Just Jesus: 5 Stories To Know Him BetterSample

There’s a story in the Bible about two sisters named Mary and Martha who had a very close friend named (drumroll) Jesus. Yep. That guy.

Here’s what happened. Martha, who was probably the oldest, invited Jesus to her house one time when he was in town.  Then she went to work to get everything just right – cooking, cleaning, setting a table, and other “be our guest” kind of things. Maybe Martha had a thing about perfection. (Know anyone like that? Maybe you??) 

While Martha cooked and cleaned, Mary was with Jesus (instead of with Martha), just sitting there (instead of rushing around doing stuff), being entirely unhelpful (instead of, well, helping). When Martha noticed, she did what lots of older sibs do. She griped and complained, right to Jesus’ face, even though it wasn’t his house and he wasn’t their parent and the dinner party wasn’t his idea.

Martha probably wanted Jesus to get on Mary’s case, to tell her how lazy she was (unlike awesome Martha), and how she should get up and do some work (just like awesome Martha).

But he didn’t. Jesus knew that Mary wasn’t sitting just to be lazy or to avoid working or to irritate Martha (which is what siblings sometimes think). She was sitting quietly and attentively because she was listening to Jesus and learning from him, which, by the way, is always a good idea. Jesus said so himself. “There’s only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

One thing. Just one thing is the most important thing, according to Jesus. 

Martha was doing lots of good things in her home. (And btw, when you help out doing good things at your home, that’s always a good idea.) But she was focused in the wrong direction. Maybe she worked so hard because she really wanted to impress Jesus. Not necessary! He’s doesn’t want us to impress him. He wants us to be with him and listen to him. That’s the one thing!

We can’t sit at the actual feet of Jesus like Mary did. We can’t see him with our eyes or reach out and touch his hand. We can listen, though, by reading stories about him, just like you’re doing now. That’s how we find out who Jesus really is, what he’s really like, and how he really feels about us.  

(Spoiler alert: Happy ending! He loves us.)

REFLECTION

Why do you think Jesus said listening to him was so important?

DISCUSSION

What else do you learn about Jesus when you read this story?