Day 12: Made For Rest

Yesterday we unpacked one of Martha's core beliefs that Jesus did not care. Today I want to look at another one of the central themes driving her life: I am made to serve. On first glance this sounds like a wonderful Christian attitude. After all, even the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mk.10:45). The problem is: Martha is not happy. Serving others does not fill her with joy but with bitterness. Most Christians would counsel Martha to simply swallow her anger and pride and serve even more. Sadly, we often treat our own heart with the same harshness wondering why life is so miserable and dull.

Instead of lecturing Martha about the importance of servanthood in the kingdom of God and putting the vision of being great in His kingdom through serving before her eyes, Jesus invites her to take a break. He actually invites her to do less. He beckons her to join the privileged circle of those being taught by Jesus she never thought she belonged to.

Jesus does not need us. He does not need Martha's dinner. There were many places He could have stayed at during that popular stage of His ministry. He came to Martha's home because He wanted to give Martha a new life vision. Martha, yes even Martha, was made to be loved by Him and to love Him in return. If your heart cringes at the sound of it it is a good indicator of having rejected the distracted, anxious and worried parts of your heart, keeping them outside of a relationship with Jesus. But it is exactly these parts He eagerly desires to touch. Serving God and serving others is always a response to being first served by Jesus.

"No," Peter protested, "you will never ever wash my feet!"

Jesus replied, "Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me." 

John 13:8