Counsel To Martha And Instruction On Prayer

DURING the course of Jesus' Judean ministry, he enters the village of Bethany. This is where Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus live, perhaps Jesus met these three earlier in his ministry and so is already a close friend of theirs. In any event, Jesus now goes to the home of Martha and is welcomed by her. Martha is eager to provide Jesus with the very best that she has. Indeed, it is a great honor to have the promised Messiah visit one's home! So Martha become involved in preparing an elaborate meal and seeing to many other details designed to make Jesus' stay more enjoyable and comfortable.

On the other hand, Martha's sister Mary sits down at Jesus' feet and listens to him. After a while, Martha approaches and says to Jesus: "Lord, does it matter to you that my sister has left me alone to attend to things? Tell her, therefore, to join in helping me." But Jesus refuses to say anything to Mary. Rather, he counsels Martha for being overly concerned with material things. "Martha, Martha," he kindly reproves, "you are anxious and disturbed about many things. a few things, though, are needed, or just one." Jesus is saying that it is not necessary to spend a lot of time preparing many dishes for a meal. Only a few or even just one dish is sufficient.

Martha's intentions are good; She wants to be a hospitable hostess. Yet, by her anxious attention to material provisions, she is missing out on the opportunity to receive personal instruction from God's own Son! So Jesus concludes: "For her part, Mary chose the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her."

Later, on another occasion, a disciple asks Jesus: "Lord, teach us how to pray, just as John also taught his disciples." Possibly this disciple was not present about a year and a half earlier when Jesus provided the model prayer in is Sermon on the Mount. So Jesus repeats his instructions but then goes on to give an illustration to emphasize the need to be persistent in prayer.

Next time: Conclusion of Counsel To Martha And Instruction On Prayer

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991