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Jesus in HD 155: The Very. Best. Thing

Jesus in HD 155: The Very. Best. Thing

Last updated on: April 29, 2016 at 11:27 am by Christian Podcast Central

Jesus in HD 155: The Very. Best. Thing 2016-04-29T11:27:57-08:00 Christian Podcast Central

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Get ready for a well-deserved pat on the back, and a hearty, “Well done!”

In addition to that, welcome to Luke’s heartwarmingly endearing introduction of two precious women: Martha and her sister Mary.

As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, this delightful little story now brings us full circle in our discussion of the Return of the Seventy from their very first mission’s trip.

You might remember that while debriefing their by-all-accounts exuberantly successful experience, Jesus responded to the Seventy by alluding to this landmark event:

“Yes,” Jesus told the Seventy, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!” (Luke 10:18).

That statement opened up for us an entire discussion of exactly how Satan, this now-fallen angel and defeated foe, seeks to invade our lives with his nefarious influence. We shared with you then (Podcast 151 and Jesus in HD152) six ways that we can slam that door to our lives shut to Satan’s influence in our lives.

In this podcast, we’ll now look at the other side of that proposition: How Satan seeks to slam that door to our lives shut to God’s influence in our lives.

Sadly, I must say that he — Satan — has been enormously successful and effective in doing just that. I would venture to say that this is THE battle that we fight, and far-too-often lose, with the greatest frequency when it comes to spiritual warfare. This is universal. Yet ironically, very few of us recognize this as a spiritual battle. And even fewer of us understand who is the architect of this strategy.

My friends, we have a lot to talk about, beginning with Luke 10:41-42,

41 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42 but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Now, several months ago, we took a close look at Jesus’ parables. The Parable of the Sower (or Parable of the Soils) plays into this situation inside Mary and Martha’s house. Here is the parable Jesus told in Matthew 13:3-9,

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

He told this story to the giant crowd that had gathered around him, but soon afterward, Jesus gathered with His small group of twelve and explained the parable:

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:18-23)

You see, back in Luke 10, we read of two remarkable women: Mary and Martha. Interestingly, Mary represents one of these four soils, while Martha represents another of them. Which begs the question: which soil are you?

But before we start the hard looks in the mirror, know this: Jesus loved Mary AND Martha. He loved them both dearly as we see in Luke 10.

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Now, the very fact that Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to his teaching was culturally notable. To sit at a rabbi’s feet was an idiom in Jesus’ day, which described a rabbi’s disciple. It was more than just a physical posture, but it signified that the person had been accepted by the rabbi and identified formally as one of the rabbi’s disciples.

This was not a position nor posture that women found themselves in back in Jesus’ day. Rabbis exclusively chose men as their disciples. Until Jesus came along. He obviously and clearly crashed through the “glass ceiling” and chose women to be among His disciples. This was culturally shattering!

And this inclusion of women in key roles of the Christian church continued after Jesus’ ascension, as we read in Acts 21:

8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

These daughters were preachers – declaring God’s truth with Apostolic approval, just as Peter preached when he quoted Joel in Acts 2:17,

“In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.”

So, don’t miss this portion of the Mary and Martha story – Mary was a disciple of Jesus. Meanwhile, Martha was very busy serving Him and their guests. She was busy… and she was distracted.

Now, in defense of Martha, in their culture – much more so than in our culture – hospitality was of utmost importance. ESPECIALLY hospitality for a traveling rabbi. So, what Martha was doing was both culturally correct and even noble.

Notice that at no time – NEVER – did Jesus rebuke Martha for what she was doing. He probably wouldn’t have even brought up the fact that she was distracted had Martha not asked for Him to rebuke Mary.

Image: First Baptist Scott City, MO

The truth is, just as Jesus pointed out, Martha was simply busy doing too many things, stressed out over too many good things, and was simply distracted.

This is why Jesus referred to her as “dear Martha” and gently pointed out that she was worried and troubled about many things. And it’s also why Jesus did not say that Martha was sinning or choosing things that were not good. He merely pointed out that Mary had chosen what was best… while what Martha was busy with was still good.

It was a matter of good vs. best.

But check this out – Martha chose to be stressed out.

She was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. A modest dinner would have been received by Jesus with gratitude and thanksgiving, but she chose to take things to the next level.

So, tying in this story with Jesus’ parable of the sowers, consider the third seed:

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

That was Martha. There’s no indication that she was distracted by the pursuit of wealth, but she was distracted by the “worries of this life”. Now, her worries were wrapped around good things, but all those good things kept her away from life’s best things.

We often do the same thing by over committing ourselves out of fear of saying “no”.

Now, for anyone who feel stress at times like this, keep this in mind:

God has given us ALL of the time that we need to do His will.

It’s just a matter of choices – to what are you saying “yes”; and to what are you saying “no”? As Jesus said, there is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary realized that as she said, “yes” to sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him teach God’s word.

By stark contrast, Martha found herself distracted by the evil one… even while doing good things. See that in the parable? Let’s re-read Luke 10:19-23

19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

So, when we are like Mary and make the best choice, we are represented by the good soil in the parable. There are many things that we could choose to do instead of attend church, fellowship and grow in small groups, disciple someone or be mentored by someone. There are opportunities to serve at our kids’ schools, in community groups, in shelters of all different varieties, not to mention recreation and other possible commitments… all good. But not the best.

But just by taking the time to listen to this podcast, read this blog, go to church, gather with other Christ-followers… just taking time out of your week to worship Jesus Christ… by doing so slams the door on Satan’s distractions and opens the door of your life to the influence of God’s word in your life.

And THAT’S the very thing that Jesus said is not just a good thing, it is THE ONE BEST thing.

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