Luke 10:38–42; John 12:1–8

Family Bible Study
University Relations, Samford University; Southwestern Seminary graduate

Mary: Unwavering Focus
Luke 10:38–42; John 12:1–8
Twice Jesus goes to Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ home, and twice a meal is prepared and served. The first time, Jesus seems to have arrived unannounced and Martha’s life is thrown into chaos. Any woman would have panicked when Jesus with 12 or so of His closest friends arrived without an invitation and in need of a meal. On the second occasion, Jesus seems to have arrived at a time when a meal had been prepared in His honor. Martha isn’t taken by surprise this time. The meal and the day have been planned. Both times, Mary’s behavior is consistent — she focuses her undivided attention upon Jesus, and Jesus applauds and defends her actions.

One can only imagine the stress Martha must have felt with such a group arriving unexpectedly and in need of a meal. She could have used every available hand in the kitchen, working feverously to put a hot meal on the table, but Mary is seated at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him speak. In the face of Martha’s obvious need of assistance with the meal, Jesus defends Mary’s better choice to focus on Him. Mary gave her undivided focus to Jesus when she could have easily been distracted.

When Jesus returns to Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ home, a meal has been planned and prepared for the day. In fact, Jesus is the honored guest. While Martha is serving the guests and Lazarus is reclining at the table with Jesus, Mary approaches Jesus to anoint His feet with an exceptionally expensive perfume — worth one year’s wages — and then she wipes His feet with her hair. The word which comes to mind to describe this occasion is “extravagance.” But can’t love and devotion be extravagance at appropriate times?  Notice when criticism of Mary’s action toward Jesus comes from Judas, He defends her again.

Do we see Mary again in the biblical text after these two moments with Jesus? Is she doing anything productive from these times with Jesus such as moving out on a missions trip or organizing a women’s Bible class? From the biblical text, it seems that the significant thing Mary did was simply to sit at Jesus’ feet in worship. In the midst of a chaotic day, she focused on Jesus, and at a time set aside to honor Jesus, she poured out a costly gift upon Him. Mary instructs us of the importance of worship of the Lord in our lives — worship that demands our time amid the chaos of our days and worship that demands the best gifts from our resources and means.

From time to time in the life of the church, worship emerges as a topic of singular importance to God’s people. Worship is discussed from every perspective and from every style. God’s people get caught up in the “worship wars” and begin to criticize and discredit one another for not following the best and most productive way of worship. One knows that the latest trend in worship must be embraced if you are going to reach the world for the kingdom of God. People who were raised on traditional worship resist the newer, more relaxed praise and worship styles in which hands are raised in surrender and praise to God. These arguments can be counterproductive as they divide God’s people and distance the church from the world.

But these discussions can be productive if they lead the church to dig deeper into what is meaningful worship for a particular congregation of people. Worship is about time given to the simple act of sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to what He has to say. Whatever the person sitting at those feet needs to enhance what is heard should be the primary concern of that person, or group of people. Worship is also about the gifts we bring to the Lord when we gather for worship. Jesus accepts both the extravagant gift of Mary and He celebrates the widow’s mite (Luke 21). What is important is that God’s people worship the Lord in ways that enlighten their understanding of Him and draw them closer in love and devotion to Him. Let us take our cue from Mary and focus our efforts on creating meaningful worship for our lives. If these creative efforts mean we have to grow and change somewhat to experience the Lord in gathered worship, then let us start the effort to grow and change. We can trust that the Lord will defend us as we move forward in worship of Him.