I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:12-14 NLT
A couple of months ago I was reading through the book of Luke and I came across five verses that stood out to me in a way that never had before. This scriptural passage would be Luke 10:38-42, where Jesus visits Martha and Mary. Below is the following passage I would like to center this month’s blog on.
Jesus Visits Martha and Mary
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 NLT
After reading this passage I found myself in deep reflection. I imagine Mary clinging onto the words of Jesus as she sat at his feet on the floor as I wonder what is it that Jesus is teaching that Mary is so transfixed on. While Martha is quickly pacing in between rooms preparing and cooking dinner, fulfilling the expected role of a woman in the house in following the customs of the culture at this time. I wonder what is going through Martha’s mind as she becomes more frustrated and upset that her sister is not helping her to the point she can no longer be quite and comes to Jesus in seeking him out to tell Mary to help her with the preparations for dinner. Then Jesus speaks words that are shocking and goes against that day and age.
My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!
There is only one thing worth being concerned about.
Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.
Jesus goes against the cultural norm (as he often does) in what he says here as he defends Mary’s desire to simply sit and learn from him. To learn from him the most important thing in life. Particularly what is against the cultural norm in this scene is that women were “expected to serve domestically and were forbidden to learn as disciples from a rabbi. Jesus validated Mary’s desire to be Jesus’ disciple” (NLT Illustrated Study Bible). Usually only men up to this point in time were allowed to be disciples of a rabbi in learning from one as sitting at a rabbi’s feet was the position of a disciple. Nevertheless, here is Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet learning from his teachings.
Two particular questions went through my mind after reading this. The first question was, “Am I like Martha or am I like Mary?” I think it is easy for us to align ourselves with Mary as we read this passage, but the deeper point I want us to draw out is something along the lines of this… “Today, presently in my life, what I am doing that is distracting me from the one thing that is worth being concerned about? How am I like Martha?” I bet if you were to take a moment you would think of several things that perhaps distract you from God. A tactic often used by the enemy, is what the enemy can’t destroy, he will distract. Distract us from the greater purpose in life. Distract us from pursuing the one thing in life that matters most. In a recent blog I wrote titled, “Too Busy for God” I shared on how our being busy distracts us from God. Like Martha, we find her busy, being distracted in worrying about preparing dinner. While Martha prepared bread that would fill a person’s stomach for a short amount of time and become hungry once again, Mary was listening to the bread of life and would never be hungry again. So the question is, “What am I doing that distracts me from coming to the bread of life?”
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35 NLT
I believe one of the biggest struggles that faces individuals inside and outside the church when it comes to sitting down and reading the Bible, is asking ourselves, “How does this passage apply to me?” When we allow and let Scripture to speak into our lives, we take the position of Mary in sitting at Jesus’ feet in submitting to what what the word of God says. We are not doing ourselves a favor when we read Scripture and do not stop, be still, and reflect in asking ourselves, “How does this passage apply to me? What does this mean? What should I take away from this? What is the deeper meaning beyond the surface here? Why am I wrestling with this passage?” It is only natural that we should ask questions about the biblical text we come across and wrestle with it. God invites us to get to know him, his love, his purpose, and truth. It would be unnatural for us not to ask questions and wrestle with the meaning of a text.
A stereotype of the church I sometimes see is the mindset of, “If I do not understand this biblical passage and start asking questions then that means I am doubting God or somehow not a true Christian, so then I shouldn’t voice my questions out loud or someone will think I am a fake...” I encourage you to reflect on the following.
In regards to intimacy with God, “People express emotions with those closest to them. A real relationship with God is bound to have something akin to lover’s quarrels, tear-filled seasons, and even moments that feel hopeless. Perhaps these prayers of sorrow and anger show us what intimacy with God actually looks like: rather than hiding emotions, people approach God with such vulnerability and trust that they tell God all that they think and feel. Biblical authors didn’t apologize for their emotions. They didn’t give God the silent treatment, which is the functional equivalent of apostasy. Instead, they spoke directly to God about their feelings, much as they would with a close confidant” (Matthew Schlimm – This Strange and Sacred Scripture).
The second question I asked myself was, “Have I discovered it?” Have I discovered it to the point that I am willing to put aside myself and make time to come to the bread of life in sitting at his feet and listening to him? The reality is that each and every one of us answer this question with or without realizing it. Essentially, in our daily lives we are setting aside time for him or we are not setting time aside for him. In bringing this blog to a close, I hope this has stirred some thoughts or questions in your mind. Rather than deliberately spending the entirety of this blog on defining this one thing, I thought it would be best to let you explore, search, and find that meaning for yourself. “Have you discovered it?”
The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
Psalm 27:4 NLT
Best Regards, Derrick Shipley