Series: Things Jesus Wants Us To Know
Part 10 -
Luke 10:38-
INTRO: I jokingly told someone that I was going to pull a switcheroo this Sunday and instead of getting onto the women I would get onto the MEN! I know it is much easier to listen to someone getting onto others than it is to have them getting onto you. That is not my goal, I am not here to "get onto" any one person or the ladies today. My goal is to preach and use God's Word that it might help us live a better closer life to the Lord.
Okay!
Do you ever take a Red-lettered Bible and marvel at the words of Christ? Does His wisdom contained therein reach you like none other? Well, this is what I am trying to do with this series, let us see what He wants us to know from His Word.
I have been doing a series entitled "Things Jesus Wants Us To Know. We have been working through the Gospel of Luke. We have learned many things. Today I want to finish Luke 10. We see here an instance happening with people the Lord are quite familiar with, His friends, Martha and Mary of Bethany. This is a great story of two people that are supporting the same ministry and how different they are going about it. It may be easy for us to try and use this to find fault with one or the other of these two wonderful ladies, but the Lord did not really do so.
Jesus used this time to share with us an important precept about how we need to serve Him. Let's read starting at Luke 10:
Luke 10:38 - 42 38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.40
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.Wouldn't it be great to have Jesus, God's only Son, over for supper? I know it would require us to spruce up our houses, get out and clean up our best china, clean the floors, wash the windows, dust the furniture, clean the kids, etc. That is what the ladies would be doing, right? That does not count getting the hair done, a manicure, and what ever else they might think necessary. All this just to make sure everything would be "presentable" to the Lord. That does not count the meal. Shopping (yeah that sounds good right) for the right meat, or maybe even meats, maybe a nice addition for fresh vegetables and don’t forget the dessert (isn't it great when you have company over?).
I remember when I was younger and we had a family that we would take time about to eat a Sunday meal with. It was great! One thing I remember is the fact we had desserts. One of them was a favorite of mine. Those types of things have a way of not only sticking in our minds, but also sticking on our ribs.
I know you ladies would want everything to be just right wouldn't you. Oh yeah I forgot the men. They might mow, maybe take a bath and comb their hair, bring an appetite and okay, lets eat.
You know sometimes it seems that the guys sorta get off luck doesn't it. The ladies work and slave in the kitchen, and the guys take it easy in the front room or TV room or living room or the den or on the patio, or wherever. Maybe the guests are admiring the house and all the neatness, and the men get to say thank you. Meanwhile back in the kitchen, the "missus" is busy fussing in the kitchen. That's the way things seem to work some times.
Well our scripture today is sort of the same thing only it is not a guy taking it easy, it is Mary, Martha's sister. Martha has invited Jesus. Yes that great Rabbi, that wonderful teacher. In fact I think He is a prophet or even more. Maybe He really is the Messiah I have been hearing some mention. All she knew was she wanted it to be perfect. After all Jesus had just said in the previous chapter, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." I mean Jesus was important to Martha and she wanted to help make His life better.
So here she is in the kitchen. Working hard, flour on her nose, hair tussled, perspiring from the oven heat, and what? Mary has taken off again. That is the last straw! I'll just get Jesus to tell her what she needs to do with her life.
Meanwhile, Mary is thrilled. Her friend Jesus is telling more of His great stories. He is like no other teacher. I know I should feel guilty she is thinking. She slipped out on Martha. It is not that I don’t want to help, but I get to cook all the time. Well maybe not for someone so nice as Jesus. But I'll get another chance I am sure. I just want to listen to Him. He is so easy to understand and so helpful with His insights. Just a few more minutes and I'll go back. Oh, my! Has it been that long? Oh well I know Martha is okay. She can do it all! I'll help her in a minute.
Well, you get the idea.
Sometimes we want Jesus to decide whom He approves of in this life. Or maybe more accurately we want Him to place His stamp of approval upon us, and what we do for Him. I think He approves and appreciates it all. I think He wants us to know, there are many ways to serve God.
I want to look at different ways you can serve God - especially this morning how you ladies can serve Him and His ministry here in this life here at New Beginnings.
First, we can see we can serve Him
With our hard work - like Martha
Industrious
Spiritual (also sat at Jesus feet)
Dedicated
Meticulous
Generous
Hospitable
Sharing
Contemplative or thought about the Lord - "If you had been here, my brother would not have died…"
Helpful (obviously)
Searching or quick to seek - vs. 20 (John 11)
I want to look at another happening in the life of Martha and Mary before I look at Mary
John 11:1 - 52
1
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.2
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)3
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.4
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.5
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.6
When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.7
Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.8
His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?9
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.10
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.11
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.12
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.13
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.14
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.15
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.16
Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.17
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.18
Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:19
And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.20
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.21
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.22
But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.23
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.24
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?27
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.28
And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.29
As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.30
Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.31
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.32
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.33
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,34
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.35
Jesus wept.36
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!37
And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?38
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.39
Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.40
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?41
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.42
And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.43
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.44
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.45
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.46
But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.47
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.48
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.49
And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,50
Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.51
And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;52
And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.Another way is we can serve Him with…
A heart of worship - Like Mary
Eagerness to learn
Hunger to receive
Gratitude to give
She anointed His head with almost a years of wages worth of ointment of spikenard 300 pence (300 days wages) - dried His feet with her hair
Demonstrative - 29-33 - moved Jesus
Silent - Not a loud or showy one
At His feet
In her sorrow (Lazarus' grave
At Simon the Leper's house (Mark 14)
Showed a desire to worship
Modeled a closeness to the Lord we need to have
Asking of Him in her sorrow
So how did Jesus look at this?
I know, it is so easy to say He approved of Mary
But, really we can see He wanted them to know, There are many ways to serve God!
He looked at Martha and said, " Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
He did not tell Martha to quit working hard. He did not tell Mary to quit her worshipful attitude and actions of Him. He told her that she (Mary) was doing a good work. That is what we need in our lives today…a good work.
Ladies:
Take a lesson from Martha - work hard for your family and friends. Work hard for the Lord.
Take a lesson from Mary - worship the Lord well. Take time out to spend with God for God!
Both are important
Both are needful
Both have their blessings
Both will bring peace and rejoicing
Both will please the Lord
Gary Marcum - New beginnings Church - 051307am