LUKE 11:1-13

1. Once Jesus was‑praying in a place. Happened Jesus finished, one of HIS friends asked, “Lord, teach us to pray the same‑as JOHN taught his friends.”

2. Jesus said, “Happen you pray, say the words: Father in heaven, YOUR name is holy, YOUR kingdom come,

3. YOUR wish happen on earth same‑as in heaven, give‑us every‑day our daily blessings,

4. Forgive our sins, same‑as we forgive people sinning against us. And don’t bring us to temptation.”

5. Jesus said to HIS friends, “If you have a friend, and you go to your friend at midnight and ask, ‘Friend, may I borrow three loaves‑of‑bread.

6. A visitor came to my house, and I have nothing to serve him.’

7. Will your friend answer, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is‑locked, and the family is all in bed. I can’t get‑up and give you anything.’

8. I tell you, indifferent he won’t get‑up and give you anything because you are his friend, still if you bother more he will get‑up and give you anything you need.

9. Now I tell you, ask and it will be‑given to you. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be‑opened for you.

10. Anyone asking will receive and anyone searching will find and anyone knocking will have the door opened for him.

11. If your son asks you for a fish, will any of you give a snake instead‑of a fish?

12. Or if your son asks for an egg, will you give your son a spider?

13. Now if you sinful people know enough to give your children good gifts, then think much more your Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those asking HIM!”

Intro

?How many of you clip (cut) coupons (checks)? You know looking for the best deals (less buys)! I am sure we all have saved money…waiting…looking and searching (seek) for the lowest price. ?How do you know when (happen) you are getting the best deal (buy)? Sometimes we get fooled! Right? However (but), we all want the most for our money.

I remember when (happen) I was in 4th grade. I wanted to get a set of BUTTERFLY handlebars for my bike. I searched the newspaper everyday looking for bike sales and shops. One day I spotted an ad for BUTTERFLY handlebars. The handlebars were perfect! The price was much cheaper (less) than (compare) any ad I had (finished) seen anywhere. I cashed in all the pennies and money from my PIGGY bank [that I had been saving]. My mom wrote the check and we sent the coupon in the mail. When (happen) the handlebars came I was very excited. Yeah (celebrate)! Wow!

However (but) I was disappointed when (happen) I opened the box. The handlebars were “perfect” BUTTERFLY handlebars and looked like the picture in the paper….except (but) the handlebars were like (same) miniature (small). The handlebars were not a true size. I was very disappointed (sad) with the handlebars. I felt very ripped off! Still to this day I am afraid to buy through the mail or over the computer Internet. You never know what you are getting when (happen) you buy through the mail.

In verse 41 of our reading, Jesus answered, “MARTHA, MARTHA, you worry about many things.” MARTHA thought she was doing the right thing. Truly, preparing for and serving guests (visitors) is not bad. MARTHA was doing a good thing. Housework…cleaning, sewing, preparing meals, fixing and etc. is fine. Serving others is very good. Serving others is a good deal (work). The 10 Commandments teach us to serve God and other people. Service is good! Earthly life consists (continues) in service of God and people. Children serve their parents. Parents serve one another. Workers serve their bosses. Bosses serve the owners. Owners serve the stockholders…etc. Earthly life is a life of service! In the Catechism (teaching) the explanation (explain) at the end of the 5th Commandment says, “but help him (neighbor) and support him in every physical need.” Yes! We are to serve like MARTHA.

However (but), when (happens) Jesus calls to HER…“MARTHA, MARTHA…” Jesus is really saying, “Wake up…Wake up!” Jesus says, “…there is only one thing that you really need.” One thing is necessary! One thing is the most important of all things! All things line up behind the “one thing.” Even (also) great service will line up behind the one needed thing! Great service cannot happen unless (until) a person is in line and has (finished) received (get) the 1 needed thing! Matthew 6:31, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”[1] ?What is the kingdom of God? ?What is the one needed thing? Jesus tells MARTHA in verse 42 of our reading, “MARY made the correct decision, and you must not take-away that from her.” MARY made the correct choice! MARY sat at the feet of Jesus! MARY listened (attention) to Jesus! Mary chose Jesus! Jesus is the 1 needed thing in all of life. Sure! Life is service, but Jesus is more important than life itself. John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”[2] The one needed thing is Jesus. Our service to Jesus and others is important! But Jesus’ service [death of Cross] to us is the best deal! Belief in Jesus is the best coupon! Jesus first chose us, so this way, we could choose Him (Jesus). Jesus first chose MARTHA & MARY so they could chose Him. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the one needed thing. All life depends on Jesus and His service!

The thief on the cross couldn’t serve anyone anymore because his life was ending. But Jesus served the thief, “Today! You shall be in paradise with me!” The one needed thing is Christ! The most important thing is not our work for Christ. No! Although (understand) our work FOR Christ is important [MARTHA], “…going into all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” However (but), the most needed thing is our being WITH [MARY] Christ! I John 4:10, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (pay) for our sins.”/[3]/ St. Paul said it this way I Corn. 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”/[4]/ Yes! MARTHA was doing good! MARTHA wanted MARY to help her to serve Jesus. However (but), MARY did the best by (through) pay attention to Jesus! Very interesting that every time MARY is mentioned (story) in the Bible, MARY is at the feet of Jesus.

In the lesson today, MARY is at the feet of Jesus…learning His Word. MARY falls down at Jesus’ feet crying because of the death of her brother, Lazarus. MARY is found at the feet of Jesus after He has raised her brother, Lazarus, to life. MARY is there by Jesus’ feet pouring perfume and with her hair wiping. MARY has made the best choice!

We work hard and make decisions everyday! We serve and are very busy! We run around in circles sometimes trying to get things done. We sit down and clip coupons because we think it is important to save money. Many of us are like MARTHA…working, doing, searching, and etc. Hard for us to give more than 1 hour on Sunday for Jesus! Imagine! MARY saw something in Jesus. MARY saw the Light of the World. MARY saw the best thing. MARY saw the Savior, the Christ; the one needed thing (person)! Amen!

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[1]The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.

[2]The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.

[3]The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.

[4]The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.

9th Sunday Pentecost

LUKE 11:1-13

Intro