Last updated on October 28, 2024
Today’s reflection is on another one of my favorite stories. In fact, I have two more reflections coming up that center on this same disciple.
Who is the disciple? Well, her story is found in Luke 10:38-42.
Jesus has left Galilee and is heading to Jerusalem. He knows he won’t be coming back. Luke 9:51 states it this way: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”
The word “resolutely” is a strong one. His mind was set on what he was going to do. But it must have also been a lonely time, as those closest to him still had no idea of what lay ahead.
On his way to Jerusalem he stopped in a village called Bethany. Jesus and his disciples were invited into the home of two sisters named Martha and Mary. We’ll find out later that they also have a brother named Lazarus. Martha immediately began cooking dinner for these friends. She expected Mary to join her, but instead Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”
At some point Martha could take it no longer, and she said to Jesus, “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Jesus’ response was great. He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
We haven’t heard of Mary, Martha and Lazarus prior to this encounter, but it’s evident that Jesus knew them. First, when (spoiler alert) Lazarus is sick and at the point of death, the sisters send for Jesus. And he seems to love this family. It just makes me think he’s known them for awhile. Beyond this, though, is the phrase I mentioned before. Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet.” This phrase is also used in Acts, when Paul was recounting his life. He said that he sat at the feet of Gamaliel. He was saying that he was a student of Gamaliel’s. He was a disciple. So maybe Mary was a disciple of Jesus.
This would have been a big deal, since only men could be disciples of a teacher. But once again Jesus breaks the rules.
What Martha was doing was important. They would all obviously be very happy to eat once Martha finished cooking. Yet in this moment, Jesus was there to spend time with his friends. Luke records that Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Jesus knew that there would not be a lot of other moments for this to happen, and that’s why Jesus said that she Mary had chosen what was better.
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