Sermon Tone Analysis
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Recap of last week
Look at me, watch what I’m doing.
Know me.
Just when things are getting good with God, Satan wants to mess it up.
Wednesday night...
Please be alert today, God has word for our body, but Satan is going to try and distract you.
He doesn’t want you to understand the truths he has for you today.
Jesus didn’t argue with the lawyer.
Jesus disarmed the lawyer.
Jesus moves the conversation from theology into personal reflection.
As we move into new understanding, it is going to create opportunities for us to share that new experience with those that God has placed in our lives.
God involves others in our abiding cycle and allows them to experience God too.
It’s like a roundabout.
Jesus uses a known event to communicate truth.
He talked about something that the lawyer would have been emotionally connected with.
Jesus was gentle as he changed what the lawyer thought about what it meant to serve and love God.
It is my goal today to look at what Jesus says to Martha and Mary about serving and loving Jesus.
Let’s pray as we begin.
Intro
Just like last week, I want to ask you to join me in setting aside what you think you know and understand about this passage.
Allow yourself to have a fresh look at what Jesus is doing and how he is responding to both of these ladies.
Most of the times that I have heard the passage taught, the presenter had a tendency to villainies Martha.
My goal today is for us to find ourselves in this story and apply what we learn about who Jesus is to who we are choosing to be.
Let’s jump in here and see what we can learn about Jesus.
Let’s examine the scene:
He was just outside of Jerusalem and had just celebrated with the disciples.
He and his crew stopped at Martha’s house.
Because of how Jesus went about ministry, and Martha’s actions, I believe that Martha didn’t know he was coming.
Consider his instructions to the 12 and 72 when he sent them out.
Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.
But if not, it will return to you.
7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages.
Do not go from house to house.
8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.
Consider how you would respond if 13 men showed up unannounced.
You know that they need to eat and a place to sleep for the night.
Now, we are beginning to understand Martha and her frustration with Mary.
Why did he stop in Bethany?
What is Martha doing?
Consider how you would respond if 13 men showed up unannounced.
You know that they need to eat and a place to sleep for the night.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not even sure how I would sleep 13 men in my house.
I could probably round up enough food, but it wouldn’t be anything quick.
This scene reminds me of the scene from Twister.
The one where they are eating eggs and steak at Aunt Meg’s house.
“You gotta a lot of beef Aunt Meg.
Where did you get all this beef?”
“did you see the cow out back?” “No, Oh...”
There were 11 people in that scene besides Aunt Meg.
Now, are we beginning to understand Martha and her frustration with Mary.
I’ll have to admit, I often just glazed over this passage, judged Martha’s audacity to fuss at Mary and moved on.
Martha is serving our of necessity.
Jesus Needed a
Jesus and the disciples needed a meal and a place to sleep for the night.
(They were also going to need breakfast in the morning.)
Ministry simply means to meet needs.
The need here is for food and a place to sleep.
We aren’t told what all Martha is doing, but we know that food has to be prepared (two meals worth) and she has to figure out where to put all these men to sleep.
Martha is ministering to Jesus and the disciples.
What is Mary doing?
Luke
“listened” - ἀκούω (aku-o) - to listen with intention.
Jesus shows up to stay the night.
He and his boys are talking, about what we don’t know, but whatever it is Mary wants to hear it.
Imagine being at your siblings house and Jesus shows up.
What’s your initial reaction?
Visit with him or cook supper?
I’m in the cook supper camp.
To me, there is no better way to invite someone in than with a good meal.
Bethany and I remodeled our kitchen so we can visit and cook at the same time.
:)
Mary was in the visit camp.
Mary wants to just spend time with Jesus and soak up whatever she can.
Also, this wasn’t Mary’s house.
She too was visiting.
What is Jesus doing?
The scripture doesn’t say exactly what is taking place with Jesus and the others.
I think it is safe to assume that Jesus and the disciples are sitting down and discussing the day and the conversation that Jesus just had with the lawyer.
Regardless of the topic, it is clear that Jesus is teaching and that Mary is listening.
Jesus is probably just trying to relax for a minute.
Don’t blame Jesus for allowing yourself to be distracted.
Culture will put requirements on us that Jesus does not.
We, like Martha, become distracted by “good”, culturally relevant or culturally required activities.
Personal realm- We must learn the difference between “setting the table for Jesus” and setting the table for ourselves.
I’m gonna share some personal examples of things that distract me.
See if any of these resonate with you.
coffee (I’m talking about Mr. Coffee drip stuff, we not even gonna get into the perfectly ground, packed, and poured stuff.), the right notebook/journal/device, the correct pen, music, place, etc.
Are some of these things important?
Yes, are they all necessary for me to sit at Jesus feet and listen with intention?
No.
If you spent more time making your cup of coffee then you did with Jesus you did it wrong.
i.e. coffee, the right notebook/journal, pen, music, place, etc.
If you spent more time prepping for your time with Jesus, than you did with Jesus, you’re doing it wrong.
I think that sometimes we don’t consider how much time we spend setting the table versus how long we spend at the table.
Social realm - There are other big things in our lives that our culture puts on us that Jesus doesn’t.
Having the “right” house in the “right” location.
Oh, we can’t host a life group, our house is too small or too far away.
Having your kids in the right activities.
Lawn maintenance.
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