FOLLOW
UNITED message series
In Luke 10:38-42, we read
a familiar story about Jesus
at the home of Martha and
Mary. Luke tells us that
“Martha was distracted
with much serving,”
while Mary, in contrast,
“sat at the Lord’s feet and
listened to his teaching.”
This “[sitting] at the Lord’s
feet” and “[listening] to his
teaching” describes Mary’s
literal posture and actions,
but also uses language
customarily used to describe
the figurative posture of a
disciple towards their rabbi * ,
that of willing submission
and eagerness to learn and
replicate the rabbi’s way
of life. When Martha asks
Jesus to command Mary
to join her in her serving,
he kindly replies, “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.” What
is the good portion that Mary
has chosen? It is Jesus, and
knowing him better! It is
Jesus, and choosing to follow
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him – the one thing that is
necessary – over everything
else. In Jesus’ praise for
Mary’s choice is an echo of
Scriptures like Psalm 16:5,
“The LORD is my chosen
portion and my cup…” and
Numbers 18:20, “You shall
have no inheritance in their
land, neither shall you have
any portion among them. I
am your portion and your
inheritance among the
people of Israel.”
In our Follow series, walking
through the gospel of Luke,
we want to invite students
to likewise choose the good
portion by answering Jesus’
call to follow him and
become fishers of men. Make
no mistake, being a disciple
of Jesus requires active faith.
It is not Martha’s desire to
serve that is problematic in
the aforementioned story,
but rather her drive to do
what is seen as necessary and
proper in the eyes of society
before or instead of sitting at
Jesus’ feet. The good portion
is certainly not the kind of
discipleship that allows for