Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

Just One Thing - Luke 10:38-42

Episode Summary

With Mary and Martha at odds, Jesus points the the One Thing that is necessary!

Episode Notes

Introduction

I find it interesting to note that we seem to learn more about Jesus in times of conflict and trials and struggles than when everything runs smoothly? In a sense that is comforting and even encouraging to know that in my trials, Jesus is there to help us through our own difficulties, and prepare us for the future. This appears to be true in the follow up encounter that Jesus has after his conversation with the hostile lawyer.

Read Text

An interesting comparison between the lawyer who tries to test Jesus and the devotion of Mary. Indeed there are similarities between Martha and the lawyer.  The conflict in this passage which confronts Jesus has to do with a difference in understanding the culture of hospitality: Focus on, pay attention to the guest.

  1. Martha sees the scope of the task to care for Jesus, (and his entourage).  It’s a big deal, not just one guest, but many to feed and show hospitality to.  Her understanding of hospitality is to meet her perception of the needs of the guest. (Her assumption was to meet physical needs:  Food, lodging, etc. remember, a couple may have already visited this home earlier, so they knew what to expect)
  2. Leads to her being overworked 
  3. Critical attitude towards her sister who ought to help, but appears to be lazy
  4. Asks Jesus to interfere with a family dispute
  5. Mary ought to know her place as a “woman”, 
  6. Who else will do the work?
    By asking Jesus, the guest to intervene, she breaks ne of the main cultural rules of hospitality
  7. Mary perceives that Jesus is a prophet.  A prophet brings God’s Word, so she perceives that his need is to speak the Words of God to those who will receive it. 
  8. She places Jesus in a position of authority, “sitting at his feet”.
  9. Wish we knew what he said to her and those who are also listening. 
  10. Mary is teachable, keen to understand, not hostile and not distracted from promoting the guest from doing what he came to do- bring the Word.
  11. Jesus responds contrary to Martha’s expectations
  12. “You are worried and troubled about many things” troubled, is a word that would describe the noise from a large gathering of people taking at the same time.
  13. Focusing on all of your tasks.( Eg. Yesterday I had a list of things I wanted to get done but didn’t finish. Sometimes, I think I did a lot of things just to prove I wasn’t lazy in life, and was worth something. Today I wonder if I just manufactured work that had no eternal value.) 
  14. “Only one thing is necessary”, and Mary has discovered it: the Word of God.
  15. Here we see a trap many fall into:  Doing things for Jesus as opposed to getting to know Jesus and allowing him to live through us. Where do we place our priority?  John Wesley claimed he had so much to do, he needed to pray more!
  16. How do we respond to this challenge?  Do we understand the value and importance of God’s Word? Do we allow God to speak to us through his Word? Especially through the words of Jesus?  The word here is Logos, the same as in John 1:1,14
  17. Review of some benefits of spending time in the Word:
  18. Direction: Psalm 119:105 - “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
  19. Eternal Life: Jn 6:63,68 - “…the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”
  20. Dwelling Place: “Receive the Word Implanted” James 1:21 and Col 3:16: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
  21. Answered Prayers: John 17:7 - “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
  22. Endurance: 1 Peter 1:25 – (quoting Isaiah 40:8) “For, “A LL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, A ND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. T HE GRASS WITHERS, A ND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, B UT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you.”
  23. Love: John 14:23 -“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
  24. Faith: Rom 10:8-10 “But what does it say? “T HE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART ”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,”
  25. Truth: John 17:17 - “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”
  26. Healing: Psalm 107:20 - “He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.”
  27. Freedom from sin: Psalm 119:11 - “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
  28. Strength: Psalm 119:28 - “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
  29. Comfort: Psalm 119:76 - “O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, According to Your word to Your servant.”
  30. Joy: Psalm 119:162 - “I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great spoil.”
  31. Wisdom and understanding: Prov 4:5 - “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”
  32. Gladness: Proverbs 12:25 - “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.”
  33. Eternal Value: Luke 21:33 - “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” And, John 8:51 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.””
  34. Do you see the Value of sitting at the feet of Jesus?