Mary has chosen the greater

INTRO:

Discernment is not the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.

Explain

One of Satan most effective tools of temptations Is distraction. He uses this on us individually and he uses this on the church at large!!

Sometimes it is not obvious the Sins that takes us off track. Sometimes it is distraction. Sometimes it is tradition, Sometimes it is past experiences. Sometimes it’s relational separation. Satan does not care whatever works on you he will use.

There is small story in Luke you might miss if you read to fast.

I would like to introduce you to Mary of Bethany

Luke 7:36–39 CSB

36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!”

(37) the woman in the town who was a sinner-Saints what kind of woman is Luke describing.

Luke 8:1–3 CSB

1 Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.

(1-3) Jesus exercised several women of evil spirits and sicknesses then he Mentions Mary called (Magdalene) who had 7 demons come out her. Seems like there were a group of women that hung out and got saved at the same time.

(3) these woman also were the ones who cared for the needs of our Lord. Food, Shelter, and Safety.

Luke 10:38–42 CSB

38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

John 11:1–3 CSB

1 Now a man was sick—Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick. 3 So the sisters sent a message to him: “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

In Luke account she was anonymous but John tell us who it was that wiped Jesus feet

John 11:28–34 CSB

28 Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. They followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there. 32 As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!” 33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked. “Lord,” they told him, “come and see.”

“Deeply moved”-Bowels in Greek. The ole saints said “He was sick to his stomach”

John 12:1–3 CSB

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

You notice something about Mary! She seemed to be totally captivated by Jesus. When she and Jesus were in the same room it was like He & Mary were the only two in that room.

A disciple is defined as “One who follows Jesus” well Mary certainly was a disciple because she could not separate herself from him

Men don’t be so proud so that you dont notice the faith of some of the woman in the bible. Church we can learn something from Women in the bible!!

Mary must have been saved for a long time to develop that type of relationship with God.

We will take a look at that later:

I want to focus on the story in Luke 10:38-42 today. This story involves both a Rebuke of Martha and a commendation of Mary.

Something to hang your hat on: A missional church and obedient christian must learn to keep the main thing the main thing!

Often Satan will tempt us with “the Good” distracting of us chasing the best.

Men it is good to work to take care your family, but not at the expense of your family

Ladies its good to take care yourself physically, but not more important than inner beauty

Parenting is important but don’t neglect your relationship with Christ messin around with your children. You job is to train them and kicked them out.

Paul says it best bodily exercise is good but it is not more important than spiritual exercise.

Jesus has set the agenda for the church, but look at the churches now:

Some churches are more focused on politics than Jesus

Some churches are more focused on what famous person is doing the praise and worship than who were are supposed to be worshipping.

In Radcliff/Elizabethtown churches are more focused on who has the largest more prestigious memberships with The most officers or who has the best building.

Saints of God those things are distractions to the mandate of the church.

sometimes Satan can sneak in and get us focused good things but we missed the higher priority

Jesus helps us to choose the best over the good.

Luke 10:38–42 CSB

38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I. Distracted Martha

Luke 10:38–41 CSB

38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,

(38-39) “While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary,”

(EXE) In this text Luke introduces to us two individuals who played a major role in the life of Jesus. In this scripture Jesus is visiting these two sisters Martha & Mary. Martha is usually listed first which normally tells us she is the older while Mary is the younger. Jesus spent a lot of time at this residence. He used their residences as an Airbnb! Bethany is right outside of the city walls of Jerusalem. Twice a year Jesus and his disciples had to come to Jerusalem for mandatory festivals.

(39) “She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said”

(EXE) Luke takes special care first to put this story in his narrative and to let the reader know that “Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said” This phraseology employed by Luke tells us she is sitting in the place of a disciple or pupil. Normally reserved for men. Women sat separately from Men while the word was being taught.

(40) “But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? tell her to help

(EXE) Luke tells us that Martha in an attempt to provide a meal and proper hospitality to Jesus and his disciples became overwhelmed and began to be frustrated. Martha is heating up. Martha is breathing heavy, slamming plates and speaking under her breath when she brought out the appetizer.

Can you hear her? “Mary just going to leave me to cook the lamb, pita bread and hummus by myself. I am over here trying to cook for all these people and she sitting over there at Jesus feet listening to him preach, she got a lot of nerve”

Doesn’t she know woman are supposed to be in the kitchen preparing the meal

(40) “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? you need to deal with that Lord”

(EXE) Martha has come to her wits end. After rolling her eyes and talking underneath her breath didn’t get a response she speaks up. Lord do you see this? and do you care? Lord I know you see this?

(41) “The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary”

(EXE) Jesus had to stop teaching to deal with this cataclysmic dilemma. Jesus called her name twice. As if to say “My baby calm down” now let me teach you a little bit. Jesus tells her your mind is on the lamb, the soup, the appetizer, the place mats, making sure the silverware is clean and polished, but out of all those things “only one thing is necessary”

To Martha Hospitality was the most important thing at that moment, but to Jesus only one thing at the moment was truly necessary. In the ancient world Hospitality was taken very serious. To not provide adequate care, concern for your guest was akin to adultery. Notice what it says in Genesis 19:4-6

Genesis 19:4–8 CSB

4 Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house. 5 They called out to Lot and said, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have sex with them!” 6 Lot went out to them at the entrance and shut the door behind him. 7 He said, “Don’t do this evil, my brothers. 8 Look, I’ve got two daughters who haven’t been intimate with a man. I’ll bring them out to you, and you can do whatever you want to them. However, don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the protection of my roof.”

Lot was willing to leverage his virgin daughters to protect the lives of the angelic visitors. For us this is horrible that Lot would give his daughters but he was simply behaving according to the culture

Martha was essentially telling Jesus what’s important to me should also be important to Mary. In this case Martha was elevating the lesser over the greater.

She was putting “Love of neighbor over Love of God”

She was elevating Culture/Tradition over Christ.

Vernon Smith trying to get me to follow the Army code of conduct

Application

Pastor and Congregation as you strive to fulfill the great commission the constant challenge will be learning to discern the good vs the better

Sister Connors napkins

Satan, the World and our Flesh is always seeking to reorder our priorities.

Saints our Priorities have already been established for us by Jesus. Paul says Phil 3:10-11

Philippians 3:10–11 CSB

10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Jesus in his high priestly prayer tell us our priorities in John 17:3

John 17:3 CSB

3 This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.

Preacher every program, every fellowship, every mission trip, every Bible study, Every Sunday morning worship should prioritize this principle.

Saints we need to sit at his feet

Among the enemies to devotion none is so harmful as distractions. Whatever excites the curiosity, scatters the thoughts, disquiets the heart, absorbs the interests or shifts our life focus from the kingdom of God within us to the world around us that is a distraction; and the world is full of them. Our science-based civilization has given us many benefits but it has multiplied our distractions and so taken away far more than it has given…..AW Tozar.

Jesus tells Martha one thing is necessary. There is one thing you can’t live without. There is one priority that can never be neglected or set aside. It must come first. It’s like water to a thirsty soul!!

In this case what is Necessary?

II. Devoted Mary

Luke 10:42 CSB

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(42) “but one things is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her”

(EXE) Jesus tells Martha one thing in life is “necessary” One thing is life must be your highest priority. You see Jesus is “rebuking” Martha, but he is not asking her to choose between “Good & Evil” that would have been an easy decision. Jesus is teaching Martha that in life some decision are choosing between “Good & Better”

Discernment is not the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.

(EXE) technical speaking in the ancient world Mary should have been in the kitchen helping to prepare the meal for the disciples. She was the host along with her sister. In the ancient world to not show gracious hospitality was considered beyond disrespectful. Martha is doing everything in her power to make sure Jesus and his disciples are well taken care of. Her heart was in the right place. But she was absolutely wrong. Because it just wasn't’ any ole teacher in her family room it was THE GREAT TEACHER. When Jesus shows up everything is secondary.

What Mary did was counter cultural. What Mary did went against all the cultural norms.

I am sure the disciples were like “why is Mary out here listening to Jesus preach?” Only men out here! she should be in the Kitchen cooking. Jesus in this teaching and in his reaction to Mary is turning the culture upside down.

He says “Mary has made the right choice!!” and I will not ask her to stop listening to me to help you prepare the Lamb. And maybe Martha you should be less worried about the stew and be more concerned about this Kingdom Message I am bringing!!

This is a lesson to the saved and the unsaved.

to the saved: Don’t let the mundane or superficial things keep you from the ultimate. When he is in the room Hospitality comes second. Leave the kitchen dirty, Cook after he gets done preaching. Learn to sit at his feet. Put your work down, Put your tablet down, Turn off the TV, get off the phone, Stop doing ministry and sit at his feet.

To the unsaved: This world system is like a ocean with a tide that will slowly pull you away from the shore. The tide will pull you further and further away from truth. This world is full of enticing distraction they will keep you from hearing the Lord calling you!!!! Don’t let the distraction of this World keep you from having a relationship with Jesus. He loves you and wants to get married to you!!! Seek him while he may be found!!!

Conclusion

Earlier I mentioned Mary dedication to Jesus it was as if she had known him for all her life let’s take a look at that:

Jesus public ministry started when he was 30 and he died at 33. Meaning these women only had a short time with yet their passion for him was outstanding.

Wonder why?

Mary anointed Jesus feet with a perfume that was worth a years wages? where Mary get the kind of money to be able to pour it out on Jesus?

Speculation: Mary was a former prostitute which was a lucrative career. In that career expensive perfume would be apart of her craft.

This is astounding that after meeting Jesus that same woman who needed demon therapy: Took care of Jesus physical needs(housing & food), Sat at his feet(discipled by him), Saw her brother raised from the dead, and Anointed his feet and head, and if that wasn’t enough look at this text in Mark.

The perfume she once used to entice men, she is now using to anointed the Lord’s feet preparing him for his death.

(9) “Early on the first day of the week(Sunday), after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary” Now why did he appeared to Mary first. Because Mary was the first one to show up at the grave. Mary is the first witness to the resurrection of Christ. You think this is just a nebulous fact the writers are putting in the story. All of the gospel writers are highlighting the faithfulness of this newly saved, on fire believer disciple

Where did all this passion come from?

the one who has been saved from much loves much (Luke 7:39-50)

Church don’t let the good keep you from the best.

Traditions are important but not more than sitting at his feet.

Facilities are important but not more important than sitting at his feet.

Tithes and Offering are important but not more important than sitting at his feet.

We have one single minded mission and “and that is take make disciples of the nations of the world” don’t let anything distract you from that.

Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you're holding the bat wrong. You're supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn't say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn't come up here to read."

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