Gets in the Way of Being With Jesus
A Day in the Life of Jesus
It was one of those days when the house was full, and the heart was fuller. Jesus had returned to Bethany—a quiet village just outside the bustling city of Jerusalem. It wasn’t just any visit. After the public challenges in Jerusalem and the tense atmosphere surrounding the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2), Jesus came seeking refuge in the home of his dear friends: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
Martha was ready. The moment she saw Jesus, hospitality took over. Her hands busied themselves with meal preparations, linens, drink, details—always the details. Meanwhile, Mary? Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Eyes locked on His face. Ears tuned to every word. The smell of spices wafted from the kitchen, but Mary inhaled something even richer—the wisdom and presence of her Lord.
At first, Martha’s frustration simmered. Then it boiled over.
“Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40)
Jesus didn’t scold. He didn’t shame. He spoke with tenderness: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).
That day, Jesus wasn’t asking for bread or broth—He was inviting Martha to choose the better portion: Himself.
Serving Whom?
I’ve often found myself in Martha’s apron. I’ve run through a day full of good ministry tasks—writing, visiting, preparing sermons—only to realize I’ve done them all without once sitting quietly with Jesus. It’s easy to assume that our busyness equates to spiritual productivity. But Luke reminds us that Martha’s error wasn’t in working; it was in worrying.
The Greek word used for “distracted” (perispao) in Luke 10:40 means “to be pulled away” or “dragged around.” Martha’s desire to serve had unintentionally dragged her heart away from the very One she loved. Isn’t it easy to mistake movement for intimacy? To replace the presence of Christ with the performance for Christ?
Jesus doesn’t dismiss the importance of service. After all, He came to serve (Mark 10:45). But He calls us to prioritize presence over productivity. As A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.”
The tension between Mary and Martha isn’t about personality types—it’s about priorities. Are we doing for Jesus or being with Jesus? Are we letting our disciplines degenerate into distractions? Are we offering Jesus the leftovers of our attention or the firstfruits of our devotion?
Martha wanted to feed Jesus, but Mary let Jesus feed her. And He called it the better part.
Choosing the Better Portion
There are moments in our discipleship journey when the Spirit gently interrupts us with the same question Jesus posed to Martha—not verbally, but through fatigue, irritability, and spiritual dryness: “Are you so anxious about the details that you’re missing the delight of My presence?”
It’s a hard truth, but sometimes we weaponize our service. We subtly shame others who aren’t “pulling their weight” or who express their love differently. Martha’s critique of Mary was really an overflow of her own misplaced focus. She was doing all the work, yet it wasn’t rooted in worship.
I remember once being so wrapped up in a church outreach project that I grew resentful of those who “only showed up to pray.” That resentment exposed something: I had stopped seeing Jesus as the goal and started seeing ministry as the measure. But Jesus reminds us—prayer, worship, sitting at His feet—is not passive. It is essential.
As Charles Spurgeon once noted, “The sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus is of more value than all the clatter of Martha’s dishes.”
So how do we choose the better portion?
We begin our day not with a to-do list, but a moment of stillness.
We make room in our homes and hearts not just for holy work, but for holy listening.
We resist the urge to compare our worship to others’ expressions of devotion.
And above all, we remember that Jesus is not a task to complete—He is a presence to cherish.
Blessing
Dear friend, may today be a day when you slow down just enough to sit at the feet of your Savior. May the pressures of your responsibilities never eclipse the joy of His presence. And may you hear His voice—not in the rush of obligation, but in the stillness of love. Whether you’re a Martha by habit or a Mary by grace, may you discover that the better portion is always available—and never taken away.
For further reflection, read: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/are-you-a-martha-or-a-mary.html
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND SHARE