Who is at Martha’s House?

John 12:2-3 (ESV) So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

There are three types of believers at Martha‘s house for dinner with Jesus.

Martha is the first. She serves.

• Serve (Strong’s 1147) - to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher).

Martha makes sure the food is prepared and attractive and that there is enough of it. She sets the table, plumps the cushions, cleans the house, puts out towels and flowers and salt shakers and air fresheners. What she does is necessary. We couldn’t get along without her. Things have to get done, and someone has to do them.

Lazarus sits at the table with the Lord. He has been raised from the dead, so he has a closeness to Jesus that others perhaps do not. He wants to be near Him, to fellowship with Him, to hear what He has to say. He is the Lord’s friend and a student of His word and is hungry to know Him better. He may not notice that someone needs to take out the trash or to help Martha with a heavy kettle. To him, being with Jesus is what is most necessary.

Mary bows down before the Lord and worships the Lord and hears His Word. She is the most odd among them. She pours perfume on the Lord’s feet and then wipes His feet with her hair. She wants intimacy with Him, to touch Him, to adore Him, to honor Him with all that she has. She spares no expense; she is oblivious to reputation; she cares not for who is watching, but is consumed with adoration for her Lord. Her selfless worship compels others to stop and awkwardly watch. It casts a heavenly fragrance over routine activity. They can’t go on with routine in the midst of this. They are unnerved, taken aback, and wondering.

Yet Mary has no motive but to adore Jesus. She’s not trying to one-up her siblings. This is just who she is. In fact, all three seem to be simply walking in their own God-given bent.

But Father, I long to be like Mary!!