Martha: a woman burdened by serving

Set the table, serve the bread - don’t forget the olives and the dates! Wait - where is the pitcher with the wine? Martha wiped her brow as she spun around to grab the missing elements for the table, muttering under her breath.

So many tasks, so little time - the Master and His followers would be hungry very shortly. She sighed as she picked up the food ready to enter the room where He was preaching - a sigh that was full of weariness, frustration and disappointment.

She had been preparing the house since the break of dawn, in readiness for this most honoured guest to enter her home. No stone could be left unturned for the Messiah - no particle of dust or dirt would be seen under her roof whilst He honoured them with His presence. He deserved the best, the richest and the finest.

Has He noticed that I’m not in His audience? Does He value my service to Him?

As she entered the room to set the table, she caught a glimpse of her sister. Mary was sat at the Master’s feet - captivated and hanging on His every word. Since Yeshua had entered their home, she had not left His side. She was clearly oblivious to the myriad tasks that still needed doing.

Martha coughed, hoping to catch Mary’s eye. She paid no attention. How typical of her sister to leave her to do all the work whilst she relaxed and enjoyed the company of her guests. Did she not realise that the table was still to be set, the candles had not been lit and the flowers were waiting to be arranged? Had she not noticed the plate of lentils to shell or the beans to peel?

It was always the same. With a frustrated heart, Martha hurried back to the kitchen to begin the tasks that remained.

Bitterness crept into her heart as she prepared the meal, pondering what to do. Perhaps she ought to say something? After all, Mary needed to be taught a lesson and surely the Master was the best person to teach her? But maybe He would be unhappy if she interrupted His talk. What was He talking about anyway? She didn’t know - it sounded like He was telling a story about a man who was abandoned on the road - it was hard to say as she couldn’t hear well from the kitchen.

Slowly, warm tears began to trickle down Martha’s cheeks and into the bowl of food as she let out her frustration in a silent weep. It was too much. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. The anxiety and burdens overcame her.

I will speak to Him and tell Him how I feel.

She knew He would understand and perhaps finally put Mary in her place.

Determined to confront the matter, tears began to flow more freely as she burst into the room where He was sitting. ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!’

His eyes met hers - gentle, deep and knowing. He knew. He saw her. He understood.

‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’.

Good part? She didn’t understand. Perhaps she was worried and troubled but surely serving Him was the good part.

‘I don’t understand, Master. I have been serving you all day and my sister has just been sitting at your feet, not lifting a finger to help me’.

He put His arms out and embraced her.

‘Come and sit at My feet too, Martha. Come and receive from Me. I love you and care so much that you want to serve Me but I want to serve you even more.’

As she clung to Him, His words began to sink in. The good part - the part that would not be taken away - was to be with Him. Not to rush around and fret and worry. Not to ensure that the house was perfect and the food was delicious. He cared about those things and He valued them, but He cared much more about her. He wanted her.

Martha put down her tray, took off her apron and sank into a cushion at Jesus’ feet, next to her sister. She was going to choose the good part too.

Questions for reflection:

• Am I worried and troubled by many things like Martha? Am I burdened by much serving/working/doing ‘good’ things?

• Have I slipped into the mindset (as we all do so easily) that serving Jesus is more important than being with Jesus?

• What practical steps can I take to come and sit at Jesus’ feet?