Jesus in the workplace

Devotional, week 13

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’  If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”
(Luke 10:1-12, NIV)

The small home of Martha in Bethany was one of the places Jesus would visit to meet with the two sisters and the brother living there. Most likely they had not been given a date for when Jesus would arrive. Maybe they had been informed that he would come with his disciples, and thus there would be at least thirteen visitors. Mark that Jesus started their friendship by asking for hospitality. Without a fridge or a local store, it was not easy to prepare for the visitors. Maybe Martha, Mary and Lazarus had bought some chickens that were playing around in the backyard, so they knew they would have something to serve.  

Finally, the day came when Jesus arrived, and Martha opened her home to Him and His disciples. To show her gratitude and hospitality, she wanted the food to be excellent. This put pressure on everyone involved in preparing the meal. Her sister Mary seemed to have lost focus though. She wanted to learn more, and she ended up at Jesus’ feet where she could be taught directly by the Master. Mark that the place of the disciple is at the feet of the teacher. The Bible tells us that for instance the apostle Paul sat at Gamaliel’s feet, and thus was his disciple (Acts 22:3).  

Jesus’ teaching took time. Most likely he gave profound insights to this woman who had such a strong desire to know more. In the kitchen Martha strived to get everything ready. What if the guests decided to leave before the food was done? The messengers had said that they brought peace and that their peace would rest upon the homes that received them. Martha wanted Jesus to stay. Under this stress and pressure, she decided to approach Jesus. “Lord,” she said, addressing him with respect, “doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her, you who teach her, to come and help me.” “Martha, Martha! You received me in your home. You strive and worry about many things. But there is one thing that is more important than anything else. Mary, who sits at the disciple’s place, has chosen this. Her strong desire to be there must not be taken away from her.”  

Jesus is in the midst of everyday life in the Middle East. The two women He has in front of him, are different. But they both share the same desire – they want to come closer to Him. And both get what they long for. Jesus befriends them and their brother. The Bible even says that he loved them (John 11:5), and He will later miraculously raise their brother from the dead. 

Let us pray! Lord, help me not to forget to spend time at Your feet, even when the days are filled with tasks and deadlines.