July 7, 2023

Two Perspectives

“Martha, therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.’”

John 11:20-22 (NASB)

            I am wired as a “get things done” type of person. I don’t postpone things which can be done now. I prefer doing things as soon as possible. This way I don’t have to worry about them later. They are already done. If you are like me, this type of behavior can have some drawbacks. Sometimes I am so busy, I don’t pay attention to things going on right in front of me. I miss them. My wife is completely different. She doesn’t worry about things. “They will get done, maybe not in your timing, but they will.” For us who “get things done,” it sometimes can drive us mad waiting… and waiting…. It is important to understand each of these behaviors are important. One is not better than the other. As a person told me years ago, “One isn’t better than the other; they are just different.” We see examples of these two behaviors in today’s story.

            “… but Mary stayed at the house.” This story shows some similar behaviors from Mary and Martha throughout Scripture. Other passages show similar behavior of both. One comes from Luke 10:38-42 and the other from John 12:2. In today’s story (John 11:20-22), Mary’s was with the family and doing those things which were important, “Mary stayed at the house.” Mary was with her family. She was consoling or being consoled by the loss of her brother. Martha on the other hand went to find Jesus. She was busy locating Jesus. Martha’s response to Jesus in verse 21 shows her finding Jesus. She expressed her faith that Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus before He died. She knew Jesus had the power. Martha said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Her action is seen as “testimony of her trust in His healing power.”[1]  She truly believed Jesus could perform this miracle if He was there. In another story from Luke 10:39, “Mary is seen as “seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.” Again, Mary is seen spending time with people, and learning what she could about the kingdom of God. Martha in her normal behavior is seen asking Jesus to rebuke her sister, “Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” Martha was angry because she wouldn’t help her serve. She was alone and being forced to do all the work! Jesus told her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;” Martha had good intentions, but missed the reason for Jesus time there. In the last Scripture in John 12:2, we see Martha again, “Martha was serving…” She was a doer. Mary was a listener.

            If you look at today’s passages, which person are you today? Are you the one who always is “doing?” Or are you the one who is “listening?” Remember what I said earlier, both are important, but don’t miss this one important fact. When Jesus is talking, sit down and listen. There is always time to clean up afterwards. If Jesus is there and saying something, it must be for a reason. Today put down your busyness and listen when Jesus speaks. Don’t worry about what needs to be done. You can clean the kitchen later. You will find you will learn something that will be far more important than the next clean dish…

[1] (MacArthur, John, 1997), 1606.