Martha was the one rolling up her sleeves and making sure everyone had a good meal. Serving people is important work, but there was something more important taking place at Mary and Martha’s home, and Mary had figured this out. She was sitting at the feet of Jesus, getting to know him and learning from him.
In Luke 10:38-42 we read about Jesus visiting the home of two sisters, both of whom he loved: Mary and Martha:
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:38–42
Mary Recognized That the Most Important Thing She Needed to Do Was to Know Jesus
It might seem that Jesus wasn’t very considerate of Martha’s feelings when he told her that Mary had “chosen the good portion” (Luke 10:42).