From Self-Pity to Worship
(Martha’s Encounter’s with Jesus)
Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
- Compassion means that you “feel sympathy for the suffering of others and you take action to ease their pain”
- Self-Pity- an amplified focus of one’s own worries or suffering
Luke 22:41-43 (NKJV)
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw (Jesus stepped just beyond his disciples), and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
John 11:5
“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick he stayed where he was two more days”…
John 11:14-15
“Lazarus is dead and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:20-27
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
John 11:33
“33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.35 Jesus wept.
John 12:1-3
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lives, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining from the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”