Brent Kuhlman

+ Jesu Juva +

What hospitality!  What a host!  Martha.  No, not Martha Stewart but Martha the sister of Mary Magdalene.  Invites the Lord Jesus into her home. 

You don’t get out the dixie cups, paper plates, and plastic spoons for the Lord.  You don’t just get out the Easy Mac, dill pickles, and the Ruffles for the King of kings.  Good grief!  Only Grandma’s (God rest her soul)  -- only Grandma’s finest china, polished silver, and handcrafted crystal will do!  So much to do.  So much to prepare. 

Vacuum.  Dust.  Sweep.  Wax.  Polish.    Cook the meal.  Port wine and almonds for an appetizer.  T-bones grilled on open flame.  Twice baked potatoes.  A loaf of cracked wheat bread.  A Romaine salad (you know the one with sliced apples, cranberries, freshly shredded Romano cheese, and white champagne dressing).  The mince meat pie.  And then down to the cellar to check on the latest home brew. 

Martha:  she’s the Hostess with the Mostess!  At least she thinks so.  It’s her home after all.  Serving the Lord Jesus.  Giving Him gifts. 

My, won’t the Lord be impressed by all her hard work!  She’s a bundle of energy.  “I DO IT ALL FOR YOU JESUS! I’M GIVING YOU MY ALL!  NOT LIKE MY SISTER MARY WHO JUST SITS THERE LIKE A BUMP ON A LOG!  LORD, WHY DON’T YOU TELL MY SISTER TO PITCH IN AND HELP ME?   I’M WILLING TO
LET MARY BE CO-HOST OF THIS SHINDIG!  TO JESUS BE THE GLORY!  I JUST WANNA KEEP ON WORSHIPPING YOU JESUS!” 

It’s what we’d do too.  We’d pull a Martha.  We’re all like her.  Believing that the highest worship of Jesus is to serve Him.  To give Him gifts.  To give Him our best efforts.

Jesus has news for Martha.  And He’s got news for us Martha types.  It’s really quite shocking.  Offensive.  Outrageous. 

Here’s the shocker!  The real Host of the dinner is Jesus Himself!  He’s the active dinner Host.  He’s the one giving.  He’s doing the gifting.  He’s the one serving up heaping portions of a dish:  the words from His mouth.  Words that are full of Spirit and life. 

And that’s precisely where we find Mary Magdalene.  At the Host’s feet listening to His every Word.  Hanging on to His teaching as He puts His words into her ears and heart.  “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Martha went to all that work!  Mary’s done nothing except sit on her fanny.  Can you imagine how scandalized Martha is to a Jesus who really isn’t interested in all her hard work for Him?  All the preparations and cooking – all to the glory of Jesus – and Jesus doesn’t even care. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” 

We and Martha are hurt.  Offended by a Jesus who doesn’t seem to give a fig about all our trudging and toiling for Him.  Insulted that all our hard work for Him counts for nothing before Him.  We and Martha want to run the show.  Be the big cheese.  Have all the attention.  Distracted and worried about what we need to be doing for the Lord. 

And then we miss out on the most important dish of all.  The words that come from His mouth.  His teaching.  His forgiveness.  His love. 

The highest worship of Jesus comes from Mary Magdalene.  And that happens when she’s not doing a bloody thing!  It’s the Lord who’s doing the doing.  Mouthing His words into her ears.  Speaking His words into her heart through her ear holes. They are the words of Jesus who created the universe only by His speaking.  They are the words of God Himself.  The real Host, Jesus Himself speaks.  All Mary does is listen to Jesus’ sermon.  Now that’s real, big time, worship that counts!  It’s Jesus serving Mary not Martha serving Him.   

Wouldn’t it be great if we could be like Mary and not Martha.  Sure.  And you are.  Today you sit at the Lord’s feet like little listening Marys.  He has invited you to His house.  And here He’s the host here today.  The Servant Son of God who speaks.  And what He says He does and gives – uniquely for you.  “I died for you!  I rose for you!”  “You are baptized in My Name.”  “I forgive you all your sins!”  “I give you My Body and Blood of the New Testament for your life and for your salvation!”    

“[Trinity congregation], only a few things are necessary, really only one, for [you and] Mary have chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her [or you].”

In the Name of Jesus.