Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38–42 NKJV
When Jesus finished His teaching, Martha signaled that the meal was ready. He then did something equally surprising. He asked us to all eat together—women and men—in the public room.
Mary and Martha hesitated. They looked at one another with raised eyebrows. Jesus’ followers weren’t fazed; they had seen Him break customs before. So all of us—Mary and Martha included—ate together.
My sisters had prepared a marvelous meal that day. Platters containing piles of flatbread, fish, goat cheese, olives, eggs, and dried figs, along with pitchers of goat milk, wine, and bowls of lentil stew filled the table.
I will never forget the Teacher’s words to Martha:
“One thing is needful … and I won’t take it away from Mary.”
These words stirred in my mind all evening.
Later that night, I asked Jesus to elaborate on them. And I recall Him saying the following in response:
“Hearing My word is more important than service. Following is more important than working. Martha tended to My physical needs, but Mary tended to that which is most important to Me: being My apprentice.”
“Mary received Me into her heart long before she received Me into Your home,” Jesus continued. “She laid all other things aside and gave heed to My words. And she made this her only task.”
“Martha has the heart of a servant, but all service for Me must flow from communion with Me. Martha absorbed herself with the bread that perishes; Mary was nourishing herself with the bread from heaven, which shall never perish.”
“To obey is better than sacrifice. The primary task of a disciple is to learn of Me. Worry not, Lazarus. Martha will learn this also.”
At that moment, it dawned on me that Jesus wasn’t just a teacher; He was a prophet: one who carried God’s Word.
Martha’s hospitality was important. But it was focused on the temporal. Mary’s hospitality was more important because the greatest way to welcome a prophet is to receive His words. And this was what Mary did.
In the days that followed, we all came to understand that Jesus was much more than a teacher and a prophet. He was the Messiah of God.
The Teacher and His disciples lodged with us that night. He talked with me for hours when the others retired to sleep. I am a reserved, unobtrusive person. I do not say much. But being with the Teacher made me feel at ease. I could ask Him whatever was on my mind without fear.
For reasons that I do not grasp, Jesus took a liking to me. I was honored and amazed at the same time. Never having a brother of my own, He felt close to one.
I would later learn that Jesus was in fact my elder brother … and a friend who sticks closer than any natural sibling. As it says in Proverbs,
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.2
So that is what took place the first time Jesus stepped into our home. There would be many other occasions where we were graced with the calm majesty of His presence and heard the mighty and mysterious words that fell from His lips.
As often as He would climb the dust-paved road from Jericho and depart from the golden gates of the holy city of Jerusalem, He would visit us in Bethany.
In fact, Jesus would never spend a night in the holy city; He would lodge only with us.
Our house was always open to Him and His followers.
He was not just our Teacher, our Lord, and our Savior. He was an intimate and beloved friend—our friend.
It always seemed to delight His heart to gladden our home with His presence.
We were filled with an unutterable love for Him. And we knew that He loved us even more.
This became clear to all of us after I became ill …
From God’s Favorite Place on Earth by Frank Viola author