You are in a small town, and the most beautiful girl agrees to be your girlfriend. You will be walking on the moon already, trying to be seen with her, holding hands, going for ice cream, and pizza dates, going to the bowling ally, going to the movies together.
Now, imagine being called a friend of Jesus!!!
There were three folks in Bethany, Mary, Martha and Lazarus who had entertained Jesus whenever he passed through their town. They developed a close friendship.
Curiously, one time, as the family hosted him, Martha was quite preoccupied with cooking and entertaining Jesus while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to hear him talk. After a while of sweating it out in the kitchen, Martha addressed Jesus: “Please tell Mary to come and help out in the kitchen.”
Hear what Jesus said:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).
In our local parlance in Edo pidgin, we will say “Na wah!”
I’ve tried to figure this out through the years since I received Christ in 1986.
Martha thought she was doing the right thing, trying to be a great host. Yet, Jesus was more impressed by Mary who did not think hosting was as important as listening to him talk. Now, after 39 years as a believer, even now, I’m still not sure I have the answer to that curious event. Let’s try a few.
(1). The right thing may be the right thing sometimes but the right thing may not be the right thing all the time.
In what philosophical universe can we fit this kind of statement? Yet, this is the closest explanation I can come up with regarding what transpired between Jesus, Mary, and Martha that day in Bethany.
(2). “Whilst doing the right thing is right, you need wisdom to know when to continue doing the “right” thing versus the pragmatic thing.”
Again, I am at a loss about whatever I just said. What does it even mean?
I guess this is why the Bible is so deep, and so comprehensive and sometimes, complicated.
For all intents and purposes, Jesus’ reply to Martha was a rebuke. The Bible does not tell us what she did thereafter. Did she abandon the kitchen to join her sister Mary at Jesus’ feet?
Okay, let’s try this. Did they get an advance notice that Jesus was coming, and therefore should have prepared food long before his arrival so as to be able to maximize their time with him?
I wish I knew the answer to be able to share with you authoritatively.
Please let’s have your reactions on Egogonewshub Comments Section.
O’meekey O. Ovienmhada.
