When Martha met Jesus..Encounters with Jesus

Today’s story in our series, Encounters with Jesus, is written by my good friend Heather and is her interpretation on Martha’s perspective..

Hi, I’m Martha, you may know or have heard of me. I’m the sister of Mary and Lazarus. We live in Bethany, a small village.

We are close friends with Jesus. He’s great and we just love him and he loves us back.

You can read more about us in the book of John (ch 11). It was a troubling time back then when my brother Lazarus was very sick. You might have heard about the miracle which took place. It was quite spectacular for us and the whole village. Lazarus brought back from the dead by Jesus. What a miracle. The news spread far and wide.

My sister Mary and I are very different in our ways. I like to keep busy (that’s good isn’t it?) but I was very upset last week when Jesus was coming over for a visit.

Being Sunday I thought we’d have a nice roast dinner with all the trimmings. I set the table and made it really nice for our guest of honour. Then I thought what if he wants to stay over! Better change the bedding in the spare room just in case.

I then noticed that the house could do with a good tidy and the mats taken outside to be beaten.

Well as you can imagine I’m up to my ears with the chores. Totally distracted with all there is to get done.

Where’s Mary? Never around when you need her! She is sitting outside waiting for Jesus to arrive.

As I look outside a little later there she is reclining at his feet, listening to him, absolutely in awe of him.

I don’t know if I was angry or just jealous. So I went up to them and I ignored Mary and said to Jesus
“Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work?”
He said to me in a loving and gentle voice “Martha Martha” you are worried and upset over many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her”(Luke10 v 38-41)
Ouch that really hurt!

If you are a Martha like me, you might recognise what I was feeling…totally rejected.

And now as the days pass, I feel quite resentful of my sister, she always seems to do very little, while I am always having to be the responsible one.
I’m aware that my feeling of rejection is turning to bitterness. I am not at peace and I am deeply saddened in my soul.

Then I remember when Jesus spoke to me saying my name with such tenderness and love “Martha Martha”-Jesus was sad for me, knowing that my busyness and distractions, although seeming good to me, were not allowing me to receive His full measure of love for me.
It made me think. Did Jesus really want to spend quality time with me? With you? To just have us to himself?

Are we just too busy? Are we hiding? Is there past hurts keeping us from being in His presence.

Maybe we are compensating, filling empty spaces with stuff!! Even good charitable deeds or even church activities!
Am I, Martha, going to allow him to minister to me? His grace for my wrongs. Healing for my hurts and an abounding outpouring of his love for me?

Yes Jesus here I am.

Psalm 46 v10 “Be still and know I am God I am the Lord who healeth thee”

Only Jesus can show us the better way .