Title: Martha's Illusion
Remember Maupassant's novel <The Pearl Necklace>. A woman goes to a party with a pearl necklace borrowed from a friend around her neck and loses the pearl necklace. In order to repay the expensive pearl necklace, the woman buys a pearl necklace identical to that lost pearl necklace and goes to visit her friend. When the woman who had devoted her whole life to preparing the pearl necklace offered it to her friend, begging for forgiveness, the woman's friend said astonishingly. < The pearl necklace I lent you back then was fake! >. Mistaking the pearl necklace for authenticity, the woman had wasted her life burdenedly and painfully for many years. Misunderstandings have such terrifying consequences.
2. 起 We too live in many illusions
Huge icebergs float in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans. And while we marvel at the gigantic iceberg, we often forget that the visible part of the iceberg beneath the surface is much larger. The visible part is only 1/10 of the whole. And yet, how often do we think, say and do what we see? This is a misconception that we face too often on a daily basis. On a rainy morning we can see far. But this is also our mistake. On the contrary, we see much farther in the pitch black night. to see the stars.
3. What Martha Saw
Today's text clearly shows the misconception of faith that we often make. As Jesus was on his way, he stopped by a house in Bethany. It is the house where Lazarus, Martha, and Mary live. Lazarus' house quickly turned into a festive atmosphere to welcome the precious and precious Lord who came after a long time. Martha immediately rolled her arms and set out to prepare for the guests.
There was so much to do. Hanging a pot, making a fire, going to the fields to pick radishes, Chinese cabbage, green onions, and cucumbers, going to the market to do some shopping, etc. is a lot of work. But Mary, the younger sister, is sitting in front of Jesus like a hoe, chatting leisurely. Like anyone in this situation, Martha speaks to the Lord. < Lord, tell that child to help me! >. I think Martha's request is justified. Any of us would have acted like Martha in this situation. Martha saw precious and welcome guests. And I tried to treat them really well.
4. What Martha Didn't See
But Jesus gives something completely unexpected. < Martha, Martha, you are very open, busy, and busy preparing to welcome guests, but there is only one thing that is more important. Now Mary has chosen the good.
See Mark 13:1-2. A disciple pointed to Solomon's temple and said, "Teacher, look at this magnificent and beautiful temple. Look at this huge stone. Isn't that great? >, Jesus said, “Do you see this great temple? Not one stone will be left upon another, and all will be destroyed.” The disciple saw only the visible, and Jesus saw the invisible.
What did Jesus mean by these words to Martha? Martha saw the noble guests. However, he did not see the heart of the invisible precious guest.
5. Martha's Illusion
Martha thinks that what she sees is everything, and what she sees with her own eyes is the most important thing. That is Martha's illusion. If you read the text carefully, Jesus did not say that Martha was wrong. Rather, because he loves Martha, you can see that he was trying to remove the scales from her eyes. Jesus calls the name tenderly twice. < Martha, Martha, learn to see that in this world what is visible is not everything, but what is invisible is more important and precious! > is what you said.
6. Closing story - A woman who talks all night long in the kitchen for the sake of her beloved who is leaving tomorrow morning, and the woman who keeps everything by her side after all chores?
These words of Jesus were not only addressed to Martha. These words are the words given to me today and to our church. Everything in sight, beautiful and neat events, revival meetings, Bible seminars, 40-day fasting prayers, helping the disabled, sending missionaries, and a big feast for Jesus invitation are very important. However, one more important thing is to know how to choose the most essential thing of Christianity. That's Maria's choice! I mean. No matter how noisy and busy the surroundings are, you face the Lord alone! Meeting the Lord Himself, Himself.