The Good Portion

Read Luke 10:38-42

Mary enjoyed the buzz of guests filling the home. She had opened the door to Jesus and his followers for a meal and fellowship. Mary pushed down the butterflies as their friends filled the room. It had been a while since they had seen Jesus, and his ministry was growing. It was much more than the original twelve now. He even had women who would follow him. She envied them most days, getting to hear Jesus first, ask him questions, and watch him heal the sick. By now they had become like family.

Side conversations hushed as Jesus began to speak. She made herself comfortable on a floor cushion and let his words seep into the messy places. The insecurity of her present situation waned when he spoke, so she leaned in. Though she, her sister, Martha, and brother, Lazarus had known Jesus for a while now, Mary could see how knowing him had changed them. Every time Jesus came near, she felt like she was peeking into the Holy place. Remembering her own humanity made wonder and fear tumble inside her. Like peeling back the vail in the temple, to just catch a glimpse of the splendor within. Jesus treated her with dignity, he was different from other men, especially the religious teachers, they never paid her any mind. She had so many questions, and curiosities. She was more cerebral than people would assume, and she just wanted to learn. To soak up every word. Rabbis would speak past her, through her, even. But not Jesus, he saw her, when he spoke, she felt understood, wholly.

Mary redirected her attention to Martha, with her back turned to the crowd, pouring cups of refreshments. Why won’t she just stop for a second? She is missing out on being face-to-face with the Messiah!

Martha shuffled around her house preparing and fussing. There was so much to do. So many mouths to feed and the house, was it large enough to fit all of Jesus’ followers? Was it clean enough? She wanted so badly to impress him. It needed to be perfect, she knew it couldn’t be as perfect as him but she would aim for as close as she could. How else could she thank him for all he had done? He called her to be better, he made her new. She knew what she had been before, and she wanted to serve him, she just wasn’t sure she could do it all alone. Martha wiped off a platter for olives and goat cheese, then arranged them in a swirling pattern. The movement of Mary lowering herself to the floor cushion caught her eye. Is she sitting down? When there is so much to do? She must not care like I do. A twinge of bitterness crumpled Martha’s stomach. Mary is always shirking her responsibility, Martha bristled. Martha knew if it was going to be done right, she had to do it herself. Still, why doesn’t Mary even notice all that is left to do? With a lingering side eye, Martha set the platter on the table. Then rushed back to serve the cups.

As Martha scurried back in, Jesus’ kind smile whispered for her to slow down. She smiled back but knew slowing down would only put her behind. So many mouths to feed. The bitterness in her stomach began to rise. She could feel a knot forming in her throat. I don’t understand, doesn’t Jesus teach us to serve others? Why won’t he correct Mary? She is being so lazy!

Mary nestled in on her favorite pillow. She and her Ema had made it together when she was young. She ran her fingers around the deep scarlet and purple stitching, remembering how Ema had shown her how to stitch little flowers with the thread. “Hold the fabric like this, now angle the needle and thread like this.” “Swoop, knot, and pull!” Mary smiled remembering how she twisted up her fingers in the thread the first fifteen times she had tried. She was a pro now, though, she could stitch thread flowers with her eyes closed. She wondered if that was how Jesus’ disciples felt. Fumbling with all the twists and turns of following Jesus. He was vastly different from any other Rabbis, and the disciples were from so many different backgrounds. She wondered if they felt in knots like she did learning from her Ema. They were sent out and performed miracles then came back and tried again and couldn’t do it. She pondered what it was like to experience Jesus every day. Mary scooched her pillow to the left to make room for Mary Magdalene. She had followed Jesus for a while now. He had released her from the bondage of demons and had never left his side. Mary couldn’t blame her, the safety she must feel when she is with him! Jesus seated himself on another one of Ema’s pillows opposite Mary, and his followers filled in, each one finding a small piece of the home to claim for the next few hours. They were a close bunch. Not a lot of room for personal space when you travel with so many people.

Jesus began to speak, explaining some of the parables he had told to the crowds earlier that afternoon. Mary focused in, she didn’t notice anything around her. John coughed, Matthius sneezed, Thomas was really enjoying the olives and cheese, and Martha zoomed in and out of the room carrying platters and plates. Mary didn’t hear a thing. It was only when Jesus’ face turned to look up at Martha did Mary notice how angry Martha was.

Face red and heart pounding Martha couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Jesus! Do you not care that Mary had left me to serve alone?”  Martha’s breath caught when Jesus looked at her, she felt exposed and knew he understood all that she had been feeling for the last day of preparing for his stay. She didn’t need to explain, and she certainly knew she shouldn’t be telling him what to do, but she blurted it out anyway. “Tell her to help me!”  Jesus reached for the platter of fruit she was holding. He set it down softly next to the olives. “Martha, Martha”, Jesus’ eyes softened and the sting of shame for chastising him faded. “You are anxious and troubled about many things” Martha looked around at all she had accomplished in the last twenty-four hours. The house was swept, the pillows fluffed, the intoxicating aroma of fresh bread wafted out of the kitchen and through the house. Jesus waited for her attention to return to him. “but one thing is necessary.” Martha knew, he meant himself. She felt his appreciation for her service but knew he was right, he was necessary. She needed him, he was the one she couldn’t do without. Jesus continued softly, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Martha’s eyes shifted from Jesus to her younger sister. Mary had put her head down not wanting to embarrass her sister. She slowly looked up to see Martha’s face pleading for forgiveness. She would never want to take Jesus away from her sister.

Quietly, Mary Magdalene reached behind her, finding an extra pillow, she quietly handed it to Mary. The two women shifted to make room. Mary fingered the flowers on the new pillow and saw her sister was tangled up. The newness of following Jesus means we will get our fingers tangled in thread sometimes. Mary felt Martha’s desperate gaze as she remembered her Ema untangling her own fingers from the thread.  Mary gave the pillow a double pat as she smiled back at her sister. Martha nodded at Jesus and managed a smile, softly crossed the room she sat between the two Marys. The silent exchange between Jesus and Martha in that moment brought Martha back to life. She understood the choice. The service wasn’t bad, it was her attitude and missed opportunity for which she repented. It is amazing what you can learn from your little sister, Martha thought. Martha had been worried about the food she would serve, she stressed over portions, unable to tell if there would be enough. But Mary knew there was plenty for everyone. Jesus has enough to go around. She had chosen the Good Portion.

© Jenny Crum

The Good Portion Journal Questions:

• What are you “distracted” with or “anxious and troubled” about?

  
  

• Martha’s first reaction was to blame Jesus for not correcting Mary, have you ever found your self questioning the motives of others and then blaming God? If so, write out when and how it turned out. What did you learn from that situation?

  
  

• Jesus’ answer to Martha was gentle and yet firm. Do you have an example of when Jesus has been gentle but firm with you? If you are a parent, have you ever had a similar situation with your children? How did you handle it?

  
  

• Jesus did NOT tell her to stop serving or rebuke her for her actions. He called attention to her state of mind. She was anxious and troubled. She wasn’t serving with a cheerful heart. Read Phil. 2:14-16 and 1 Peter 4:8-11 What can we apply from these passages?

• Fill in the Blanks from 1 Peter 4:8–11 (ESV)

8 Above all, keep loving one another ___________, since _____  _______ a multitude of _____. 9 Show hospitality to one another without ___________. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to _______ one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves ___  ____  ___________ that God __________—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To ______ belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

• What or WHO is The Good Portion? How can you choose the good portion regularly in your life?

  
  

• What have you learned about Jesus from this passage, How is he the Good Portion in your life?