Ep. 61: Mary and Martha
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LUKE 10:25,38-42
There was an inquiry on the part of a ‘certain lawyer’ as to what he should do to inherit eternal life. Together with Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan, this is relevant to the previous teaching about entering into the Kingdom of heaven. From this interruption, we turn to a far different scene. It follows in Luke’s narrative and we have no reason to consider it out of its proper place. If so, it must mark the close of Jesus’ journey to the Feast of Tabernacles, since the home of Martha and Mary was in Bethany, close to Jerusalem, almost one of its suburbs.
One of his disciples asks him to teach them to pray, as the Baptist had similarly taught his followers. This seems to indicate that they were then on the scene of John’s former locations, north-east of Bethany and, that it occurred on Jesus’ return from Jerusalem.
Again, from the narrative of his reception in the house of Martha, we gather that Jesus had arrived in Bethany with his disciples, but that he alone was the guest of the two sisters. It was the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles and the scene recorded by Luke would take place in the open leafy booth which served as the habitation during the festive week. For, according to law, one lived in such booths during the festive week, to eat, sleep, pray and study. We can picture to ourselves Martha moving around on her busy errands and noticing Mary still sitting as a rapt listener and wondering how she could enter so suddenly the Master’s Presence.
There is no evidence that the household of Bethany had previously belonged to the circle of Jesus’ professed disciples. It was, as the narrative shows, a wealthy home. It consisted of two sisters - the elder, Martha, the younger, Mary - and their brother Lazarus. Although we don’t know why, the house was Martha’s and she received Jesus into it on his arrival in Bethany. It would have been totally natural for a pious wealthy lady to receive a great Rabbi into her house. He was to lodge in one of the booths, the sisters in the house and the great booth in the middle of the courtyard would be the common meeting place. It could not have been long after his arrival that the sisters felt they had received more than an Angel unawares. How best to do him honour, was equally the thought of both.
To Martha, it seemed as if she could not do enough in showing him all hospitality. Her younger sister also would do him the highest honour, but not as Martha. Mary’s homage consisted in forgetting all else but him, who spoke as none had ever done. And so, time after time, as Martha passed on her busy way, she still sat listening and living. At last, the sister broke in with what sounds like a complaint, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone?’
Mary had served with her, but she had now left her to do the work alone. Would the Master bid her resume her neglected work? But, with a tone of gentle reproof, affection and reprimand. He taught her in words that are so full that they have entered into everyday conversation. ‘You are careful and anxious about many things; but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’ Nevertheless, we see no partiality in this, ‘Jesus loved Martha and her sister.’
This is an extract from the book, Jesus : Life and Times, available for £10 here (Finalist for Academic Book of the year at 2023 CRT awards)