A life that points to Christ
Martha
From Martha we learn that service is good but can crowd out the one thing needful, that Jesus gently redirects our anxious striving toward Himself, and that real faith can grow through honest grief. Her life teaches worship over worry, and it points to Jesus, the resurrection and the life.
“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:”Luke 10:41
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”Luke 10:42
“She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”John 11:27
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”John 11:25
Their story, honestly
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and busied herself with much serving, while her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening. Distracted and resentful, Martha asked Jesus to make Mary help, and Jesus answered gently, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part. Later, when their brother Lazarus died, Martha came out to meet Jesus and, in her grief, made one of the great confessions of faith, telling Him, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus declared to her, I am the resurrection, and the life, and then raised Lazarus from the dead.
What their life teaches us
First, Martha teaches that even good service can become a distraction; her problem was not working but being so troubled about many things that she missed Jesus Himself, who was in her house. Second, she teaches how tenderly Jesus corrects us; He did not scold her love of hosting, but lovingly named her anxiety and pointed her to the one thing needful. Third, her later confession teaches that faith deepens through sorrow; the busy, worried woman becomes the one who declares Jesus the Christ in the middle of her grief. Martha grew, and her growth encourages every anxious servant.
How their life points to Christ
To Martha in her grief Jesus spoke some of the greatest words in the Bible: I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And then He proved it by raising her brother. Martha's story moves from being troubled about many things to resting in the one thing needful, which is Christ Himself. Jesus meets her busyness and her sorrow the same way, by drawing her attention to Himself. The distracted host becomes a witness to the resurrection, learning that the best portion is simply to be with Jesus.
Questions people ask
Was Jesus criticizing Martha for serving?
Not for serving itself, but for being so anxious and distracted that she missed being with Him. He gently named that she was troubled about many things and pointed her to the one thing needful. Service is good, but it must flow from time at Jesus' feet, not replace it.
How does Martha grow through the story?
The woman anxious about hosting later, in the depths of grief over her brother, makes a bold confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Her faith deepened through sorrow. She shows that Jesus patiently grows anxious, distracted people into confident witnesses.