The Baptist Digest

The Two Postures Of Mary And Martha

January 2007

About two miles southeast of Jerusalem lived Martha and Mary of Bethany. While Jesus was traveling in the area one day, Martha graciously welcomed him into her home. During the hectic table spreading activities, Martha became frustrated because her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet (paying attention to the Master’s teaching as his disciple), preferring her posture of abiding in his presence to her sister’s irritable company. Martha, busy with preparation, worried at the slow progress of her work, complained to her divine-human guest, and demanded that he would use his persuasive powers to convince Mary to help (Luke 10:38-42).

In response, Jesus speaks soul-shaping and love-dripping words to her and to every generation since, to you and to me “only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42).

I have no desire to oppose the two postures of Martha and Mary. Jesus is not saying that what Martha was doing was not important at the right time, in the right place. Ecclesiastes says “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is a time to strive, and there is a time to cease from striving, or as the psalmist put it in Psalm 46:10 “Cease from striving and know that I am God.” Jesus favored Mary’s posture at this time over Martha’s striving.

Mary, the disciple, had fallen in love with The Teacher. Unheard of! Uncommon! Blessed! She took seriously Jesus’ command to “learn of me” (Matthew 11:29). She believed that a disciple is not above the teacher, but when the disciple is fully trained he will be like his Teacher (Luke 6:40). A leader of God’s people, as Catherine Kroeger says, “is not ultimately defined by the excellence of the table she spreads but on her spreading her heart open to God’s Word”  and presence. This is a lesson we need to relearn daily in our walk with the Master.

One day the reality of the hurried life (the tyranny of the urgent) of ministry took its toll on me. I doubt that I alone suffer from this tyranny. I suspect many reading this would easily relate. The turning point resulted in a desire for a posture of paying attention to Jesus. The urgency of adopting this posture of a learner at Jesus’ feet loomed large and determined a priority in life and ministry that pays attention to God. The Martha in me at times edges the Mary out. But when the Mary in me asserts its place at Jesus’ feet again and again, I hear the commendation “you have chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from you.”

I have a glorious hope and prayer. If everyone could sit at the feet of Jesus for a little while, and cease from striving, the world would be a far better place. If the church would learn that sitting at Jesus’ feet is the one thing necessary and that cannot be withheld, the church would be a different organism. If our Christian institutions would mandate themselves into sitting at Jesus’ feet together regularly, they would make more of a difference than they do. I have a relative who is dabbling with atheism. My advice to him was to give attention to Jesus. My conviction is that at Jesus’ feet his faith will revive. I know a recently married couple who is divorcing. If they would sit together at Jesus’ feet and learn of him, their yoke would be easier, and their burden much lighter.
 
When the framework of our lives is shaped by “that which shall not be taken away,” life becomes simpler, quieter. Our confusion will lessen. Our screaming for instant gratification will be subdued. Our cry to get our own way will turn into a quiet acceptance of and contentment in life. Our striving will cease. Our fighting will abate. Our swords will be transformed into pruning hooks. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven!

Jesus heartily commends Mary’s posture to us. My opinion is that we, Southern Baptists, have majored on Martha’s posture much more than on Mary’s posture. This imbalance must be redressed. Until then, spiritual growth will elude us. Until then, walking with the Master will remain a theory begging to be lived.

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I thought you might like this column I read at baptistdigest.com. "The Two Postures Of Mary And Martha" About two miles southeast of Jerusalem lived Martha and Mary of Bethany. While Jesus was traveling in the area one day, Martha graciously welcomed him into her home. During the hectic table spreading activities, Martha became frustrated because her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet (paying attention to the Master’s teaching as his disciple), preferring her posture of abiding in his presence to her sister’s irritable company. Martha, busy with preparation, worried at the slow progress of her work, complained to her divine-human guest, and demanded that he would use his persuasive powers to convince Mary to help (Luke 10:38-42). You can read the rest here: http://www.baptistdigest.com/archive/column/the_two_postures_of_mary_and_martha/