Luke 10:38+Luke 10:38+

MarthaMartha::

Older sister, Godly woman, Older sister, Godly woman, homemaker, hospitable (highly homemaker, hospitable (highly esteemed practice in Jesus’ day)esteemed practice in Jesus’ day)

Mary:Mary:

Scholarly, feminist personality, a Scholarly, feminist personality, a worshipperworshipper

Key figuresKey figures

““If you really care about If you really care about meme, tell , tell herher what to do!”what to do!”

Martha’s love for Jesus is Martha’s love for Jesus is “distracted” by her tasks and her “distracted” by her tasks and her resentment of Mary’s behavior –resentment of Mary’s behavior –she’s lost her focus.she’s lost her focus.

A heart of worship does not try to A heart of worship does not try to control God or dictate to Him the control God or dictate to Him the outcome of our circumstancesoutcome of our circumstances

Martha’s story….Martha’s story….

She sits at His feet – as She sits at His feet – as student/worshipperstudent/worshipper

All ministry is “good” All ministry is “good” butbut Jesus says Jesus says there is one way which is “better”there is one way which is “better”

Jesus meets her need “where she’s at” Jesus meets her need “where she’s at” (A student of Torah, just not in temple)(A student of Torah, just not in temple)

A heart of worship freely gives A heart of worship freely gives love/devotion to Jesus AND is a hungry love/devotion to Jesus AND is a hungry student of His Word, listening to the student of His Word, listening to the voice of God.voice of God.

Mary’s storyMary’s story….….

Jn 11:3 “…so they sent word to Jn 11:3 “…so they sent word to Jesus” to come because Lazarus was Jesus” to come because Lazarus was very ill.very ill.

When the “answer” (Jesus) finally When the “answer” (Jesus) finally arrives, from a natural and “seen” arrives, from a natural and “seen” perspective, it’s too lateperspective, it’s too late

A heart of worship understands He is A heart of worship understands He is ALL we need/He is our priorityALL we need/He is our priority

A twist in the story…A twist in the story…

Jn 11: 32 – “falls down weeping at Jn 11: 32 – “falls down weeping at His feet”His feet”

But it’s not in worship. “But it’s not in worship. “IFIF you had you had been here..” Her focus is on her been here..” Her focus is on her loss…loss…

In time of trouble, we tend to focus In time of trouble, we tend to focus on the problem. Jesus brings her on the problem. Jesus brings her back to what’s important – HIM!back to what’s important – HIM!

A heart of worship requires that we A heart of worship requires that we submit to the timing of Godsubmit to the timing of God

Mary is “moved” by Mary is “moved” by grief…grief…

Jn 13:1-11. Jn 13:1-11.

Jesus returns to Bethany and Jesus returns to Bethany and reclines at table (a very reclines at table (a very risky/courageous act for all involved)risky/courageous act for all involved)

Mary anoints Jesus’ feet w/nard, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet w/nard, wipes them w/her hair (same level of wipes them w/her hair (same level of humility as the harlot in Luke’s humility as the harlot in Luke’s account) account)

A heart of worship expresses A heart of worship expresses intimate loveintimate love

John finishes the storyJohn finishes the story

Myrrh: worth its weight in gold; used Myrrh: worth its weight in gold; used to cover the stench of death; to cover the stench of death; retrieved from myrrh tree – retrieved from myrrh tree – slashedslashed for its resinfor its resin

(Spike)Nard:12 oz worth 11 mo (Spike)Nard:12 oz worth 11 mo wages/used for burial; imported from wages/used for burial; imported from India; root is crushed; believed to India; root is crushed; believed to represent the fragrance of garden of represent the fragrance of garden of EdenEden

Song of Solomon –myrrh & nard are Song of Solomon –myrrh & nard are the fragrances of the bridethe fragrances of the bride

Anointing oils….Anointing oils….

True worship frees us from: people True worship frees us from: people pleasing, compromising the gospel, pleasing, compromising the gospel, expecting a return or counting the expecting a return or counting the costcost

Only those who have practiced Only those who have practiced falling at His “beautiful” feet see falling at His “beautiful” feet see the beauty of the foot of the crossthe beauty of the foot of the cross

Mary could “stand” at the cross at Mary could “stand” at the cross at Calvary because she 1Calvary because she 1stst knelt at His knelt at His feet in Bethanyfeet in Bethany

Some final thoughts…Some final thoughts…

When your whole world When your whole world “feels” as if it’s been “feels” as if it’s been turned upside down, turned upside down, when nothing is as it when nothing is as it should be, can you should be, can you “bow down” and “bow down” and worshipworship?

The challenge…The challenge…

Is 52:7 “How lovely on the Is 52:7 “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Him who brings good news, who announces peace and who announces peace and brings good news of brings good news of happiness, who announces happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion salvation and says to Zion (and, therefore, to you!) (and, therefore, to you!) “Your God Reigns!”“Your God Reigns!”

The encouragement…The encouragement…