LESSON 2, VERSE 38:
Jesus traveled a lot in Luke's
Gospel. Best I can count, three trips into Jerusalem. And three
trips back out of the city.
The little village of Bethany
is nearby.
"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." Luke 10:38
Since our focus is going to center on Martha,
notice that she is mentioned first.
Before Mary.
And certainly before Lazarus.
The Lord took time to help ladies, too.
They were important to Him.
Other Jewish teachers, rabbis especially,
minimized the women folk.
Our Text says that Martha "received" Jesus
into the house. The verb is "hupodechomai," meaning "to gladly
receive as a guest!"
She was delighted to see the Lord!
No matter how much work it might require to
feed Him and His twelve, at least twelve, Disciples!
The verb is also framed in the "middle"
voice. This indicates that Martha herself was impacted, maybe
even changed, by the encounter! By her hospitality to the
Saviour!
Jesus was warmly welcomed!
By the way, Martha's name is interesting. It
means "she was rebellious," according to my computer's digital
lexicon. However, some Bible dictionaries say her name means
"bitter."
Either way, Jesus has made a difference!
This Bethany home is not the same!
Did you see who owned the house Jesus has
entered?
"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."
Martha did!
She's a responsible businesswoman of some
kind. Or at least has enjoyed an income sometime in the past. Or
she might have been the oldest child, thereby receiving the
family home.
She sounds here like the industrious lady of
Proverbs 31, always busy, always productive!
I believe Jesus and Martha were close.
Friends, even.
John 11:11 tells us that Lazarus and Jesus
were "friends." Why not include the Sisters as well?
Most Bible studies of this short paragraph,
Luke 10:38-42, neglect Martha altogether or else attack her for
her mundane role in the kitchen!
But I am already, just from this first verse,
liking this Jewish lady.
She loved Jesus and gladly extended Him
hospitality! She "received" Him enthusiastically. Her actions
spoke more loudly than her words, too!
And the "change" in her life is at least
implied as well.
Martha, not longer "bitter!"
Martha, no longer "rebellious!"
Martha, humbly serving in the kitchen or
wherever needed!
Jesus has changed every one of us too, back
when we were saved.
And Martha, the landowner!
The real estate holder!
It was "her house!"
Talk about using one's possessions for Jesus!
Inviting Jesus into your home could be risky!
You might get your roof torn off!
Or a mob of people charging every entrance!
But, then again, you might get a One-on-one
Bible class, too!
Martha, mentioned only here in Luke 10 and
then again in John 11, the Lazarus incident!
But Martha who was a diligent worker!
Sounds like a spiritually well-balanced lady
to me!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3, VERSE 39:
I have an Uncle
who is an evangelist. I, at first when just a child, remember
hearing him preach. He himself had an older Brother who was also
an evangelist. A very famous one!
This younger Uncle lived, it
seemed, "under the shadow" of the older one, the world-renown
one!
Once I heard, actually more
than once, Uncle Jack tell that every time Andrew is mentioned
in the Bible he is merely called "Simon Peter's Brother!" My
Uncle claimed the same fate, "Oliver's Greene's Brother!"
Well, in today's Text Martha
faces a similar situation.
She is not Martha, of Bethany,
a woman in her own right.
She is Martha, "sister to
Mary!"
Mary!
Mary who sat at Jesus' feet!
Mary who, every time you see
her, for sure, is kneeling in front of our Lord!
1. Here in the Bethany home,
Luke 10:39.
2. Anointing Jesus' Feet and
wiping them with her hair, John 11:2 and 12:3.
3. And again at the death of
Lazarus, John 11:32.
Martha, sister to that
Mary!
Today's Verse, nearly already
explained! "And
she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and
heard his word." Luke 10:39
The noun "sister" is spelled "adelphe," a
feminine form of "adelphos." It means "someone born from the
same womb." Yes, "delphus" is Greek for "womb." The prefix "a"
this time is not a prohibitive, but a "connective" particle.
The name "Mary," etymologically much like
that of "Martha," means "rebellion." Or some say, "bitter." Both
names spring from the Hebrew noun "Miriam."
The verb "sat" is "parakathizo," the root, "kathizo,"
just meaning "to make to sit down." The prefix, a preposition, "para,"
means "alongside." Snuggled up close to Jesus! Listening and
learning, seizing His every Word!
A good place to be!
A typical place for a follower of a great
teacher!
The position of a disciple!
But Mary knew that Jesus was more than a
rabbi!
More than a teacher!
She knew He was God the Son!
Yes, indeed, Martha had a special sister!
Mary was unique.
But that fact does not make Martha any less
significant, either! These Lessons, this time anyway, are about
Martha!
"And
she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and
heard his word." Luke 10:39
The verb "heard" is "akouo," from which
English words like "acoustics" are derived. "To be not deaf!"
Someone endowed with the God-given faculty of hearing, with
understanding and perceiving also implied.
Lastly, the noun "word" is "logos." It
highlights the content of what was said, not merely the sound
waves produced! The "logic" behind the words, the real message!
Thank God for Mary!
But, don't forget, Martha is in the
kitchen!
Preparing a meal for thirteen, at least,
hungry travelers, not counting her own family.
Martha was the stabilizing factor
in the home, too. I base that on events at Lazarus' death. Mary
sure didn't hold together very well.
Martha was perhaps not as studious as Mary,
but maybe more industrious!
Mary was the romantic, Martha the pragmatist!
What Martha did might have been less
important than what Mary did, granted. But I suspect that crowd,
the dear Lord included, soon sat down at table and enjoyed the
fellowship there too! A well prepared meal!
All I'm saying is this. Thank God for those
who do the less glamorous jobs, too! And who often do them
alone! Or with little support!
Yes, thank God for Martha!
And thank God for all you ladies reading
these pages who can't leave a dirty dish in the sink overnight!
Who cook and cook at Homecoming, bringing enough food to feed an
army! And whose homes really are orderly and neat!
Yes, such ladies do exist!
Still!
Their numbers are fading, I think, but they
are still here!
Martha types!
You are important, too!
And I salute you today.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Any Church, really ...
... Without a few "Marthas" in its midst,
will suffer and lack in many areas! Be sure of that! Find a
"Martha" somewhere this weekend and express your appreciation to
her. Or, Brethren, if you're married to one, get her out of the
kitchen for once, and take her out to eat! Maybe she can unbusy
herself long enough to do that, anyway!
LESSON 4, CUMBERED WITH
MUCH SERVING:
Our Text, Luke 10:38-42, is
classic New Testament narrative. "Lukan" style, they say, merely
indicating that Doctor Luke, the physician, is the man God used
to pen these words. "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." Luke
10:40
How typical!
Two sisters, different as night and day,
expressing their innermost traits of character. One working, the
other musing, thinking, learning!
Generally speaking, the less favored of the
two is, no doubt, Martha.
At least that's so if this Text is all we
know about her. It nearly seems that Jesus rebukes her, mildly
so, but nonetheless so.
But I am suggesting in this series of studies
that we have misunderstood Martha! That she has wrongly been
given a "less than honorable" place in the story. Not by the
Lord Jesus, but by us!
It all begins with these terse words:
"But
Martha was cumbered about much serving ...."
Jesus has come to Bethany!
To his favorite home there!
Martha's house!
Martha has obviously "taken in" her younger
sister Mary and brother Lazarus, too. We know it's "her" house
because Luke said so. "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." Luke 10:38
The older sister, presumed older because she
owns the home and seems to command authority over her sister,
has on her shoulders the responsibility of a meal, a dozen or
more places for her guests to sleep, plenty of water, firewood
for cooking, clean towels and blankets, and no telling what
else.
In the midst of these duties, Luke noted:
"Martha was cumbered about
much serving."
That verb, "cumbered," translates "perispao."
Its root, "spao," means "to draw, to draw out," as one does with
a sword that's quickly needed! Pulling it out of its holder! So,
"spao" suggests something that's being "pulled" in different
directions. Eventually it came to mean "distracted!" In other
words, "torn and conflicted!"
The prefix, "peri," suggests these
distractions are coming from every direction, all the way
"around" the individual!
"Cumbered!"
Too much to do!
Too many jobs at once!
Frustrated!
More tasks bidding attention than any one
human can heed!
We all know the feeling!
Had she just had a little help, all would
have stayed under control!
I am frustrated for her!
I'm pulling for you, Martha!
I admire your desire to please Jesus!
Thank you for caring!
No matter what the commentators say, or the
preachers and teachers, I'm with you!
You are the heroine of the story to me!
The word "serving," describing Martha's
activities right now, is spelled "diakonia." It's from "diako,"
probably meaning "to run errands!"
Little jobs!
Lots of little jobs!
Food!
Shelter!
Bathwater!
Clean linen!
Only the best for Jesus!
"But
Martha was cumbered about much serving ...," true, of
course! But these words could be negatively construed. Martha
was "less loving" of Jesus, some have implied.
But I prefer to look at her positively!
At least she was trying!
The Lord was not going to leave her house
hungry!
Or sleepy!
Or neglected!
Serving, working, sweating!
Bless you sweet heart, Martha!
I've got a question.
Why couldn't Mary have helped a little in the
kitchen before sitting down at Jesus' feet? What would have been
wrong with that?
And if the ladies who customarily traveled
with Jesus and His Disciples, mentioned in Luke 8:1-3, Joanna
and Susanna and Mary Magdalene, were present, why didn't they
help too?
Why didn't Peter or John do something? They
knew how to cook, fishing all those years like they did.
Nobody helped!
Yet Martha kept on working!
To the point of exhaustion!
To the point of exasperation!
Yet our Text never tells us that she quit!
This meal, be sure, was served!
But, Brother Bagwell, Jesus could have turned
rocks into bread that day! The cooking and cleaning were
unnecessary.
Jesus did work miracles. But He never
performed one to supply His own personal culinary needs!
And Martha knew that!
To the real "workers" in our Churches today.
To the "ladies" who make Homecoming possible.
To you "girls" who still know how to vacuum
and wash and make casseroles and cornbread and banana pudding,
we "salute" you today!
To you "Martha" types!
Our Churches would be much poorer places
without you!
I know you get "cumbered."
I know you probably could use help, most of
the time. Then again, some of you might just want the rest of us
"to stay out of your way!"
You will, undoubtedly, one way or another,
get it done!
Your determination is awesome!
Your resolve is beautiful!
Your love for Jesus, though different than
some of your sisters, is just as real! If not more so!
Bravo!
Martha!
And Jesus agrees with my assessment this
morning, too.
John 11:5 tells us: "Now
Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." See
this carefully.
Who is mentioned first?
Not the meditative Mary, whose name is not
even given!
Not even sweet Lazarus!
Jesus loved Martha!
Martha!
He knows by our actions how much we
love Him, too!
Not just our words!
And, that being the case, you "Martha" ladies
of Christendom leave all the rest of us ... in the dust!
You're that far ahead!
Bless you.
Maybe we will catch up with you ... some day.
Here's the Lord's testimony about one such
lady: "She hath done what she
could!" Mark 14:8
Not said what she could!
Not sat where she could!
Not sang what she could!
Not even smiled where she could!
She did things ... for Jesus!
To you "doers" today, you "Martha" girls,
again I say it, may your number increase!
Oh, how we need you in these last days!
We ought to appreciate you more than we do,
much more.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5, BID MY SISTER HELP ME:
It's their
nature!
If I might say it, God made
them that way!
"Problem solvers," and that's
exactly what Martha was, or "servers," folks given to meeting
practical needs in the lives of others, tend to be a little bit
"take-overish!"
I'm trying not to use the word
"bossy!"
Watch Martha in today's verse.
"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." Luke
10:40
She "came" to Jesus with her frustrations!
"Ephistemi" is the verb, a blend of "epi" and
"histemi." It means "to stand" in front of someone, here Jesus!
She's literally practicing Hebrews 4:16, though it had not yet
been written! "Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
People like Martha, without whom the Church
would be so much poorer, have no trouble approaching others,
with ideas to solve problems anyway!
"Lord, there's too much to do here! Ask my
Sister to help, please. That alone will solve several problems."
By the way, her approaching Jesus like this
is not all that unusual. I'd say it's a habit! Later, when
Lazarus dies, four days after his passing really,
"Martha,
as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and
met him: but Mary sat still in the house."
John 11:20, She's coming to Jesus again!
Martha is a "do-something" kind of lady!
Thank God for her, and those like her!
Back to our verse:
"Martha ame to him,
and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me
to serve alone?" She's getting a little "bold,"
here! But I'm still not going to turn against her!
The verb "dost care" translates "melo,"
meaning "to be of concern, to have regard for, to think
something over carefully."
"Lord, it's just not like You. You are the
Most Caring Person I've ever known! If we are to treat You
right, much work must be done!"
The "dost Thou not
care" is probably not directed against Jesus, not nearly
as much as "my sister hath left me"
is directed against Mary!
A little bit of sibling rivalry surfaces
here!
"Servers" like Martha have a keen sense of
fairness!
They want to "balance" the work load!
And 99% of their ideas are pretty good, too!
The verb "hath left" is spelled "kataleipo,"
meaning "forsaken!" Intensely so! Abandoned!
We've got another "older" child versus
"younger" child situation here, I think. Remember the Father in
Luke 15! The "elder brother" was a worker! The "younger" son,
the "prodigal" we say, was a romantic!
Lord help us if the world was full of Marys
and Prodigals! There would be a whole lot of loving, but not
much working!
Then comes the real jewel!
Martha continues:
"Lord, dost thou not
care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her
therefore that she help me."
The very idea!
But, it was a good idea!
Think of it! "Lord, this is what You should
do, make Mary get up and come help me!"
"Right now, too!"
Martha, in her natural mindset, wants to get
things going!
"Mary, I'll cook. You go check the linens and
washcloths and be sure the bedroom is tidy!"
Don't forget, Jesus seldom traveled alone! He
brings with Him 12 Disciples and, often, a host of others! Plus,
after word gets out that Jesus is in town, the whole city, its
sick folks anyway, will be flocking to the door!
Martha is burdened by these circumstances!
Again I say it, someone has to care!
"Martha" types, while perhaps shy in other
areas, are pretty bold when it comes to practical
problem-solving!
"Lord,
bid her therefore
that she help me."
The verb "bid" is the
imperative form of "lego." Lord, say this to her! Putting
the very words in Jesus' mouth!
That's precious!
That's bold!
That's closeness!
Wonder if Martha knew Isaiah
45:11? "Thus
saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of
things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my
hands command ye me."
She just practiced it, whether she knew it or
not!
How would we ever get anything done at
Church, at the house, on the job, anywhere, if we did not have
people like Martha on the scene?
I thank God for them.
They have done a lot for me and our Ministry
through the years! And they did "tons" of things for my Darling
Wife!
I'll not turn against them!
I'm reminded of a verse that tells us
something about Heaven! Eternally, John says in Revelation 22:3,
"And His servants shall serve Him!"
In Glory!
For evermore!
Martha was just getting a head start!
She wanted to "do" for Jesus!
And I'll guarantee you this, too.
What she did that day would have been
"first-class!"
Matching towels, not hand-me-downs!
The best china too, not the everyday stuff!
"And we'll use those new sheets. He must have
the master bedroom also! The rest of us will sleep outside,
under the stars tonight!"
For Jesus, the best!
Left alone, had the Lord not stopped her,
Martha would have made Jesus a King that day! In her
house, anyway!
The rest of you can "jump on" her, if you
wish.
Rebuke her if you please. Many ahead of you
already have. It even "looks" like Jesus did, at first. But I'm
telling you, He did not!
Meanwhile, I'll just defend her. And admire
her. And thank God for those just like her who are still on this
earth!
Saved folks who serve their fellow
Believers!
Even if they do get a little "pushy"
occasionally!
Seldom anymore, if ever, especially since
Sister Norma died, do I leave a Service without something in my
hands, something a dear child of God, a Martha "look-alike,"
shared to help Brother Bagwell in one way or another.
It happened last night!
And last week in Tennessee, doubly so!
And last week in Dallas, Georgia!
It even happened at the motel room yesterday
afternoon, while I had gone to Wendy's to get my nuggets and
salad!
A basket of fruit and snacks and goodies!
Marthas!
Marthas!
Marthas!
Everywhere.
Thank you all, too!
You are a blessing!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
And I'll promise you this.
When we get to Heaven, we are going to find
out that when Jesus told Martha, "Thou are
troubled by many things," He had a kind smile on His
Face! And maybe even a twinkle in His Eye! And His softest, most
loving tone of voice, too!
He was closer to her than we think!
"Now
Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."
Notice the order of the names here in John 11:5. That's
important! Our Lord loves the folks who get things done!
LESSON 6, THAT VERB
"HELP" AGAIN:
Martha, busy as she could be
preparing things for Jesus, asked for one thing. And only one
thing that I can see.
"Lord,
dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?
bid her therefore that she help me." Luke 10:40
She asked for a little "help."
That verb is quite technical. It is "sunantilambanomai."
What a combination of pronouns and prefixes and suffixes!
It's root is "lambano" and means "to take
with the hand." She's asking for Mary to come "lend her a hand!"
The preposition "anti" suggests Mary's working nearby, just
"opposite" Martha, perhaps right there in the kitchen! And the
prefix "sun" is a little word that means "with," working with
her older Sister.
This particular verb is also formed as a
subjunctive, in that mood. It is expressing Martha's desire
at that time. Mary had not moved yet, not in Martha's direction.
I guess she never did.
The desired "help" never came. The
subjunctive verb here never was fully realized! It never became
an indicative verb!
Also, "sunantilambanomai" is in the middle
voice. We don't even have middle voice verbs in English! We are
here being told that any "help" Martha can get will be deeply
"appreciated," will "impact" her and make her job much lighter.
Martha will be "changed" by the proposed assistance.
But, of course, as we all know by now, Mary
did not leave Jesus' side.
In fact, Jesus disallowed Martha's request.
Or so it seems. At that particular moment, maybe our Lord needed
adoration and affirmation more than He did anything else.
Something which, I guarantee you, Martha could supply as well as
Mary!
Yes, Martha asked for help.
I looked, and our verb here, half a mile
long, is only found twice in all the New Testament.
The other place?
Romans chapter 8.
Verse 26.
Automatically you know it's about the Holy
Spirit!
"Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." That's the part
of the verse that's fundamental to our discussion today.
The Holy Spirit is our 'Helper!"
Our real "Helper!"
What Martha was not allowed to finish, the
Holy Spirit never fails to finish!
While Martha was a bit "frustrated," the Holy
Spirit is always at peace and in control!
And yes, the dear Holy Spirit, more than
anyone, is the "sun" part of "sunantilambanomai." He is "with"
me, all the time! He never leaves us! Not forsakes us!
And again yes, the Holy Spirit performs the
"anti" part of the verb too! He is opposite us, better yet,
"anti" can mean "in our stead." The Holy Spirit does "for me"
certain things which I cannot do for myself!
Praying, for example!
Back to Romans 8:26. "Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us ...."
Intercession for us!
Praying on our behalf!
Martha, the human helper!
The Holy Spirit, the divine Helper!
It takes both kinds, Mary's and the Holy
Spirit's, to properly serve the Lord!
The Church just would not be the Church
without ladies like Martha, and a few men too, who "help" so
diligently.
And the Church would not even exist really,
were it not for the precious Holy Spirit, Helper in the
Triune Godhead!
These truths makes Martha look all the
lovelier!
She longed to do the same things for Jesus,
"helping Him, "serving" Him, "providing for" Him, that the Holy
Spirit longs to do for us!
Thank you, Martha.
And, especially, thank You, Holy Spirit!
"Sunantilambanomai!"
That's a lot of "help!"
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Thank the Lord today ...
For all the help He has provided you this
very week as you've tried to love and serve his Name!
LESSON 7, VERSE 41:
It's hardly a rebuke!
A mild correction maybe, what
Jesus said to Martha. But we preachers sure have used it to
"beat her down" for centuries!
"And
Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art
careful and troubled about many things." Luke 10:41
The verb "answered," in its
usual New Testament form, contains the verb "krino," which
initially means "to judge!" The whole word "answered," in Greek,
is "apokrinomai." Jesus had put some thought into what He is
about to say. Of course, He never said anything wrong, anyway!
Isaiah 50:4 suggests that
Jesus, every morning of His earthly life, awoke to His Father's
Voice! "The Lord GOD hath given me the
tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in
season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he
wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." Bible lessons,
personal tutoring, every day!
Note that the Lord called her name twice,
"Martha, Martha." That at least
implies urgency!
Ask Abraham. "And
the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said,
Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou
any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing
thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."
Genesis 22:11-12
Ask Peter. "And
the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift you as
wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke
22:31-32
Or Saul of Tarsus, soon to be Paul the
Apostle. "And
as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there
shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the
earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And
the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is
hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Acts 9:3-5
This "double" naming might also be a sign of
endearment!
"Martha, Martha!"
Some critical information is about to be
shared.
With Abraham, Isaac can now live! Do not slay
the boy!
With Peter, there's hope! You will not be
crushed by Satan! You will have a future, serving the Lord!
With Saul, salvation has come!
And with Martha, a "fine-tuning" of her love
for the Lord! A strengthening and maturing of her whole life of
"service" to Jesus!
What's about to be said is not a sign of
anger!
Far from it!
It's a sign of love!
Even had it been a harsh remark,
"As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten." Jesus in Revelation 3:19.
"Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many
things." Again, from Luke 10:41.
The verb "art careful" is spelled "merimnao,"
meaning "to be anxious, to be worried," that kind of thing. It
originally comes from "merizo," which means to take something
and "pull it" to pieces!
That's a pretty good "word picture" of what
frustration and fretfulness and worry will do! Tear you apart!
Distract you to the point of uselessness! Steal your focus!
Martha, you can't properly serve Me with all
that inner turmoil! Calm down a bit! Supper will
be fine! I missed forty days of food during that wilderness
temptation. Remember, I told you about it.
Don't let things "tear you up!" Not to the
point you have reached, Sweet Martha. "Let
not your heart be troubled." John 14:1 uses
a verb that's got to be called a synonym, "tarasso," "agitated,
in commotion, disquieted."
Then, Martha is "troubled" too.
"Thou art careful and troubled about many things."
Now our Lord switches to "turbazo," derived ultimately from "thoreo"
it is thought, "to make loud noises, to be alarmed," even at
times "to be frightened." Martha has worked herself into a
frenzy! Scared and fretting over the outcome of the meal and its
surrounding details. Maybe other areas of hospitality too.
The Latin word "turba" may be in play here,
too. It just means a "crowd!" Hear the "noise and uproar?" The
"uncontrolled" nature of the masses?
All these things will further hinder Martha!
And Jesus wants her to know that, intensely!
Jesus is not hurting her. He is
helping her, for sure!
Again I remind you,
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister." John 11:5
When Jesus warned Martha about being
frustrated over "many things," He likely means "too many
things!"
Haven't we all done this?
Of course.
Now again, notice please. It's critically
important. Go back and read the Text again if you need to ...
Jesus did not tell her to quit
cooking!
Jesus did not tell her to come sit
down!
Jesus did not tell her to stop
preparing bunks and baths and snacks for tomorrow, either!
Jesus just cautioned her about being so
impatient, especially with her younger sister!
Jesus may have known that the Disciples were
weak, physically weak, from the long walk that morning! They may
have desperately needed just what Martha was preparing!
Mary is doing fine!
Let her alone!
She might have been "in the way" in the
kitchen anyway!
I don't think she was the most efficient
housekeeper!
If Martha can get focused again, more things
will come out of that kitchen than you ever dreamed!
Servers are workers!
Servers are efficient!
Servers can produce!
But, also, servers are worriers!
I'll take three positives and one negative in
a helper, an employee, a Christian, anytime!
That's a three to one majority for some
extremely godly Christian traits!
Excuse me.
I still say, "Bravo for Martha!"
Without her and her sisters, at Church
Homecomings and the like, we would all be sitting around eating
plates full of kindness and love and teaching and adoration!
Not plates of barbeque and stew and salad and
dessert!
Thank God for the lovers! That's Mary
and her kin!
But, and I mean it, thank God for the
servers as well. Martha, that's your and your kind!
Girls, ladies, servers, stay busy for Jesus!
No one else can take you place!
Or at least, no one else will!
Martha, on this Website you will not be
belittled!
Too many ladies just like you have helped
Sister Norma and me through the years!
Too many meals shared!
Too many pants hemmed!
Too many pies baked!
Too many children watched!
Too many practical things done!
Time and time again!
Let's hear it for the "Marthas" of the
Church!
We thank God for you!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8, VERSE 42:
I've tried to
study the grammar and vocabulary and meaning of today's verse,
carefully so.
Jesus said to Martha, sister of
Mary and Lazarus, all dear friends of our Lord,
"But
one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42
I believe our Lord's words have often been
misunderstood. He is not here rebuking Martha!
Instead, He is saying something like this.
"Martha, one thing is needful." That is, "Only one thing is left
to do."
Martha had done the cooking!
And maybe the cleaning!
And perhaps she already had cots and pallets
and beds made for Jesus and His followers ... for a good night's
rest!
Probably the table was already set, too!
That's how the "Martha" crowd works!
While we're sitting around fellowshipping,
however important that may be, and I do not discount its
significance, Martha has worked circles around us!
Martha-types can do five jobs for our every
one!
Jesus is saying, "Martha, you've done all the
work. Mary has chosen the one thing that's left! The only thing
left! And it's a good thing, too, not a bad thing!"
He did not say that Mary had chosen the
"best" thing or the "most important" thing, not at all!
"But
one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42
"And Martha, since Mary is not very good in
the kitchen, burnt food not being one of My favorite selections,
let's not take away her choice!"
"Let her sit her and enjoy the time with her
Lord!"
"She, perhaps more than most, certainly more
than these Disciples, understands Who I am! And she is drinking
in every word I say!"
Jesus and Martha "understood" each other!
She had, no doubt, prepared the meal He most
enjoyed, and it was waiting for Him, soon as the sermon was
finished!
At least, that's how I read these lines.
You will never convince me that, after Martha
had worked so hard in the kitchen and around the house, that
Jesus would then insult her!
Or be unkind to her!
Or even sarcastic!
Or cut her short!
Or frustrate her intentions!
Martha ...
"One
thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42
The term "one thing" is represented in the
Text by "de enos," translated, "but one thing" (or task or item
or job or whatever, as long as it's in the neuter gender), that
"one thing" being defined by the reader according to the context
of the verse.
"One thing is needed," Martha!
"Needful" is spelled "cheria," meaning "a
necessity, a lack."
One thing is lacking!
Only one, Martha had done all the rest!
"Cheria" is derived from the verb "chraomai,"
meaning "to receive a loan!" Only one "debt" yet remained to be
paid, to Jesus, not a meal! Not a place to rest! Not clean
towels for a bath!
But folks to sit and listen as He taught
God's precious Word!
And Mary excelled at doing that!
Folks who can't cook or clean or organize or
administrate often are extremely good listeners!
Adoring followers!
Martha, obviously, was a bit of a "take
control" kind of lady!
She inherently gave orders, being, in all
likelihood, the older sister.
She even once told Jesus what to do!
How's that for "comfort" in His Presence!
"One
thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part,"
Jesus to Martha again.
Mary had "picked out" the last remaining
privilege that day! Sitting and hearing Jesus!
And what Mary chose, "eklegomai" in Greek,
was good! This is our word "eclectic," or "choosing items from
different categories."
Mary had not selected a "doing with my hands"
task.
Not then.
She had elected a "doing with my ears" thing!
Listening!
Learning!
Adoring!
Loving her Lord!
How can that be wrong?
"And Martha, since you excel in nearly
everything around here, let's not take Mary's part away from
her!"
Let's let her alone!
For, you see, Jesus not only loved Martha and
her brother Lazarus. He loved Mary as well.
The expression "good part," which Mary had
loved so, is "agathos meros." The "good, intrinsically good,
beneficial within itself," part! That's what "agathos" means.
And Jesus might even be using "meros" as a
"part" of the prepared meal, too! Mary's "dish" is to sit here
and listen to Me!
That's what she is bringing to the table!
And Martha, that's all right!
"I do not slight all the work you have done,
precious Martha! But let's not offend sister Mary either. She
has done well, too!"
Doesn't that sound like Jesus?
"One
thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42
"Taken away" is "aphairo," just meaning "to
lift up and remove." Mary, precisely fulfilling the role of a
learner or disciple, to Jesus the Teacher, the rabbi, has
provided a great service to our Lord, right alongside Martha's
cooking!
And both have done that in which they excel!
They have exercised their spiritual talents
and abilities and gifts!
Jesus is a Genius!
The all wise One, from God!
God in human flesh!
God the Son!
Let's finish the worship service, or the
class, whatever you want to call it.
Let Jesus complete His teaching and
preaching.
Then, dinner's ready!
Thanks to, hope this does not upset anybody,
thanks to Martha!
And to all the "Marthas" this week, at the
Revival Meeting here in Dalton, and ladies, you know who I mean,
this Preacher sincerely says, "Thank You!"
Thank you so much!
The Lord is using your kindness in more ways
than I can ever explain!
Martha!
One preacher recently said that every Bible
storybook picture he had ever seen of her, she looked so
ordinary, less than pretty!
The presentable one always being Mary.
The attractive one.
Not me.
I can't see her that way.
She was, if not in looks certainly in
character, beautiful!
Of course, did Jesus ever see a lady ... or a
man or a child or a leper ... in whom He did not see genuine
beauty?
I can't quit this lesson, can I?
Martha!
We respect you.
While many still "slight" you, we do not.
You have done well!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
My Mom was a "Martha!"
Can you tell?
My wife was a "Mary!"
Hope you can tell that as well.
Both ladies are to be respected and honored.
And Jesus did so.
LESSON 9, CONCLUSION:
I had planned for yesterday to
be the last lesson about Martha. But a few more thoughts have
come, important ones, that I would like to share with you. Then,
at the end of today's material, I want to tell you where we're
going next. To another lady of Scripture! I guess Mother's Day,
combined with my Darling's death, have heavily impacted my
thinking.
I'll group these concluding
thoughts numerically.
1. While Martha was in that
kitchen working, why didn't someone offer to help her? Anybody?
She asked:
"Lord,
dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?"
Luke 10:40
Since Mary had not helped, could not one of
the Disciples have done so? They could plainly see her
frustration. She certainly did not try to hide it! They knew how
to cook, being fishermen. They had washed pots and pans before,
down by the seashore!
Or one of those ladies who often traveled
with Jesus? Luke 8:1-3 tells us about them.
"And it came to pass
afterward, that he went throughout every city and village,
preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God:
and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which
had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called
Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of
Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which
ministered unto him of their substance."
Where's Mary Magdalene?
Or Joanna?
Or Susanna?
We don't know the answers to these questions.
But I can resolve to do this. The next time I
see someone, a brother or sister in Christ, needing help, I can
do something! I can ask if they need a hand! I can try to
relieve their frustration! I can obey Galatians 5:13,
"By love serve one another."
2. Jesus told 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."
Almost as if to say, "Martha, My needs are
met. At least My most basic needs. I am content!"
Of course the Lord is content. He never was
sinfully dissatisfied! He lived a perfect life!
But that's the point! Martha wanted to do
more than meet Jesus' basic needs! She wanted Him to be
treated lavishly and royally and graciously in her house! She
wanted to do more than the minimum!
And I admire her immensely for that kind of
attitude!
Like the servant in Luke 17:10,
"So
likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are
commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done
that which was our duty to do." Martha wanted to go
beyond the call of Duty!
The "minimum" did not interest her!
Bravo for Martha!
3. Martha too was tired. She was even getting
a little bit "grumpy" it appears. Yet she put Jesus' feelings
and needs ahead of her own! Exhausted or not, a meal was going
to be prepared! Beds made! Any torn clothing patched, perhaps! A
long list!
All jobs completed before any rest could come
her way!
Again, don't you admire that kind of
dedication?
Jesus first!
Others second!
Yourself last!
4. Also I've wondered, and that's all we can
do, what Jesus might have preached that day in that little
Bethany home. What kind of Sermon did Mary hear, there at Jesus'
feet? The same Sermon Martha would have caught "pieces" of now
and then and she shuttled back and forth from the kitchen to the
table area.
I would not be surprised, not one bit, when
we get to Heaven to learn that Jesus used a Text like this:
"But he that is
greatest among you shall be your servant." Matthew 23:11
Or this one: "Whosoever
will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be your servant."
Matthew 20:26-27
Jesus, maybe preaching on Servanthood, with
Martha in the background modeling the Sermon every single
minute!
Martha, you have earned our respect.
We love you in the Lord!
Then, lastly, I'll close with just one more
verse. It applies to Martha's situation so beautifully.
"For God is not
unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye
have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the
saints, and do minister."
According to Hebrews 6:10 here, what Martha
did for Jesus will never be forgotten!
She will be rewarded!
She was indeed "ministering to the saints!"
And, even more so, to the Saviour, "toward
His Name!"
After all, she certainly gave much more than
"a cup of cold water!" And we all know what Jesus said about
that. "And
whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a
cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily
I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."
Matthew 10:42
Thank God for Martha!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Lord willing,
Tomorrow let's start in John 8, with that
lady. The one to whom Jesus said: "Neither
do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." The woman who
was, as we say, "taken in adultery."
What a story of the marvelous Grace of God
that will be!
Can you tell that Mother's Day is Sunday?
I wanted to write something that respected the ladies. Sister
Norma would have liked that too. I miss her so much this week,
every week, really.
Brother Bagwell, May 8, 2009.
