Daily Bible Reading Plans to help you read and understand God’s Word

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42, John 11:19-27, John 12:1-8

The story of Mary and Martha is a classic tale of differing personality styles and priorities. I’ve sat in many rooms where Christians compared themselves to one character or another: either the great hostess throwing together a last-minute cheese board or the skilled listener who knows how to sit with people in their joy or pain.  

“A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home,” goes the story in the Gospel of Luke. “She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said” (Luke 10:38–39). Immediately, I picture both my stepmother-in-law and my good friend whose ways of relating to others couldn’t be more different. One won’t sit down long enough to have a conversation, and the other is perfectly comfortable spending hours on the couch engrossed in story-telling. 

Yet the lesson Jesus has for us here transcends gender and even personality stereotypes. Instead, it focuses on the gift of presence. He wants to know and spend time with each of us individually and intimately and wants us to know Him too. He yearns for hearts that aren’t so distracted by things that easily draw our attention away from Him. 

Martha’s tasks weren’t unimportant, of course. It was her “worried and upset” spirit the Lord wanted to free her from (v.41). We see this anxiety rise again when Martha asks Jesus about her brother, claiming that if He had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died (John 11:21). It sounds harsh, yet her statement also illustrates her faith. And Jesus knew this—He always sees clearly through the shadow of our fears, insecurities, and disappointments to what our hearts truly need. As usual, His response came from a non-anxious presence. Before the miracle of her brother’s resurrection, Jesus turned Martha’s gaze to Him and toward trust in His power. I can’t imagine it was an easy thing to do at that moment, but the intimacy in their relationship showed her how worthy of trust Jesus is.

I think it’s normal for us to project ourselves into the story of Mary and Martha, wondering what we would do if he stopped by our home. But maybe there’s an even better question—instead of asking “Am I like Martha or Mary?” perhaps Jesus is inviting us to ask “How can I trust in God today?” No matter what, His non-anxious presence inspires us to be still and truly see His love all around us.

Written by Bailey Gillespie