Bible Passage: Luke 10: 38-42

Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: July 20, 2025

Bulletin – July 20, 2025

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

We have before us today the two sisters Mary and Martha.  It is interesting that we have come to refer to them this way, “Mary and Martha.”  That is not how they are typically mentioned in the Bible.  In the Bible, their names are usually flip-flopped.  Martha is mentioned first, then Mary.  Except one time.  This suggests Martha may have been the older sister.  Martha also seems to have had the more outgoing personality.  Of the several times the sisters appear in the Gospels, we hear Martha speak many times.  But we have recorded in the Bible only one thing Mary said.  You will notice, she says nothing in our text today.

Knowing that, it may not then surprise us to see what we see in our text today.  We have a busy Martha and a quiet Mary.   What we do NOT have is “good Mary” and “bad Martha,” as some suggest.  This story is not a rebuke of Martha.  It is a lesson on “good” and “better.”  It is a gentle lesson on priorities.  Jesus uses this occasion with these two sisters whom he loved to speak of Many Distractions…and the One Necessity.

Jesus has come to the village of Bethany, just east of Jerusalem.  Here we find him in the home of Martha.  We are told Mary is also there.  Nothing is said in this account of their brother, Lazarus.  Don’t know if he was there or not.  But Luke describes the scene wonderfully!  Here is the scene.  Martha is hard at work.  In that culture, hosting a guest in your home was a BIG deal!  You can just imagine Martha busy with the food prep.  Makes me think of going to my grandparent’s home when I was child for Thanksgiving.  We wouldn’t even see my grandma until it was time to eat!  She was busy out in the kitchen doing all the work!

But we should take note of the word that is used in the text for what Martha was doing.  It is called serving (v. 40)  Martha was serving!  And serving Jesus!  Elsewhere in Scripture the word here translated “serving” is translated as “ministry.”  So right off the bat we should be clear on this!  Martha is serving, and any service, ministry to Jesus is never a “bad” thing!

But Martha is irked.  Can you relate?  Have you ever felt that “slow burn” when you feel like you’re the one doing all the work while your co-worker is checking his phone or taking another break.  Martha feels this way.  Because while she is doing all the work, Mary is sitting by Jesus just listening to his word. (v. 39)   Martha has had it.  But she doesn’t address Mary and say, “I could use a little help, sis!”  She directs her frustration at Jesus.  Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? (v. 40)  She’s a little frustrated with Jesus.  “Lord, you only seem to care about Mary!  I’m here too!  Don’t you care that I’m doing all this work by myself?”

There was a time Jesus replied to Peter, Get behind me, Satan!  This is not a “get-behind-me-Satan” moment.  This is a moment of gentle instruction.  Jesus replies to Martha, Martha, Martha [you can sense the tenderness in Jesus], you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed. (v. 41)  Jesus is right.  There are many things in this world that call for our attention.  There’s being a mom or dad.  There’s working a job and providing for your family.  There’s caring for your aging parents.  There’s housework and yardwork.  And there’s volunteering at school and serving at church.  There’s hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year.  That’s all GOOD stuff.  Noble stuff.  Even “serving.”  It’s not sinful and of the devil.  But Jesus reminds us, One thing is needed.

What is the “one thing”?  What is that ONE thing I need even more than my family?  Let’s go back to Jesus’ words.  He tells Martha, Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her. (v. 42)  Remember what Mary had done that day?  Mary…was sitting at the Lord’s feet and was listening to his word. (v. 39)  There it is!  The one necessity in life!  The Word of God!  Now you may want to say, “The Word is not the one thing!  Jesus is the one thing!”  But let me ask you, how are you going to know about Jesus without the Word?  It is the Word that reveals Jesus!  It is the Word that creates faith in Jesus!  It is the Word that nourishes and strengthens faith in Jesus!

There came a time in the lives of these two sisters when they learned how true it is that the Word is the one thing they need.  It came some time after the day of our text.  Their brother, Lazarus, became sick.  Very sick.  They sent word to Jesus.  While they wait for Jesus to show up, Lazarus dies.  Finally they receive word that Jesus is coming!  Martha – of course it is Martha! – runs out to meet him.  And what does Jesus give her?  The one thing she needed!  The Word!  He tells her, I am the resurrection and the life and the life.  Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25-26)  His Word promised resurrection and life!  And his Word delivered the same!  A few moments later, Martha and Mary, and many others, stood outside Lazarus’ grave and heard the Word of Jesus, Lazarus, come out! (John 11:43)  And the dead man in the tomb heard the Word of God, and did what it said.  He came out, alive!  In that moment, the Word was everything for that little family!

Do you see now why the Word is the one necessity?  The Word promises life!  The Word delivers life!  Because the Word delivers Christ, the One who by his death and resurrection has become for us the Resurrection and the Life.  And at the end of the day, when I reach my last day, that word of life is all I need.  I can face my death without my golf clubs or my pickle ball paddle.  I can face death without my 3000 square foot Craftsman bungalow and my hybrid car.  I can face my death without my wallet or sterling credit score.  But I cannot, I would not, face that day without Jesus!  Because he is my Resurrection and Life.  And I will only find Jesus in the Word!  So let us make sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his word a priority for us…and our children.  In a world of many distractions, it remains life’s one necessity!

Amen.