Martha served
by Maria Rudolph
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Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him (John 12:2).
Read John 12:1–8
I attended a preaching event in Perth featuring Franklin Graham, the son of world-famous preacher Billy Graham. The massive arena contained thousands of people who had come, eager to hear the gospel. Many attendees were handed Bibles and information on local churches across Perth. Taking it all in, I realised that those who made this spectacular Christian event happen were the hundreds of people working quietly behind the scenes: booking venues, setting tour dates, catering, putting together handouts, praying, welcoming and cleaning up after others. The ‘Marthas’ are the people who make things happen but are generally overlooked; they usually receive no praise. The ‘Marthas’ can even get criticised for what they are doing – always pottering in the background!
Jesus had a special relationship with Martha, who had a house in Bethany, where she lived with her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus. Martha was a champion at hospitality and housekeeping. Martha opened her home to Jesus and his 12 disciples (Luke 10:38–42) – imagine 13 spontaneous dinner guests! Martha’s tireless hospitality enabled this visit of the Rabbi so that her sister Mary could be found sitting at his feet, listening to him. Once again, Martha opened her home, and a dinner was held in Jesus’ honour (John 12:1–8). Martha’s tireless hospitality enabled her sister Mary’s outpouring of perfume over the feet of Jesus in devotion in front of many – a story that has been told the world over.
You might be one of those blessed ‘Marthas’, or you surely know one. Martha’s calling was ‘to serve’, and she did this with her whole being to honour God through her serving. Quietly, unassumingly, invisibly pottering in the background, providing the perfect environment for powerful acts of God to happen. Let us show appreciation to the Marthas around us and grow in Martha’s gift of serving as we go about our own service today – to the glory of God!
Brother, sister, let me serve you. Let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear. I will hold my hand out to you, speak the words you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping. When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through. Amen.
– ‘The Servant Song’, Richard Gillard, 1977
Maria will be ordained as a pastor of the LCANZ on Palm Sunday on 13 April at 2pm at Concordia College Chapel in Highgate SA. She would love to see many Daily Devotion readers there! She has been assigned to serve St John’s Lutheran Church in Perth WA. She also supports the ministry of her pastor husband, Michael. They will be the first pastor couple of our church, but she hopes not the last. They are parents to three children, who are kept busy in their primary and secondary schools. Maria also serves the church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
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