Psalms 123:1-3,; 8:1; 16:2

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Luke 10. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse 40:

Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

It appears this is when Jesus met Martha and Mary. But Lazarus is not mentioned; perhaps he was away. It was Martha who received Jesus into “her” house. This does not prove she was the elder sibling in the family, or that the house was titled in her name; but absent contrary evidence, I think these are reasonable assumptions.

Jesus loved Martha. He also loved her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus (John 11:5, whom Jesus called “friend,” see verse 11). I don’t mean to suggest He loved Martha above Mary, or Lazarus, there are indications of a preference, if any, for Mary (Jesus testifies that Mary chose the “good part” of service to Him—Luke 10:41-42; see John 11:1-2 where Mary is given special notice).

But what the Spirit brought my attention to very particularly was this: “Jesus loved Martha.”

Along the still waters, I thought about Jesus’ love for Martha. He rebukes her, mildly, on two occasions: first, Jesus responds to her complaint against Mary that Martha was “careful and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41), and when He came to intervene in the tragedy of her brother’s death, when grief dulled her faith-hearing, He corrected her rebuttal against His promise that He would raise Lazarus saying, “I am the resurrection and the life” (see Luke 10:23-27).

But what preoccupied my thoughts this morning was the witness of the Spirit concerning Martha: “But Martha was cumbered about much serving” (Luke 10:40). The word translated cumbered presents the picture of someone carrying, or dragging behind her weights. Her ministry was hindered by this. She was so busy ministering to others in the flesh, she was hindered from receiving ministry to her spirit.

One of the classic symptoms of “Martha” syndrome is bitterness toward those who are at rest in Christ. Sometimes, much “service” becomes a weight we need to lay aside lest it interfere with our effectiveness. It is sometimes possible to get more done doing less, and to be more effective with less stress.

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of the Cross where Jesus took upon Himself the burden of our sins finally cried, “It is finished,” and followed with, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). Jesus did not suffer from the Martha-syndrome. He often retired for seasons of communion with His Father. I don’t mean to suggest that at the Cross, Jesus finally got it right; indeed, it was on the Cross He made all things right. But I do see a principle here.

After the torment and suffering of the crucifixion was complete, Jesus said, “It is finished,” and followed with, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Our spirit gets troubled by the cares of this life and, like Martha, we become careful (anxious) and troubled (disturbed) by “many things.” We need to follow Christ’s example, and reckon ourselves dead to sin, and alive to God, and present our spirit to His in full surrender.

I heard Him speak:”If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup minted with His sufficient grace. Goodness and mercy fell in behind me as we walked together into the harvest.

Remember, Jesus loved Martha!

Praying for revival! 🙏