Choosing the Good Portion
Andrea Vaccaro (1604-1670), Mary and Martha; image from Wikipedia Commons; {{PD-US}}.
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In Luke 10:38-42 we read about Jesus visiting the home of two sisters, both of whom he loved: Mary and Martha:
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:38–42
Mary recognized that the most important thing she needed to do was to know Jesus.
It might seem that Jesus wasn’t very considerate of Martha’s feelings when he told her that Mary had “chosen the good portion” (Luke 10:42). After all, Martha was the one rolling up her sleeves and making sure everyone had a good meal. Serving people is important work, but there was something more important taking place at Mary and Martha’s home, and Mary had figured this out. She was sitting at the feet of Jesus, getting to know him and learning from him. According to Charles Spurgeon:
Here then was Martha’s dish of well-cooked meat, but there was Mary’s gift of a humble obedient heart; here was Martha decking the table, but there was Mary submitting her judgment to the Lord, and looking up with wondering eyes as she heard his matchless speech. Mary was bringing to Jesus the better offering. (Spurgeon, “Martha and Mary,” Sermon on Luke 10:38-42, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 16)
Like Mary and Martha, the most important thing we need to do is to know Jesus.
The story of Mary and Martha in the Bible reminds us of the priority of knowing and trusting Jesus over doing good deeds. Mary realized that Jesus had something of the greatest importance to teach her, and she was going to learn what that was first and foremost. Good deeds have an important place in the Christian life, but first and foremost we need to listen to Jesus.
Our hearts need cleansing from sin, and that purity only comes by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Through faith in Jesus, Mary could go forth and live in light of what Jesus was teaching her. And this is true for everyone who follows Jesus: we have to learn about Jesus in order to follow him. Choose the good portion like Mary did and listen to Jesus—today and always.
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