Luke 10:38-42; John 12:2-9

IT is the household character of this scene at Bethany that makes it so touching and instructive. The Lord was there, and gave His testimony concerning the walk of the inmates of the house, or of some of them at least; and that too while family duties were being carried on. And is it not especially in the home circle that the true character of each of us is most clearly manifested? A degree of propriety in out-of-door behavior may, in some instances, be maintained by the usages of society and religious custom; but the quiet fire-side―the family circle and its various employments, when the soul feels far removed from many a discerning eye―often reveals the true measure of genuine affection and zeal for Christ.
Little indeed have any learned of Jesus, who have not been constrained by His love to the formation of domestic habits and ways of a spiritual and an unworldly stamp. The too common thought is, that practical Christianity mainly consists in tangible and busy acts of outward service―some great visible exhibitions. It is a natural thought. The human intellect, untaught of the Holy Ghost, cannot rise higher in its conceptions than that quality of service which can meet the eye of our fellow-men; but this is phariseeism. It is on the heart that God’s eye specially rests, as He tells us in His Word, “I the Lord search the heart.” “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh at the heart.” “He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man: the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.” And is not that blessed Spirit which dwelleth in us often saying, “Take heed to thyself;” “Study to show thyself approved unto God,” &c.? Assuredly it is so; and He not only frequently reminds us that vital godliness is all LOVE, but makes us feel that communion with God is our very element; and that times, places, and circumstances, are but so many opportunities for obeying and glorifying His holy name.
Such thoughts as these suggest themselves while contemplating a little the lovely scene of the supper at Martha’s house. An unworldly atmosphere indeed pervaded that highly favored habitation. That Lowly One whom the world hated, and whom the Samaritan villagers just before would not receive, was heartily welcomed there. Martha’s heart was the Lord’s, and, therefore, Martha’s house. She “received Him into her house.” And this was not all, for “every one that loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him;” and thus it was with her. Jesus was not alone; He had disciples with Him, who were welcome too; and, accordingly, a supper was prepared for the refreshment of the guests whom Martha had so cordially received. The visitors were poor we know, and some at least were unlearned and ignorant fishermen. Nor does it appear that Martha was very wealthy, se she seems to have been without a handmaid to assist her even in the necessary family duties. Still, however that might be, Christ and His disciples were welcome. It was not love in word, but in deed and in truth. Let us ponder this scene a little, and may the Eternal Spirit speak to our hearts in so doing. We cannot receive the Lord into our houses and exclude His disciples. Our love to the brethren is the just criterion of our love to Him. If the door of a house be shut to the Lord’s disciples, Christ is excluded, for “Inasmuch,” says He, “as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to ME” (Matt. 25:45). It is one thing to maintain a formal acknowledgment of God in the family, keeping a hospitable table for any visitors who may perchance drop in, and another to receive Christ and those that are Christ’s― to serve Christ practically, owning Him in matters of detail as the Master of the house. The latter is the work of faith and love, while self-seeking, in some form or other, may be the moving spring of the former. It was more than hospitality in its warmest sense that characterized the supper at Bethany, for there was unfeigned submission to Christ as the rightful Lord and Ruler of the family. And is not this recognition of the presence and power of the Lord, in the guidance and arrangement of household matters, the test whether Christ is received into our houses or not? And will not our actions in the several duties of the family as serving Him, as also the quiet waiting at His feet for help and strength, be the certain accompaniments of a simple apprehension of Christ, as the Master of the house? There will be no sectarian selection of visitors then, no reception of guests on carnal principles; but a voluntary submission of spirit to Him who said, “Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, be shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42). Is it so with us beloved? Do our ready hands and hearts thus receive and welcome Him? Are we His willing guests, whilst owning Him as Master in our houses?
What a wide field of service is the family circle, the needful domestic occupations, and the attendance at the daily circumstances that may be brought before us! If Christ be faithfully served in little things, there is not much danger of His being forgotten by us in greater matters If we glorify Christ in our houses, it will not be moving out of the same path to honor Him in a more extensive sphere. If we fail in the smaller circle, how shall we be found in the larger? Is not carnal confidence often manifested by us in what are commonly called little matters more than in circumstances of great extremity? Martha had no difficulty in making Christ her refuge when Lazarus was dying, but in the little common-place business of preparing and serving a sup per, she was not so sensible of her weakness and need. Let it, beloved, be our constant aim and purpose of heart to acknowledge Him in ALL OUR WAYS, and to surrender to His infinitely wise, gracious, and almighty control, our houses, our families, our all. And this must be, if we would have either the Lord’s approving testimony, or His loving, faithful rebuke.
But blessed as it was in Martha to open her house to Christ and His disciples, to serve, and in a measure to own Him as the Master, still she failed. Her speedy exertions to provide a refreshing meal for the guests exhibited both genuineness of affection and welcome. But she forgot that without Christ she could do nothing. Her delight was to serve, and her soul was set upon much serving; quantity, rather than the quality of the service, was the principal thought. The resources for this “MUCH serving” ought to have been the point, but it was not so; neither the consideration as to how far her course was acceptable to the Lord. The labor and toil she did not mind, provided she could accomplish her desire of “much serving;” but it ended, as night have been expected, in perplexity and prostration of spirit. She “was cumbered about much serving.” To serve the Lord, of course, should be our unceasing purpose; but to set about the Lord’s work in our own way is not well-pleasing in His sight; and, if we do so, results of weakness and failure should not surprise us. Excitement, stir, and busy activity, may sometimes accompany warmth of heart toward Christ; but they are not the legitimate expressions of love; and such things should always awaken our suspicions, and lead us to self-judgment, as much as the opposite extreme of a lethargic and slothful temperament. The Master of the house is holy, and He looks for holy and reverential services as well as for pure and holy motives; and although, when we fail of this, He may graciously accept our poor endeavors, as He partook of Martha’s supper, nevertheless, instead of His response of praise, the scene will not close without its deserved rebuke.
But there was another woman in the house at Bethany, whom also Jesus loved. She was far less prominent in the beginning of the scene, but much more so in the end. Mary’s impelling motive was to please and glorify the Lord; but she knew experimentally something of the meaning of our Lord’s words, “The flesh profiteth nothing;” and also, that “to obey is better than sacrifice;” whilst her apprehensions of the wisdom and grace of Christ, made her feel keenly her own unworthiness. The quality rather than the quantity of service, and care how she should please the Lord, rather than much serving, were the guiding thoughts of her mind, and led her at once to sit at His feet―to receive of Him, in order to dispense―to hear His word, in order to serve acceptably. She thus welcomed the Lord and honored Him too. Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word.” Not only did she know that He was her Saviour and her Friend, but she also knew that He was the STRENGTH of her heart, and her portion forever; therefore she made choice of that one thing needful, that “good part” of waiting upon the Lord. This was beginning well, and beyond Martha’s attainment. Christ was all with Mary; her affection was set upon the Lord Himself, and her necessities and sense of unworthiness brought her to Him―lowly, yet confident, for she sat at His feet. But no marvel if such self-renouncing service of faith and love meet with opposition. To the carnal eye, it appears little better than an ill expenditure of time, and even those of the Lord’s people who are not walking in communion with Him may possibly be found giving heed to a censorious impulse concerning it. Even Martha appeared neither to understand, nor to be pleased with her sister’s lowly attitude. She was “cumbered about much serving,” while Mary seemed doing little; and instead of finding the cause of her perplexity in herself―in her own state of soul―she found fault with Mary for her lack of assistance, and with the Lord for not sending her sister to her help. “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” All this is full of deep heart-searching instruction; reflecting, as in a glass, the condition of our own hearts when we step out of the path of communion with God. That path alone is the light which can make manifest to us our deformities and shortcomings, though rather than submit to the humiliating discovery, we are prone to misjudge and censure others.
It is well to observe here, that though, speaking naturally, the house was Martha’s, yet she owns Christ as the Master, and looks to Him to send Mary to her help, although this subjection was connected with much weakness and infirmity. Her Spirit was not in communion with the Lord, therefore she lacked spiritual intelligence, self-judgment, and charity; and thought hardly, and judged wrongly of her sister. Not being in the light, as He is in the light, she could not judge or act according to the Lord. She was serving, it is true, and Jesus was the object of her service; that was precious; but she was not sensible of her utter inability even to arrange domestic matters so as to please God; therefore her fancied strength was real weakness, and her imaginary wisdom manifested itself in folly. After all she came to the Lord, and her appeal to Him was not in vain, though no doubt the response was different to what she had calculated on. Had she judged herself, she would not have been judged, and rebuke would have been spared. The Lord who loved her knew her real need better than she did herself, and He at once directed her to a truer understanding of her own heart, and justified Mary. “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.” Very solemn, but a needed rebuke: piercing and painful, though tender and salaryhumbling, yet truly faithful and seasonable. A sad closing up of Martha’s history, but not of her history only. May the Lord lay it much on our hearts!
Mary is silent―she says nothing, because she can trust much. To justify or commend herself would not accord with the dignity of her position. She sits at the feet of Jesus. The fear of the Lord divests her of every other fear. She pleases Him, that is enough for her, notwithstanding it may elicit censure from another, and that even from one whom Jesus loved. But the Lord has no rebuke for Mary; He gives an unmistakable testimony of His approval. And does this lowly follower sit at His feet in vain? Is it time wasted? Is it doing nothing? The sequel answers. She “heard His want” that word which her soul so ardently craved; that word which was “spirit and life.” Her heart well knew, that all her springs were in Him, and that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. And who can tell the sweetness of the communications that passed between them? The self-emptied vessel was at the Fountain of living waters, and what could result, but the overflowing’s of consolation, as well as fruit, and continuous communications of divine energy and strength? If we really sit at the Lord’s feet to hear His word, there must be practical results― “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” And thus this precious narrative proceeds, “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair” (John 12:3). Her heart was too full for utterance, and it must vent itself in loving, grateful action. The “very costly” ointment was willingly and gratefully expended in glorifying Him.

Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my life, my soul, my all,

was the silent language of her heart while performing this service of love. What ease, what holy dignity and reverence characterize this delightful scene! No cumbrous feelings are evinced, no fault-finding exclamations escape her lips, but all is love, because Christ is ALL.
But “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12): and the enemy has an agent at hand to seek to bring this blessed service into disrepute. He accuses her of waste, forgetfulness of the poor, &c. Hard words, indeed! and very bold to give utterance to them while the whole “house was filled with the odor of the ointment!” But Mary could well afford to meet the buffetings of the adversary with humble silence, because there was One present who was able and willing to plead her cause. Jesus replied, “Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this: for the poor always ye have with you: but Me ye have not always.” Blessed conclusion of Mary’s service—she began with Christ and ended with Christ. He was, truly, in a practical sense, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last of her heart. She took a lowly place, and the Lord exalted her; and the Scripture was fulfilled, “Them that honor me, I will honor.” She had rebuke and persecution, but withal, the Lord’s approving smile. There was tranquility of spirit within, because her mind was stayed upon the Lord; and this living fellowship enabled her to bear both the reproof of her sister, and the hard speeches of Judas. All this teaches us the value of Mary’s choice, and that “one thing is needful,” if we desire to please God; for though we are “the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus,” still, we cannot bring forth fruit, except we practically abide in Him, as He said, “Without Me ye can do nothing.”