Brent Kuhlman

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Eighth Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 11                                                                                     

18 July 2010                                   

St. Luke 10:38-42

He’s here.  Look who Mary and Martha have brought home!  They’ve opened their house to Lord Jesus the Christ.  He’s their invited guest. 

At least that’s the way Martha sees it.  She wants to be the hostess with the most-ess!  Impress the Lord.  And it really bothers her when Mary doesn’t help with the chores.  Good grief!  Table cloth to iron.  Floors to sweep.  Roast in the oven.  Pudding on the stove.  Wine in the cellar.  Bread to slice.  Table to set.  Hors d’oeuvres to munch on.  The whole spread!  “Jesus is our guest Mary!  Chop! Chop!  Let’s get a move on honey!  Give me a hand would you?  Let’s give our Lord the best! Can’t do it all by myself, right Jesus?  Tell her will you?  She needs to get off her little … well … you know … and help me serve you Jesus!”

But Jesus turns the tables.  He flips matters on their head.  Turns everything inside out.  When He enters a home He’s no longer the guest.  He’s the host.  He’s the giver.  He has come not to be served but TO SERVE!   Same thing happened with Abraham.  Abraham busied himself as host to serve the Lord with a nice meal.  But instead the Lord gave Abraham a gift.  The promise of a son.  The son of laughter:  Isaac.  Through whom the Savior would come.

And lo and behold here He is:  the promised Savior!  The Son of God incarnate!  Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven.  Conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Born of the Virgin Mary. 

He’s busy too in this humble home.  Preaching.  Comforting.  Absolving.  Serving up a big heaping of Himself!  Showing how He is indeed the one and only Savior of sinners.  All sinners.  Not just men.  But even women.  Whereas rabbis in those days refused to associate with the female species in any way let alone teach women God’s Word – the Torah – Jesus does.  Everyone is precious to Him.  Mary.  Martha.  You.  Me.

He has come not to be served BUT TO SERVE AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY! 

Mary gets it.  No wonder she’s sitting at His feet taking it all in.  Sitting.  Listening.  Suffering the Word of God from the Word made flesh.  Passively being given to – by Host, Servant, Savior Jesus! 

Scandalous isn’t it?  It all seems to be a colossal waste of time.  The roast will burn.  The table won’t get set.  And yet, “Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”  Just sitting there and listening!  Lapping up all that Jesus dishes out!  But doing bloody nothing as far as Martha is concerned!  Doing nothing.  Just being given to by the Lord.  His Word.  His love.  His forgiveness. 

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed here.  Sit down dear.  Have a listen.  I’m in charge here.  I’m running the show.  Not you.  Relax.  I’ll give you Sabbath rest.  I’ve got news for you!  You’re not here for me.  I’m here for you!”      

What are you so worried about?  What is it that won’t let you sit at the Lord’s feet for a little while?  What is so doggone important that keeps you from hearing Jesus in His Word?  What’s forcing you to stay away from the Lord’s forgiveness?  His hosting?  His giving?  “You are worried and upset about many things.  But only one thing is needed.”     

And that’s Jesus who says:  “I’m here folks!  Have a seat.  This is my service.  Time to repent!  Time to die to your sin!  You’re not in charge.  You’re not the savior.  I am!  I bear the wounds in my head, back, hands, feet, and torso to prove it!  I have something to say to you.  I died for you.  And all is made right by my sacrificial blood.”

“Now, I’ve brought you to my house.  You’re my guests.  And I’ve prepared a supper for you.  I’m the host, the butler, and the food.  Have a seat.  Belly on up.  Come.  Eat.  Drink.  Enjoy.  Trust me when I say that it’s given and shed for you and all your sin is forgiven.  What I say and give will not be taken from you.” 

In the Name of Jesus.