LIFE OF
CHRIST
Luke 10:38-42
SISTERS
LIFE OF CHRIST #37
There has always been an affinity
between sisters, as this song sung by Rosemary and Betty Clooney indicates.
There are times, however, when even the closest of sisters don’t see eye to
eye. Such is the case as we continue to
look at the life of Christ.
The last event we saw in our
Lord’s life was the healing of a man who had been born blind. Some time after that event Jesus made a visit
in a little village called Bethany, which not far from
This is where two sisters,
Martha and Mary, lived with their brother, Lazarus. In the story before us this morning, Martha
is depicted as somewhat of a villain, and Mary a heroine. They were both human. They were both Christians. Both had some very good qualities about them,
especially if you look at the other stories about them found in the Gospel of
John. We’ll get to them later on in our
study.
WHAT THEY HAD IN COMMON – Vs. 38
· JESUS WAS WELCOME
Evidently Martha was the
oldest sister, and it was considered her home.
When Jesus came the door was
always open.
Martha showed that Jesus was
welcome by serving Him.
Mary showed that Jesus was
welcome by sitting at his feet and hearting his Word.
But Jesus was more than just
welcome in their home.
Jesus was welcome in their
hearts.
Both of them had made a
personal commitment to the Lord Jesus as their Messiah, their Savior.
Jesus was not only welcome to
Martha and Mary as Savior, but He was also their Master. As you read the accounts about these sisters,
you will see that He was boss in their lives.
You claim to be a
Christian. You have welcomed Jesus as
your Savior. Is He welcome to tell you
what to do? Is He welcome to “call the
shots” in your life? John 13:13, 12:26
If Jesus is welcome as your
Master, He is your Lord. And as someone
has well said, “If Jesus isn’t Lord of all, He’s not Lord at all!”
Jesus was not only welcome to
Mary and Martha as their Savior, and Master, but he was also welcome as their
friend for fellowship. Both Mary and
Martha would have communed with Jesus in the course of His visit. They would have talked with Him.
Even during Martha’s business
she would have had opportunity to talk with the Lord. She could have done better as we’ll see in
few minutes, but nonetheless she had some fellowship with Him as a friend.
How aware of Jesus’ presence
in your life are you?
Is He such a welcome guest
that you spend time talking with Him and learning from Him as a friend?
Revelation 3:20
· JESUS WAS LOVED!
It is obvious that Jesus was
loved by the warm reception He received.
It is obvious that Jesus was loved by the way that he was treated both
in this passage and in John 11.
You who call yourself a
Christian, do you love the Lord Jesus?
When you love someone you
think about them.
When you love someone you try
to please them.
When you love someone you try
to fulfill their wishes.
When you love someone who is
in a superior position over you, you obey them.
If you love the Lord Jesus
you will worship and adore Him.
If you love the Lord Jesus
you will obey Him. John 14:21
· JESUS LOVED THEM
John 11:5 - Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and
Lazarus.
Just as Jesus loved Mary and
Martha, he loves you and I.
He loved us when He died for
us.
He loves each one who has
trusted Him as Savior.
How strong is His love for
you? Romans 8:39
So, these sisters had at
least three things in common:
Jesus was welcome as Savior,
Master and Friend
Jesus was loved.
Jesus loved them.
WHAT THEY HELD IN CONTRAST – Vss. 39-40
Mary and Martha surely had their
differences. One such difference comes
to light here.
Vs. 39 – Mary was Word oriented.
Mary had a unique opportunity
and she took it.
Mary had the opportunity as a
woman to sit at Jesus feet and hear His Word.
In the Jewish culture of that day, it was unheard of.
Other chores were set aside
so Mary could hear the Word of God. This
does not mean that Mary was lazy or not a worker. And it doesn’t mean that Mary never helped in
the kitchen.
It does mean that God’s Word
had a high priority!
Why should God’s Word be a
high priority? Jeremiah 15:16, Mark 13:31, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12,
Psalm 119:11
The Word of God is so
important. Shouldn’t you be as Word Oriented as Mary was? The Word was available and she sat and
listened to it!
· The Word of God is available to you every day for reading, memorization
and meditation.
· The Word of God is available to you every day through Christian
Television and Radio, although you must be discriminating to know who to listen
to and who to avoid.
· The Word of God is available to you in Sunday School, Sunday Morning,
Sunday Night, and Wednesday night.
People starve when they do
not eat! Sometimes food is not
available. Other times it is.
Christians starve when they
do not eat. You and I have no excuse.
The Word of God is available.
Mary was Word oriented.
Martha was Work oriented.
Vs. 40 - Martha had a
servant’s heart.
She evidently wanted Jesus to
have the best and was preparing an elaborate meal. She wanted to serve Jesus the best!
Martha became distracted with
her service.
The project of the meal
became so big in her mind that was all she could think about. The Son of God had come to dinner and she was
distracted!
It was good that Martha
serve.
It is good that we serve.
Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10
The problem with Mary was
that the work so distracted her that she not only rebuked Mary, but rebuked the
Lord Himself in verse 40.
As for learning anything from
Jesus she was too busy serving.
We have the same problem
sometimes. We get so busy serving ourselves, others, and even the Lord that we
don’t have time for Jesus!
WHAT THEY HEARD IN COMMENTARY – Vss. 41-42
It was now time for the Lord
and Master to speak.
When He did, he put things in
perspective.
Martha was not wrong to
serve, but Martha became so distracted in service that she missed God’s best,
His Word.
Vs. 41 – Martha you’re uptight about a lot of things. I think it was more than just the meal that
would distract Martha. Whatever she
chose to do probably got her worked up, and I think she chose to do much.
So often we are just like
Martha, distracted about what we have to get done, about how we are going to
serve.
Vs. 42 – In that given moment, with Jesus present in their
home, there was only one thing that was truly needful. That was to take
advantage of learning at the feet of Jesus.
All of the things Martha did
to serve would be there to be done at another time. But right at that moment, Mary’s priorities
were in order and Martha’s weren’t.
I don’t know for sure, but I
think that right then and there Martha stopped and listened, and when Jesus was
done speaking I think that they both went and got the meal.
I have a feeling that if we
could hear Jesus talking, we might here Him, saying, “You are anxious and
troubled about many things. Chose the good part which can not be taken away
from you.”
Mary had the opportunity to
learn the Word of God from the Son of God.
That was to be her priority. What
she learned from the Word of God nobody could take away from her.
There is no value in anxiety
and worry.
There is great value in God’s
Word.
You have many opportunities
to learn from God’s Word.
Are you availing yourself of
these opportunities?
SISTERS:
WHAT THEY HAD IN COMMON – Vs.
38
· Jesus was welcome – as Savior, Master, Friend
· They loved Jesus
· Jesus loved them
WHAT THEY HELD IN CONTRAST –
Vss. 39-40
· Mary was Word oriented
· Martha was Work oriented
WHAT THEY HEARD IN COMMENTARY
– Vss. 41-42
· Martha was troubled
· Mary received lessons for a lifetime that could not be taken away.
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