1, 3-8 points out, some of us have a ministry of serving. That was Martha’s gift.

Although there is a time and a place to rebuke people, generally it is better to be an encourager. Jesus had to rebuke Martha because her outburst interrupted His teaching.

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”  William Arthur Ward.

 

Everyone needs recognition for his accomplishments, but few people make the need known quite as clearly as the little boy who said to his father: "Let's play darts. I'll throw and you say 'Wonderful!'" Bits & Pieces, December 9, 1993, p. 24.

 

I’m convinced that moms never cease being moms… last week I was in a nursing home in Yukon in my role as a hospice chaplain. I was carrying my Bible and encouraging people in addition to the two hospice patients I went to see. One of the ladies walking down the hall stopped and visited with me for a few moments. As she walked away she said, “Young man, if you do nothing else, be sure and lose a few pounds!”

 

Since she wouldn’t understand my disease or the high doses of prednisone I have to take, there was no point in wasting time on an explanation… I simply said, “Yes, ma’am!” Let me tell you, I’ve walked a mile every day since then! 

Since this is Mother’s Day let me close with an illustration of a mother’s power to encourage:

Edward Steichen eventually became one of the world's most renowned photographers in the world. However, he almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures.  He was 16 years old when he bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out -- a portrait of his sister at the piano.  Edward's father thought that was a poor showing.  His mother insisted that the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby.  He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call! What tipped the scales? His mother could spot his excellence in the midst of a lot of failure.  Bits & Pieces, February 4, 1993, pp. 4-5.