Post by MrsDeweySmith on Jul 10, 2005 11:49:35 GMT -5
Martha, Mary and Lazarus...Three Examples
Now 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. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
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.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, 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. Luke 10:38-42
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick......................
.............Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 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.
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
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. 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.
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
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. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. John 11:1-45
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The small family of two sisters and a brother who lived out their lives in the town of Bethany so many years ago are a beautiful example of spiritual truths for every Christian woman.
We are told that Jesus loved these three (John 11:5), and we are shown that there were numerous times that He spent many hours talking with them. They were of the very few of Jesus' earthly friends.
If you are like most Christian women, you have read the story of Martha and Mary at home and picked out which of the women you are most like. For the most part, women gravitate towards being like Martha...very busy, very preoccupied and little time to stop to contemplate the deeper meaning of Jesus and His Words. Some women are like Mary though, reading, studying, praying.....and neglecting their assigned tasks in life. Which are you?
Many of us as homemakers have been in Martha's predicament....some of us have been there many times. A guest is coming over, a family member is visiting, a Sunday school class or bible study is meeting at our home and we begin to plan.
We plan to have a clean home, something good to eat, and comfortable seating. But the daily chores have to be done, the family has to be clothed and fed and the outside chores have to be attended to and not neglected. So we find ourselves rushed and busy.
Oppositely, if we are more like Mary, we put off the duties and tasks related to company and find ourselves overwhelmed with the work load as the hour approaches for our guests to appear.
.
It has often been said that in presenting a good meal to friends and company we show the highest respect and love for them. It is natural to want to lavish love on friends by preparing a tasty and nutritious meal. It is also natural to want to serve others by preparing a comfortable place for them to rest after the meal. These desires are not sinful, but something happened to Martha as she was preparing for the arrival of Jesus to her home.
As Martha rushed around her home, doing every job, cooking every dish, cleaning every nook and cranny, she lost sight of why she was preparing her home. Martha also failed to plan properly. She did not delegate responsibility beforehand and, her exasperation shows that, because of her lack of vision she sinned in many areas.
Her impatience, rudeness, selfishness, and pushiness were a result of her lack of planning. She was not finished with her housework when the guests arrived and could not spend time with them. Her rashness in complaining to Jesus about her predicament shows us that she was most likely not even aware of the changes that had occured in her heart and the re-focus of her attention from her guests and family to her self. Aren't we like that sometimes? The day rushes onward and we are pushed along with the tide, our attitudes becoming worse as the day marches on.
Mary was torn between her duty and worship!
How awful to be in this predicament! But how many times do we homemakers orchestrate our days and weeks into this very situation? We do not plan our Sunday meal, so we are tempted to stay at home to clean and prepare for our family. We do not do a bit of laundry each day and at the end of the week we get a surprize visit from a relative and have to hide loads and loads of laundry. We put off our homeschool plans until we have to play catch up. We allow the sewing pile to reach the top of the chair it sits in simply because we do not plan for a sewing time. Do you recognize any familiar patterns?
There are legitimate interruptions to our daily tasks and schedules are easily thwarted. However, a lack of planning on a day to day basis, and detailed planning for a special occasion, can be devastating. When we consistantly concentrate on our duties to the neglect of our our worship we will always find ourselves in Martha's shoes.
"Martha, Martha...."
.....Can you hear the tone in Jesus' kind voice? He is calling her to calm, peace, and reproaching her for her sin.
The sister Mary was just the opposite of Martha. She was sitting at Jesus feet, listening to every word that He uttered. She may not have been aware that Martha required her help. After all, the home belonged to Martha, and she was in charge. (Luke 10:38) Mary was engrossed in her Lord and He made the distinction between the two women by saying that Mary had chosen the to do the best thing. The choices that both Mary and Martha had were to either be hurried and harried or to sit and listen to Jesus and simply be in His prescence.
Don't get the idea that what Martha was doing in cleaning and cooking was wrong. Cleaning and cooking have to be done, we are told in God's Word that as homekeepers we are to do these things and manage our households well. Don't be deceived into thinking that the contemplative life is the only life to live either. Surely Mary worked around the house on most occasions, earning her keep and helping her sister. Our Lord knows all things and would not have commended her if she were sinning by neglecting His commands in some way.
The key is a balance between Christian duty and Worship. Mary had found the balance, Martha had not. Martha was all action and no contemplation. Mary was balanced and it was time to contemplate....she was ready to do so. No doubt Martha would have liked to sit down with Mary and listen to Jesus. But her duty called her, she had not completed it and she was not willing to leave it. Would neglecting her duty have been sin also? Do you see what a tangled mess she had made for herself?
Action in the Christian life is a necessary characteristic. We must have works that flow from our lives as a result of the faith we have in Christ Jesus. We love Him and as He lives in us we desire to do good works and to fulfill our duties as Christian mothers and wives. But we must also allow Him to develope the deep spiritual roots in us as we meditate on His Word and His character. We are called to have the Mind of Christ, and to contemplate what it is that He desires in our life.
This picture of contemplation and action is also seen in the story of Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29 and 35). Leah was dim-sighted as action often is, but through action many good things are accomplished. Leah had many children. Action cannot delve very deeply into the mysteries of God, but it is a essential part of the Christian life. Rachel had few children, but one of them saved the whole family. Contemplation may not have as many results and fruits as Action, but the results are always deeper and richer and brings Faith. There are times when Action has to come first. Leah (Action) was wed before Rachel (Contemplation). We are commanded first to believe, then the blessings come.
Mary and Martha are a picture of an unbalanced life and a balanced one. Together they represent a balance of Work and Worship. Insert into this the picture of Lazarus and you have a perfect illustration of the ideal Christian life.
Like Martha, we serve Jesus faithfully as we serve our family and others. Like Mary, we meditate and contemplate on His Word and grow deeper spiritually. And finally like Lazarus we rise from death into new life in Christ.
Part 2...
Now 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. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
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.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, 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. Luke 10:38-42
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick......................
.............Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 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.
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
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. 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.
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
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. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. John 11:1-45
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The small family of two sisters and a brother who lived out their lives in the town of Bethany so many years ago are a beautiful example of spiritual truths for every Christian woman.
We are told that Jesus loved these three (John 11:5), and we are shown that there were numerous times that He spent many hours talking with them. They were of the very few of Jesus' earthly friends.
If you are like most Christian women, you have read the story of Martha and Mary at home and picked out which of the women you are most like. For the most part, women gravitate towards being like Martha...very busy, very preoccupied and little time to stop to contemplate the deeper meaning of Jesus and His Words. Some women are like Mary though, reading, studying, praying.....and neglecting their assigned tasks in life. Which are you?
Many of us as homemakers have been in Martha's predicament....some of us have been there many times. A guest is coming over, a family member is visiting, a Sunday school class or bible study is meeting at our home and we begin to plan.
We plan to have a clean home, something good to eat, and comfortable seating. But the daily chores have to be done, the family has to be clothed and fed and the outside chores have to be attended to and not neglected. So we find ourselves rushed and busy.
Oppositely, if we are more like Mary, we put off the duties and tasks related to company and find ourselves overwhelmed with the work load as the hour approaches for our guests to appear.
.
It has often been said that in presenting a good meal to friends and company we show the highest respect and love for them. It is natural to want to lavish love on friends by preparing a tasty and nutritious meal. It is also natural to want to serve others by preparing a comfortable place for them to rest after the meal. These desires are not sinful, but something happened to Martha as she was preparing for the arrival of Jesus to her home.
As Martha rushed around her home, doing every job, cooking every dish, cleaning every nook and cranny, she lost sight of why she was preparing her home. Martha also failed to plan properly. She did not delegate responsibility beforehand and, her exasperation shows that, because of her lack of vision she sinned in many areas.
Her impatience, rudeness, selfishness, and pushiness were a result of her lack of planning. She was not finished with her housework when the guests arrived and could not spend time with them. Her rashness in complaining to Jesus about her predicament shows us that she was most likely not even aware of the changes that had occured in her heart and the re-focus of her attention from her guests and family to her self. Aren't we like that sometimes? The day rushes onward and we are pushed along with the tide, our attitudes becoming worse as the day marches on.
Mary was torn between her duty and worship!
How awful to be in this predicament! But how many times do we homemakers orchestrate our days and weeks into this very situation? We do not plan our Sunday meal, so we are tempted to stay at home to clean and prepare for our family. We do not do a bit of laundry each day and at the end of the week we get a surprize visit from a relative and have to hide loads and loads of laundry. We put off our homeschool plans until we have to play catch up. We allow the sewing pile to reach the top of the chair it sits in simply because we do not plan for a sewing time. Do you recognize any familiar patterns?
There are legitimate interruptions to our daily tasks and schedules are easily thwarted. However, a lack of planning on a day to day basis, and detailed planning for a special occasion, can be devastating. When we consistantly concentrate on our duties to the neglect of our our worship we will always find ourselves in Martha's shoes.
"Martha, Martha...."
.....Can you hear the tone in Jesus' kind voice? He is calling her to calm, peace, and reproaching her for her sin.
The sister Mary was just the opposite of Martha. She was sitting at Jesus feet, listening to every word that He uttered. She may not have been aware that Martha required her help. After all, the home belonged to Martha, and she was in charge. (Luke 10:38) Mary was engrossed in her Lord and He made the distinction between the two women by saying that Mary had chosen the to do the best thing. The choices that both Mary and Martha had were to either be hurried and harried or to sit and listen to Jesus and simply be in His prescence.
Don't get the idea that what Martha was doing in cleaning and cooking was wrong. Cleaning and cooking have to be done, we are told in God's Word that as homekeepers we are to do these things and manage our households well. Don't be deceived into thinking that the contemplative life is the only life to live either. Surely Mary worked around the house on most occasions, earning her keep and helping her sister. Our Lord knows all things and would not have commended her if she were sinning by neglecting His commands in some way.
The key is a balance between Christian duty and Worship. Mary had found the balance, Martha had not. Martha was all action and no contemplation. Mary was balanced and it was time to contemplate....she was ready to do so. No doubt Martha would have liked to sit down with Mary and listen to Jesus. But her duty called her, she had not completed it and she was not willing to leave it. Would neglecting her duty have been sin also? Do you see what a tangled mess she had made for herself?
Action in the Christian life is a necessary characteristic. We must have works that flow from our lives as a result of the faith we have in Christ Jesus. We love Him and as He lives in us we desire to do good works and to fulfill our duties as Christian mothers and wives. But we must also allow Him to develope the deep spiritual roots in us as we meditate on His Word and His character. We are called to have the Mind of Christ, and to contemplate what it is that He desires in our life.
This picture of contemplation and action is also seen in the story of Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29 and 35). Leah was dim-sighted as action often is, but through action many good things are accomplished. Leah had many children. Action cannot delve very deeply into the mysteries of God, but it is a essential part of the Christian life. Rachel had few children, but one of them saved the whole family. Contemplation may not have as many results and fruits as Action, but the results are always deeper and richer and brings Faith. There are times when Action has to come first. Leah (Action) was wed before Rachel (Contemplation). We are commanded first to believe, then the blessings come.
Mary and Martha are a picture of an unbalanced life and a balanced one. Together they represent a balance of Work and Worship. Insert into this the picture of Lazarus and you have a perfect illustration of the ideal Christian life.
Like Martha, we serve Jesus faithfully as we serve our family and others. Like Mary, we meditate and contemplate on His Word and grow deeper spiritually. And finally like Lazarus we rise from death into new life in Christ.
Part 2...