48-Martha-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Martha
RING OF RELEASE

October AD 29
Bethany, Judea [1]

�� Jesus is about to enter an oasis.� In a world of power over the weak, charges and condemnations, suspicions and spies, there is a home that he seeks for rest.� A world unto itself, a shelter, a place to just be.

5:00 AM:

�� Martha gets out of bed just a little earlier than usual.� This is going to be a full day and she has so much to do.� It is to be special.� Jesus and his twelve apostles are coming for dinner tonight.� Everything must be just right. [2]

�� Well, she had agreed to let the servants off for the day before she found out about the company.� She will not go back on her word to the servants.� They have been loyal.� She can handle everything herself.� She used to when she was younger and she can now.

�� The shadows are still quite low and she fumbles across the room to light a lamp.� On the way she runs into a small stool she does not remember leaving there.

�� Now where did she put her clothes last night?� She knows they are over in that corner some where.� After lifting up several other things also piled in that corner, she finally finds them under some flax she had selected to make a new floor mat.� She sets the clothes aside a moment, and stares at the cording.

�� Martha does not think this color looks right in the shadows.� If it is going to look good by lamp light in the evenings, she may have to dye it a little brighter.� Let's see now.� Would she have enough to make two small mats, or should she make one larger one?� She needs both.� Which does she need the most?

�� The sun.� It's up, and she is not even dressed.� Where are her clothes?� She is already behind.� There is just too much in one day to get done, especially with Jesus coming for dinner tonight.

�� After Martha is dressed, she goes out to the courtyard and splashes some water on her face.� She decides she has enough barley for breakfast.� But what about corn meal?� Does she have enough to last all winter and spring until harvest?� She checks the other jars and analyzes how much she could make out of each one.

�� She has company about every other week.� Then there are those unexpected guests Lazarus brings home when he walks over to Jerusalem.� And with Hannakuh coming up, then Passover in the spring they will have a lot of company.

�� She picks up a stick lying on the ground from an overhanging tree and registers all the people per week she anticipates feeding until harvest time came again.�

�� She decides she has enough if she is careful.� But what about olive oil for the cooking?� Will there be enough with out-of-town guests.� She decides to make some small gift jars to put the oil in especially for the guests.

�� "Good morning, Martha."

�� "What are you doing up so early?"

�� "It's not early.� It's my usual time."

�� Martha looks up at the sun and realizes more time had passed than she had meant to take.

�� "Oh, I can't believe it's so late, and I haven't got a thing done yet."

6:00 AM:

�� Mary smiles as she walks over to the bowl of wash water.� "You'll catch up.� You always managed."

�� "But you know Jesus is coming for dinner tonight.� There is so much to do."

�� "You've got all day. You'll get it taken care of in plenty of time."

�� "You know everything has to be just right for him."

�� "And knowing you, it will be.� You are an excellent cook."

�� "I don't mean just that.� Everything.� Everything must be perfect."

�� Martha picks up the water jar and arranges it on her head.� She pauses.� "Mary, where's that smaller jar?� I will probably need extra water today.� Have you seen it?"

�� "I think I saw it over by the oven.� Have you checked there?"

�� Martha takes the larger jar off her head, sets it down, and goes over to the oven.�

�� "Right where you said it would be.� How do you keep track of everything like that?� I can't ever remember anything.� Well, I'll be back in a jiffy ~ by the time you get the barley ground up."

�� It is a beautiful autumn morning.� There won't be many left before the cold winter.� Martha arrives at the well and put her jars down.� Three other women are ahead of her.� She wonders how that could be, considering she'd gotten such an early start.

�� "Did you know that Anna had twin boys last night?"

�� "She did?� How lucky that woman is...."

�� ....Several minutes pass in enthusiastic conversation among the women.

�� "....I have a cousin who has had nothing but girls.� She's cursed."� ....and more conversation....

�� Martha has participated some in the conversation.� However, she considers most of their talk frivolous.� She is so serious.

�� "What the world needs right now is Jesus," Martha says, now that the conversation has moved over to John.

�� "You know this Jesus pretty well, don't you?"

�� "He's a personal friend of the family.� In fact, he is coming for dinner tonight."

�� Martha stops and looks at the women fixedly.� "I know without the slightest hesitation that he is the Christ, the Messiah our people have looked for so many centuries." [3]

�� "By the way, did I tell you Jesus is coming for dinner tonight?� I have looked forward to it for weeks.� He is on his way to Jerusalem.� I've got a lot to do, but it will get done."

�� She pauses and looks back at the sun.� It has risen fully, and is shooting glistening glitter onto everything it can reach.� "I've got to run."

�� Of course there is no way to run with two jars so heavy with water.

�� "Mary should have the barley ground by now.� Good and ground."

7:00 AM:

�� Martha walks up the narrow lane scaling a small hill on which the family house sits.� Winded and half worried, she walks through the gate.� "Mary.� I'm sorry.� I didn't mean to take so long.� It's just that..."

�� "That's okay," Mary replies.� "There was a little water left, just enough to mix with the bread.� It's all been mixed and is sitting out waiting for the sun to warm up the yeast.� It will be risen and ready to bake in a couple hours."

�� Martha is a little irritated that her younger sister has outdone her.� Though grateful.�

�� She puts her hands on her hips, looks up toward the room where everyone will be eating, then back to her sister.

�� "I got enough extra water to scrub that room down."

�� "To do what?"

�� "Remember when that bird got trapped in there last month?� It really needs to be scrubbed."

�� "But I was going to spend the day with Asuba.� Several of us decided to take turns watching her children.� She has really been sick and has no family nearby to help."

�� "Oh, I forgot.� Well, that's important too.� So you run on and I'll get it done.� No problem."

�� Mary is frustrated with her sister's perfectionism.

�� "You know, Martha, I have to say this.� You should not be scrubbing walls today.� Jesus isn't coming to check your housekeeping.� He just wants a place to stay and a meal with good friends.� That's all he wants."

�� "You just don't understand.� Everything has to be just right when Jesus comes for dinner tonight."

�� Martha is the oldest in the family and in charge of everything, especially after their mother died.�

�� "Now where is that soap?"� She looks around.� Lazarus is now up.� "Lazarus, have you seen that soap I made last week?"

�� He calls out from inside the house.� "I don't think you made it last week.� I think it was more like two weeks ago, or three."

�� "No, it couldn't be.� It was just last week."

�� Out the door, over to the next house, and now knocking.� She hopes she is not disturbing them too early.

�� Shortly her friend comes to the door.� "Well Martha.� How are you this morning?"

�� "Oh, I'm just fine.� I have so much to do.� Jesus is coming for dinner tonight, you know.� I hope you don't mind, but I thought I had plenty of soap, and have used it up.� Do you have any I can borrow just until I get some more made in a few days?"

�� "Well, I was just going to make some myself this afternoon.� You can come borrow some of it then."

�� "Oh, that's too late.� I need it now."

�� Martha hurries across the street and knocks on the front gate.� Momentarily it opens.

�� "Hello there, Martha.� How are you this morning?"

�� "I'm just fine, thank you.� Listen, I need a big favor, if you don't mind."

�� "Of course.� What do you need?"

�� "Soap.� I need soap.� I'm out.� I don't know how it happened, but the time flew by, and I'm just out.� I'll make some more in the next day or two and pay you back.� But I need some this morning."

�� "Something special going on over there today?"

�� "Oh yes.� Jesus is coming for dinner tonight."

�� "You know none of the priests like Jesus."

�� "Well, yes.� He just tries to teach people to love each other and prepare for the new kingdom of heaven.� They're afraid he is going to start a new religion and they'll lose their jobs.� They have the wrong idea about him."

�� "You sound like you know him quite well."

�� "Oh, I do.� He comes to our home every time he goes to Jerusalem.� I'm sure your out-of-town friends do the same, living in the suburb and all."

�� "I hope you have a real nice visit.� Oh, the soap.� You wanted soap.� Sorry to get you distracted like this.� How much do you need?"

�� "Just enough for today.� I'm going to scrub out the room where they'll be eating.� That will take a little extra.� Nothing is too good for him when Jesus comes to dinner tonight.� It's just one more way to let him know that we all love him and are glad to have him in our home.&"

�� The door closes and she hurries back home.

8:00 AM:

�� Martha rushes back over to her bowl of water.� On her way she notices the bread.� It has risen and is ready to bake.�

�� "Oh, I've got so much to do," she thinks out loud.� She picks up the board with the bread on it and takes it over to the oven.

�� "Oh, no.� I forgot to get the fire lit."� She runs to a trough with kindling in it, collects what she needs, and ran back over to the oven.� She piles the kindling in and gets it lit.�

�� "Well, I can't start the bread yet.� I'll just go ahead with the scrubbing."

�� Martha adds the soap, then agitates the water with her hand to build up suds. Then she carefully picks up the bowl and slowly makes her way out of the court yard, up the side steps, and to the upper room where the dinner is to be held.� Some of it splashes out, but not enough to worry about.

�� "When do you think breakfast will be ready?"

�� "In about an hour probably, Lazarus," she calls back.

�� "Then I'm going to town for a while.� It won't take me long."

�� He leaves.� She is at the room by this time.� She sets the water down, rolls up her sleeves, and opens the shutters.� She pushes the table and benches over to one side, then starts at the top of one wall.� As she scrubs she thinks of the excitement of the evening ahead.� In just a few hours Jesus will be sitting in that very room when he has dinner with them that night....

�� "Is the bread ready?� I'm starved."

9:00 AM:

�� "Are you back all ready?"� she calls down the stairs.

�� "All ready?� It's been an hour.� I think I'm good and ready for breakfast."

�� "I'll be right down.� I forgot to bake it.� But the oven should be good and hot.� It'll be done in a jiffy."

�� Martha puts her brush down and notices the water having been greatly depleted in her bowl.� Time to replenish it anyway.� She throws what she has left out the window and rushes down the stairs.� The dough is gathered up and put in the oven.� She walks over to Lazarus.

�� "What do you think I should serve when Jesus comes to dinner tonight?"

�� Lazarus knows this is not a question.� Martha does not seek advice very often.

�� "Just whatever you think would be good.� Both of my sisters are good cooks."� He looks over at her sheepishly and adds, "Don't tell Mary, but I think you've got a definite edge over her in that area."

�� Martha is not really impressed.� She is the one who runs the house and makes sure everything is done.� Mary is so irresponsible.� But when she does help, well, she never does a very good job.� Martha would just as soon do everything herself.

�� "You know I could try that new recipe I heard about from Zipporah the other day.� I think I could remember it."

�� "Sounds great to me," Lazarus replies without having heard everything.

�� "And fruit.� I could have dates, as usual.� And a bowl of nuts would be nice...."

�� "I smell something.� Is your bread done?"

�� "Oh, I hope it didn't burn."� She runs over to the oven and rescues it just in time.� "Here.� They are a little hot still, but you can eat them in a few minutes."

�� She pours more water and soap into her bowl, agitates it with her hand for the suds, and picks it up.

�� "Where are you going?� I'll bet you haven't eaten yet today.� Have you?� Admit it."

�� "Oh, I will be fine.� I just have so much to do with Jesus coming for dinner tonight."

�� "Now sit down and eat some bread.� It will just take a few minutes."

�� Martha knows Lazarus is right.�

�� She takes some bread but eats it while walking around the courtyard.� "I wonder what utensils I'll use.� Maybe I should buy some new goblets today.� That would be nice...."

�� "Someone's at the gate," Lazarus interrupts.� "I'll get it."� He walks over and greets a peddler.� "Martha, do you need any dye?"

�� "Dye?� Oh, that's just the person I need to see.� Come in."

�� The peddler shows Martha sample fabric displaying each dye.� She holds them together in different arrangements.� She discusses what she could do with them and if they'd work well with her new mats.� At last she makes her selection and the peddler leaves.

�� ":Oh, what time is it?� It's going to be hot before I get that room scrubbed good.� Why do these things always happen on the busiest days?"

�� Lazarus knows better than to answer.

10:00 AM:

�� She picks up her bowl and brush and makes her way back up the steps to the upper room.� There, she surveys her previous accomplishments.�

�� "Well, I've got one wall done.� Now for the other three. �I'll never get it all done.� But I have to.� It's for Jesus.� He's having dinner with us tonight, and everything must be perfect."

�� She picks up her brush and begins humming.� She recalls all the other times he had been in their home and how wonderful it was.� To think the future king of the Jews is having dinner with them tonight.

�� "Martha.� Our next door neighbor is here.� She has something for you."

11:00 AM:

�� "I'll be right down!"

�� She puts her brush on the table and backs up to survey her work. �The sun is beginning to shine more directly in the room and she sees how much of an improvement the walls are.� Just one more and she'll be through.� She grabs her bowl and makes her way down the steps.

�� "Well hello.� I didn't expect to see you so soon."

�� "I don't want to distract you or anything, Martha.� I just wanted to bring over these raisins I got at the market this morning.� They were priced quite reasonably."

�� "You didn't need to do that."

�� "I knew how rushed you would be today, so just picked up some extra for you.� And I have a new recipe for raisin sauce."

�� "Is that right?� Is it hard to make?"

�� "No, not really.� This is how you do it...."

�� "Martha.� I'm going into town awhile.� I'll be back in a few hours."

�� "Okay, Lazarus.� I'll see you when you get back."

�� "Now, if you don't think you have enough time to fix the raisins that way, I have a variation of that recipe.� Would you like it too?"

�� "Yes.� I think that would be a good idea.� I still have so much to get done today with Jesus coming for dinner and all."

�� The recipe is efficiently committed to memory and repeated by Martha for verification.

�� Martha closes the gate behind her friend, pours more water and soap into her bowl, and made her way slowly back up the stairs.� When she gets to the room, she looks at the last wall and feels a little tired.

�� No time for that.� She has got to finish this up and then go in to town herself.� She has decided she does need new goblets for tonight.� And since there were quite a few fresh fruits at the market this morning, she must go check out the rest of them.� The dinner must be perfect for Jesus tonight.

�� She goes back to work on the last wall, but this time it is a little slower.� Her arm is aching.� Her mind wanders to who would like to put an end to Jesus.�

�� Finally her work is done, and she throws the rest of her wash water out the window.� She is always careful to make sure no one is down in the street at the time.� But this time, in her rush, she forgets to look.� When the thought occurs to her, she stops just a moment.� What if she has soaked someone with it?� She decides not to look to see, half grins as she pulled at her hair, then rushes down the stairs.

12:00 NOON:

�� Martha brushes the hair back out of her eyes and rolls her sleeves back down.� Now, while that is drying, she needs to change clothes, get into something a little better, and go over to the market.

�� She goes in to her room and gets out clean tunic.� But there is a rip in it.� She decides she may as well fix it while she is thinking about it.

�� In a few minutes the mending is completed and Martha puts it on.� Well, maybe she ought to tidy up in there before she goes in to town.� She shifts several things around and puts part of them away.� She opens a trunk to put some flax away and her eye catches sight of the cloak her mother had worn the last few months of her life.� Martha picks it up and lays it on a table.� She smoothes it carefully with her hands and smiles.

�� "Oh, Mama."� Sometimes Martha talks to herself.� "You wore this at one time.� How I miss you.� How we all miss you.� This was one of your favorites.� It is one of mine too."

�� She thinks back of happy years when the family was all together and she was growing up.� She thinks of the reactions she always knew her mother would have to common daily situations as though she were reliving it.� She sighs and regains control of herself.� She must put this away and get back to work.�

�� She then wonders what she will wear tonight.� She puts her mother's dress away and goes over to where she kept her own clothes.� She holds up the tunic she had planned on wearing for company.

�� But she has had it so long.� She wonders.� Would she have time to make another one real quick this afternoon?� She decides she can do it and compliments herself.� It would be nice having a room scrubbed like new, a dinner with new exciting dishes, and a new dress to entertain in when Jesus comes for dinner tonight.

�� She is fast.� She is confidence she can get it done.� She can get some fabric while she's at the market.� Yes, he will like that.� Nothing is too good for the Master when he has dinner with us tonight.

�� Martha's� room is in pretty good shape now.� She can go on in to town and not worry about that.� She puts on her shawl, runs down the stairs, across the courtyard, and out the gate toward the market.

�� "Oh, I forgot my money." She runs back in and up to her room.� She was winded by now.� "Where did I put it?� It's not on the table.� Oh, there it is.� It must have fallen when I had Mama's dress out."� She picks it up and runs back out her door and down the steps once more, across the courtyard and out into the street.

1:00 PM:

�� Martha makes her way down the hill and is grateful she is not going up instead.� She rushes past the houses of her neighbors and finally arrives at the market.

�� "Let me see, now.� I need to check the fruit.� Oh, I should have brought my knife to be sharpened.� Well, too late for that.� Uh, I need to check fabric for a new dress.� And goblets.� Mustn't forget those."

�� "Martha!"

�� "Hello there!� How are you doing this beautiful day?"

�� "Shopping, same as you."

�� "Did you just get here?"

�� "No, I've been looking around for half an hour.� Were you wanting anything special?"

�� "Well, yes.� Uh, did you pass any booths with nice goblets?"

�� "Today is your lucky day, Martha!� I just saw some beautiful ones.� A brass craftsman has a booth here today.� He's right down in that direction.� I'd love to go with you, but I've got to rush home now."

�� "Okay.� Thanks a lot."

�� "By the way," her friend asks, looking back at Martha.� "Something special?� With new goblets and all?"

�� "Yes.� Jesus is having dinner with us tonight."

�� Martha turns and makes her way hurriedly among the booths.� She passes the booth with fabrics displayed on her way and stops to look through the selection.� After considering the tunics she already has, she makes her decision and pays for it.�

�� Next she arrives at the crafts section.� Yes, the brass is right where it is supposed to be.� She looks through everything carefully, and finally makes a choice.� She will take a dozen.� No, that will not be enough with the apostles too.� She will take a dozen and a half.� Luckily a basket is provided to carry them in.

2:00 PM:

�� Her parcels are becoming heavy, and she still must shop for food.� It is a good thing her neighbor brought over the raisins.� It will save that much time, and that much weight too.

�� Martha leaves the area set aside for craftsmen and goes on over to the street where the food is displayed.� She makes her way from booth to booth considering, analyzing, planning, examining closely, and making her selections.� When she had finally purchases everything she thinks she will need, she feels like a pack animal.� How in the world is she going to get everything back home?

�� "Martha!"

�� She turns.� "Oh, Lazarus.� Are you a sight for sore eyes.� I need you to help me carry some of this."

�� "I should hope so.� I thought you'd get a little carried away.� You usually do when we have company," he adds with a grin and a wink.� "Here, just let me take all of it.� You're going to need your strength when you get back.� I'll carry it. You'll never make it up our hill with all this."

�� She smiles.� She had thought of it.� If there was no other way, she was prepared to pay a beggar to help her take everything home.

3:00 PM:

�� Everything deposited on a table, Martha surveys her remaining work.

�� "Would you go upstairs and see if the walls in that room are dry yet? �Then put the tables and benches back for me?"

�� Lazarus complies without comment.� He plans to take a nap.

�� "I'll get the dinner utensils out, and the linens, and wash these new goblets.� As soon as you're done, I'll go upstairs and fix the table."

�� With the greatest of delight Martha takes the goblets out of the basket one at a time and washes them carefully.� How they shine in the sun.� Speaking of sun, it is getting mighty warm.� Perhaps she ought to go inside for awhile to work.

�� She goes in to one of her work rooms and gets out the things she'll need for the dinner that night.� She counts in her mind.� There will be Jesus and his twelve, that's thirteen.� Then there will be Lazarus.� And I think he has invited Simon whom Jesus healed of loprosy to eat too.� That's fifteen.� She has just enough goblets. [4]

�� After several trips, Martha has everything delivered upstairs.� She looks at the table and analyzes the situation.� We will put seven people on each side of the table, and Jesus at the head.� She will put one bowl and one goblet at each place.�

�� Martha stands back and looks at the table.� "Perfect.� Just perfect.� Jesus will really be pleased when he has dinner with us tonight.� Now for my new tunic."

4:00 PM:

�� Martha has left her new fabric downstairs.� She hurries back down the steps, picks up her material, and goes back up to her room.� She spreads it out on a large table to decide where her seams will be.

�� She threads her needle and begins to stitch.� Gradually it takes shape.� She is pleased.

�� "Martha!� What are you doing?"

�� Lazarus is standing in the doorway.� She looks up and is startled at how difficult it is to see him.

�� "Huh?� What time is it?"

�� "It's late."

5:00 PM:

�� "Oh, I haven't even started the bread yet.� It still has to rise and...."

�� "Jesus will be here any time now.� Will you be ready?"

�� "Oh, I thought I had everything under control.� Just let me make these last few stitches, and I'll go down and start dinner."

�� Her tunic finished, Martha stands up to put it on, then remembers she ought to make the bread dough first.� Laying the tunic aside, she runs down the stairs and over to the kindling wood.� She restarts the fire in the oven, and rushes over to the grain that had been ground that morning.� She is grateful that it had been done ahead of time.

�� "Martha, I'm home.� The children were really hyper today.� I guess they're nervous about their mother being so sick.� But there's one.� She starts to play with something, gets side tracked, then starts playing with something else.� Is everything ready?"

�� By this time she is standing over Martha.

�� "Well, no, everything is not quite ready.� I had so much to take care of today.� But they were important things.� It just took a little longer than I expected."

�� "What can I do?"

�� "Uh, you can go upstairs to the guest rooms and take some clean linens and make sure they're all swept out good.� Oh, and make sure there's a lamp in each room for tonight."

�� "Okay.� I'll get that done right away."

�� Frantically Martha tries to remember the easy raisin sauce recipe her neighbor had told her about.� Would she remember it right?� She could only hope so.� There is no time to go next door and double check.� But the bread.� She must mix the bread first so the yeast can be rising.

�� Mary returns.� "Okay, that's done.� I'm going to wash up and run upstairs to put some fresh clothes on.� Then I'll be back down ready to help you.� Do you want help?"

�� Martha is grateful for the offer, and thinks of her new tunic upstairs waiting for her.� Just as soon as the bread is mixed and laid out....

�� "Okay.� I'm all ready.� Now, what can I do to help you with dinner?"

�� "I've got the bread ready, and I'm going to start on some new recipes now."

�� "New recipes?� Tonight?"

�� "I'll get it!" Lazarus calls out.

�� "It's them, Mary!� It's Jesus.� Oh, I'm not ready.� Look at me!"

�� Martha races upstairs to put on her new dress before Jesus sees her.� Her heart is pumping practically out of her chest.� She is beginning to get a headache.� Her hands shake so much she can hardly get her tunic on.� Oh, how had things piled up to the last minute like this?� She is nearly in tears.� This cannot be.� Martha never cries. [5]

�� Mary and Lazarus smile and greet the Savior and his friends at the door.

�� "Greetings in the name of God and all his goodness."

�� "Greetings to you too, Lazarus.� It is so good to see you again."

�� "Greetings, Master."

�� "Greetings, Mary.� How are you this day?"

�� Some of the apostles look around.� "And where is Martha, our delightful hostess?� Is she well?"

�� "Oh, she'll be down shortly.� She had a last-minute something to take care of."

�� "Now all of you sit over here and rest," Lazarus announces.� "Mary will bring some water to wash your feet so you can be refreshed from those dusty roads."

�� "Thank you.� You are most kind."

�� The men all sit down, and one by one Mary washes their feet.� Just as she gets to the last guest, Martha takes a deep breath and walks down the stairs.

�� "Martha.� There you are.� Come over here.� We have not seen you in so long.� It was so good of you to invite us in to your home like this."

�� She looks over at Jesus.

�� "Oh, Master.� I could never do enough for you.� I know you have come to save our nation, to bring back David's kingdom in glory, and to show us how to live in glory after our resurrection."

�� "Such faith you have, Martha.� You have great faith.� Will you sit down with us for awhile now?� We're going to have to leave first thing in the morning."

�� "Uh, not just yet.� I'll join you in a little while.� I have just a few more things to take care of for you.� Mary will serve you some grapes over there for everyone.� And some figs.� Won't you, Mary?" [6]

6:00 PM:

�� Martha goes over to her oven.� Good.� It is still hot.� But the bread is not quite ready yet.� Now to get out the food she bought that afternoon, and put together some of those new recipes.� She had thought she would be more excited than this, but some how her excitement has given over to panic.

�� "Oh, where did I lay that spoon?� The meat!� I've got to get the meat on.� Let me see; a little salt and it should take care of itself for awhile."

�� She gets out another mixing bowl.� "Where's Mary?� She should be in here helping me.� I've got this huge meal for fix for fifteen hungry men.� Where is she?"

�� Doesn't Mary understand she is to come back and help?� Doesn't Mary know this?� Mary!�

�� Martha leaves her work a moment to look among the group of men.� She spots her sister.� Mary is sitting on the floor listening to Jesus. [7]

�� She walks around to where Mary can catch her eye and motions for her to come help.� Mary glances at her, but cannot imagine what she wants.� Martha always was in charge of everything.� She looks back to Jesus once again is engrossed in his every word.�

�� Martha goes back to her work.� "There is still so much to do.� Oh, the bread.� I think I can get that put in the oven now.� Now, let's see if I've got these beans fixed right.� Mary, oh where are you?� How are we supposed to have something special for Jesus when she's over there with him?"

�� She again goes over to where the guests are sitting and talking.� She is forced to interrupt.

�� "Mary.� Please!" Martha finally says within everyone's hearing.� "I need your help!" Martha is not in a good mood.� Things are not yet perfect.

�� Mary looks over at Martha and back at Jesus.� "Go on.� What were you saying?" she asks him.

�� Martha needs help.� It is bad enough she needs it.� It is twice as bad that she must admit it in front of other people.� But, Jesus is too important.� Things just have to be perfect for him.� So, since she cannot get Mary's cooperation directly, she will have to get it indirectly from Jesus.� Maybe Jesus will use his authority and make her do it.

�� "Jesus, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?� Tell her to help me!" [8]

�� Jesus stands and walks over to her.�

�� "Martha."� He looks sympathetically in her eyes.� "Dear Martha.� You are running in so many directions at once and it is just upsetting you." [9]

�� "But, Jesus.� You are so special to me.� I just wanted to please you."� She fights back her tears.

�� "Oh, Martha.� You need only to do one thing to please me." [10]

�� Jesus is tired, Martha.� Don't you see it?� Jesus needs some place to just talk and be understood and accepted just as he is.� He accepts you that way, Martha.

�� "But, Jesus, all the food...."

�� "Look at Mary.� Do you see her upset?� Do what she is doing and you will not be upset.� Do the thing that pleases me most.� That will last a lot longer than your delicious food." [11]

�� Jesus doesn't need anyone upset around him right now, Martha.� He doesn't need to settle arguments.� He just needs calm before his storm.� Can't you see that, Martha?

�� "My sister," Lazarus adds.� "You have your meat cooking.� And I saw you make the bread.� That's all we need."

�� "But all my special recipes.� It was going to be so special when Jesus came for dinner tonight."

�� Martha.� Look at Jesus.� He needs you, not your table setting.� Won't you see that, Martha?

�� "What is special is you," James Junior adds.� "Not the food you cook or the house you fix up for us, or the way you look.� You are what is special."

�� Martha.� Look at Jesus.� He needs you, not your recipes.� Don't you see that, Martha?

�� Mary walks over to Martha and takes her hand.� "Is the bread in the oven?" she whispers.

�� "Well, yes."

�� "Look at Jesus."� Mary is still whispering.� He needs us.� Didn't you notice how strained he looks?� We've got to build him up.� We've got to give him rest.� We've got to stop spinning our time around too fast so he can.� Let's all rest."

LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� Attention Deficit Disorder has been identified in adults.� In fact, many who have it as children never outgrow it in adulthood.� Do you have a friend who gets distracted easily and never seems to get anything done?� How will you encourage that friend?

2.�� Is there anything in your life you tend to think needs to be perfect?� God forgives our sins, our errors.� How will you apply this sense of forgiveness to help you accept your imperfections?

3.�� Think of things in your life right now that are distracting you from eternal spiritual things.� What will you eliminate in order to have more time to spend on the spiritual and eternal?

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