Luke 10:38-42 on July 20th, 2025
Above is audio of the sermon pulled from the video and amplified.
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Hello, Martha. Really? What is the story of the Easter? Are you sulking over there after all this time? It's been centuries. When will you ever get over it? Well, that's easy for you to say, Mary. Whenever that passage from Luke is read, you come out smelling like a robe. On clutch, you love the cycle sitting at the feet of Jesus. And you come out looking like a wicked steppesister, filled with pagelices. Now, Martha, we've been through this before. I don't think the gospel writer intended to do you any harm. He was just telling our story, sharing the facts, including, by the way, that we were living in Bethany, not as steppesisters, evil or otherwise, but as sisters to one another and to our dear brother Lazarus. Oh, sure. Luke shared the facts already. He took everything that happened that day and gave it a whopping four firstsids that is gospel. I gotta say, you really think he did justice to my side of the story? Well, it sounds like you'd like to add your thoughts. So why not do that now? Go ahead. I'm sure everyone here will quietly listen to you. All right, I'll do just that. I've been waiting centuries for this time. To begin, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, you have to go back in time with me to understand all the crazy chaos going on in our village that day. Whenever the teacher Jesus came into Bethany, there was so much excitement. For miles around, people gathered to greet him and hear what he had to say. Some from Jerusalem were there to put into the test. To see if he would go against any of our Jewish law and teachings. Many folks came to the Messiah. The Savior God had promised to deliver us from our enemies. Those who heard about his healing, they heard it to bring the sick to lame and blind for Jesus to upshin heal. No exaggeration I couldn't count the number of people crowding around him. Now our brother Lazarus had already become your friends with Jesus. So I didn't surprise me when I heard the news that Jesus was coming into the village that Mary was running to me and saying he would be staying at our home. Now of course that thrilled me. I myself have been inspired by Jesus' teachings. I love pointing visiting. I wanted to be one of his devoted followers. But I also realized how much more work I had to do. Hospitality was expected in our culture. Now you folks here this morning may not find that strange being good southerners except the Lord and earth. But by our Jewish laws and understanding we had to excel at hospitality. Did you take note of Abraham's actions in today's Old Testament reading? Three strangers approached him and he immediately began to host them. Look at all he had to do to prepare waters so that they could be a place where they could rest. Bread that his wife's serenade. Padpre had butchered milk and curds who could ask for anything more. In the same way my family and aunt were obligated to meet our guest needs. And remember when Jesus visited he was never by himself. There are always the twelve who traveled with him as disciples as well as all the others who tagged along trying to figure out who Jesus really was. So dear people when Mary rushed in with the news that Jesus would be staying with us. I must admit I had an anxiety attack. Fortunately I had already been up early enough to sweep out our cold. But I had only planned simple real barley loads for Mary Lazarus to meet. Now how could I serve barley loads to a guest as important as Jesus? And what other dishes would be necessary so that everyone at our table would be satisfied? There was so much to prepare. So little time to do any of it I remember pausing to get my wits about me. I quickly examined what was available and I was replied. I made mental notes about the food I prepared and what I have Mary do. But when I turned to talk with my sister she was nowhere to be found. At first I thought Mary had gone to find Lazarus and gave him the face of fire. So I pulled down my mixing bowl and I went to work on a recipe. And I was so busy that the minutes turned to hours and the hours well they just flew by and still no Mary to the scene. And that's when Luke's Gospel picks up on our story. And when you picked that horrific fight with me. I'm not sure I call it a fight. Maybe a sibling is fat. To be honest I think I had every right to be troubled. After all I was knocking myself out trying to obey the laws faithfully as I could. Doing all that work to show hospitality to our guests. purposefully trying to do what would be most pleasing to Jesus. And when I was my dear sister when I needed help, how sign, resting in Jesus' keep as though she were a guest in the serve. Okay I admit it. I wasn't leaving it. Oh we bet you stormed over and chewed out Jesus. I said not. What you most certainly did. Why wasn't that you said. Lord don't you care that my sister has left me alone with all the work. Maybe I was looking for a little affirmation and sympathy. And I hope Jesus would justify you for not serving others. Or at least command you to show love for your sister by helping me. And how did that go? I said Jesus looked at me and said, Mark the Martha. The work is distracted by so many things. Only one thing is needed. And Mary has chosen it. I swear most of you very you think about smelling like a rose. I can now looking like a witch. I doubt that was what Jesus intended with his words to you. Or Luke intended by recording his story. After all these years Martha you're still missing the gospel lesson. Well so tell me that's more you can ask. What did I do wrong? Remember what Luke included in his gospel right before our story. The parable the good Samaritan. And in that story Jesus praised the person who went out of his way to show mercy. And kindness to his neighbor. That's all I was trying to do Mary. My best to serve Jesus and my neighbor. I put in all my effort, slaving away in that kitchen while others met and chatted. And you didn't even lift a finger to help. But that's what you're failing to understand Martha. You remember what I wasn't doing that day. But Jesus praised what I had chosen to do. Please don't hear me hear that as me boasting. I deserve no credit for what happened. It was as though the Spirit moved me that day to take time and stay with Jesus. Oh yes there were other distractions and worries to draw away my attention. And believe it or not I shared your anxieties about everything we had to do. But those worries paled in the light of Jesus' presence. I felt so blessed, so at peace, simply to sit at his feet and listen to him. Some may credit me for making it my priority to be there. But being open to God's word, God's love, God's instruction wasn't by my will alone. Jesus' love simply took hold of me, claimed me, gave me a sense of calming peace. And that was so much greater than any satisfaction I've ever gained trying to fulfill my what must I do to please God and others list. Let's be honest, sister. You went out of your way that day to obey our law and show hospitality. But weren't you really motivated by a few other things? Isn't it possible you did all that you did so Jesus and everyone else would be impressed by you? Isn't it typical to think any of us earn special favor by the good works we do? Martha, Jesus said that you were anxious and worried about many things. But I know how much Jesus loves you and how much concern he had for you that day. How sad he was watching you try to gain everyone else's approval. With his own eyes, Jesus saw how impatient and judgmental you became when I, when he, when even yourself failed to meet your expectations. So maybe this is the point of our story. And why Luke recorded it Martha? Like so many disciples, you were always so busy trying to be what you thought you had to be. So that others would love and accept you. You left no time to let in the one who loved you more deeply than any other could. When Jesus would have accepted me, even if I failed to live up to what was expected that day, if I couldn't be all things for all people. I mean, Jesus already had accepted you just as you were and longed for you to know how much he cared about you. In all your many ways of serving, you could not have gotten as close to him as you would have by sitting at his feet, simply open to his presence. I guess you're right. I miss the point of that story. And now I feel so humiliated. There's nothing wrong about being humbled enough to admit mistakes. The word humble comes from the same root word as hummus that dark, rich soil where new life grows. Martha, it's when we're humbled that all of us learn what we need to know in order to grow. Paul wrote to the Romans, even our best attempts fall short of what God requires of us. But God is always ready to correct, forgive, and grow new life in our souls. Okay. I will do my best to live with this good news from this day forth. But I still wish Luke had shared our story with the whole world. It's embarrassing to have our dirty laundry air in his study. The center of countless sermons and discussions streaming years. Boy do I feel sorry for anyone's sins, so I love being loved and associated with the name Martha. Well, I like to think Luke chose our story to benefit all the others who want to love and serve Jesus as much as you did Martha. People today, including faithful church members, are hardly different from those in our day. They still get distracted by all kinds of pressures. They exhaust themselves with various causes and activities. They are themselves motivated and tortured by approval needs. Despite all of their time since saving convenience, many that we would have welcomed, they stress to have more and keep up with their neighbors. Sadly, in the end, they become resentful and judgmental of the brothers and sisters that they deem are doing less and they're prone to lash out at them. And if you think it's any easier for them to be humble about their wrong choices, to admit mistakes, and be willing to grow, you probably haven't paid attention to any current news or social media posts. That's why it's important, dear sister, for people to hear and ponder our story. In you, many may see themselves and when they do, they may also hear Jesus say, you are distracted and worried about many things, but only one is necessary. Come to me, listen to me, lay your concerns before me, trust me as your friend. Even if you doubt me from time to time, know that I always want you near me and I'll never let you down. It may very well be as low a priority for people today as it was for you in Bethany to take time, simply to sit at Jesus' feet, to cultivate a relationship with him, to worship and strive to follow him. The folks here this morning, Jesus' friends and the church are still distracted by many things, and the sad fact remains that like you, when their spiritual lives dry up, they also become impatient and demanding with one another, and with God. Your story reminds them of the importance of prayer, taking time to sit with Jesus. Our story may just be four short verses in the 10th chapter of Luke, but it is vitally important. It is the bridge between the parable of the Good Samaritan and the next section of Luke's Gospel when Jesus teaches his disciples to pray. It is almost as if Luke wants us Christians to know Jesus will for us, understanding that devoting time for service without spending time listening to Jesus is no better than taking time to pray to Jesus without devoting time to serving others. These two spiritual disciplines, learning practices, are meant to go hand in hand. Well, that's a lot to ponder. So what do you think, Martha? Why don't we take a few moments now? Sit together and meditate on this Gospel. I love to know that you know I have the house to sleep in. Martha, will you ever learn?