Jesus loved the family of Lazarus, and Martha and Mary.
In the Book of John, Chapter 11, we read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead four days. We see also the compassion the Lord had for the grief shown by the two Sisters, Mary and Martha. The Word says: “He wept”. ( John 11:35) They were great friends, and they totally believed that Jesus was the Anointed One -the Messiah – the Christ. And it was through them that Christ Jesus gave us a truth that tells us the ‘one thing needed’ in this life.
The Lord was going to Jerusalem. The Word says, “As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Mary was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:39-42)
Obviously in life, there are things to be done, that must get done. I confess that I am one who likes to get things done. When there is something to be done, I am ON IT. But sometimes that goes too far, and I miss something that is needed in my haste to ‘get things done’. For instance when the kids come over to eat a meal with us, the minute we are finished eating, I have a tendency to start clearing the table, and loading the dishwasher to help out. That needs to be done of course, but the one thing ‘needed’ is the fellowship with my children. The other things can wait. What good is a clean kitchen if I did not take full advantage of the joy of being with them.
The Lord uses this incident recorded in Luke to tell us there are always many things to do, but only ONE thing is NEEDED. That one thing is to do what Mary was doing – “listening” to the Words of Jesus.. The Master Teacher, the One through whom ALL things came into being, was in the house talking. Mary could have been hearing Jesus say that “He was the way, the truth, and the life. That all work needing to be done to bring salvation, healing, provision, and protection to us would be done by Him.” Martha was focused on getting her work done, and was not listening to His Words of life. She was upset and worried about the tangible things needing to be done instead of listening to the things that would bring her peace, and joy, and fellowship,and eternal life in Christ.
The Master Teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ, is in our house if the Word is in it. His Words tell us that all that He said would be done – has been done. The ‘work’ is done. All that is necessary for us to receive the results of ‘the one thing needed’, which is Christ Jesus, is to believe His Word. He IS the Word We need to have the Word in our life. We need to go to it, and realize that it is life. “For the Word of God is alive, and active. Sharper than any two edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
May you be blessed with perfect health, and prosper in all good things, my friends, God’s Beloveds. The Word, truth, says these are ours to enjoy through Christ Jesus. Enjoy His great Love.
Poppa B.