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The MARTHAby Becky Castle Miller I Want to Be by Becky Castle Miller

of religious obligations. I would have words, I think heard more than Someone had to demanded help from Mary too. a gentle correction; I think she heard an make dinner. When Jesus tells Martha that Mary invitation to become a . has chosen the better thing—sitting at his I grew up religious, with heavy feet to learn—he dismantles the cultural cultural limits on women added to Or at least that’s what Martha of expectation that a woman’s place is in Jesus’ teachings. I kept my work in thought, “distracted by all the kitchen. Theologian Craig Keener women’s spaces, confused by my growing the preparations that had to be made” writes that in the first century, rabbis desire to participate fully in the public (:40). Maybe she didn’t know “dismissed the trustworthiness of rooms—of the home and the church— Jesus could go without food for forty women’s witness, and, with the possible with the men. Over the past three years, days or that he could feed thousands exceptions of . . . the women followers I have studied to understand the with a little bread and fish. So she of Jesus, women seem never to have more accurately, and I have heard Jesus’ needed to make him dinner, and her been accorded the role or status of invitation to me, a woman, free to learn sister Mary wasn’t helping. teachers or their disciples.”1 Jesus sets and teach on equal footing with men. I relate to Martha here. I’ve just up a different value system and affirms The Martha in Luke is the Martha I’ve had three events in three days, and my a woman’s right to assume the position been most of my life, but the Martha in kitchen is still a disaster, dishes sliding of a rabbi’s student, which, according to John is the one I want to become. off precarious stacks. In the chaos of N.T. Wright, is exactly what Mary was Martha seems to have responded to details, I yelled at my family to join doing by sitting at Jesus’ feet.2 In Jesus’ Jesus’ invitation to become a disciple, in, ignoring spiritual values in pursuit

4 MUTUALITY | Winter 2016 website: cbeinternational.org Martha’s story contains the story. In these glimpses of her life, Jesus’ identity is revealed, his death and resurrection are promised, and both discipleship and eternal life are offered to his followers.

because in the next story from her Martha questions Jesus again when and resurrection are promised, and life, she shows faith, theological he tells the mourners to roll away the both discipleship and eternal life are understanding, and a close relationship stone covering Lazarus’s tomb. She offered to his followers. The primary with Jesus. In , Jesus delays argues with him that the body will goal of evangelism, according to responding to the sisters’ request smell. Jesus doesn’t seem bothered by theologian Scot McKnight, is to get that he heal their brother Lazarus, her challenges. one question on the table: “Who do who dies before Jesus arrives. When While the say Jesus loved you think Jesus is?”3 McKnight says Martha hears he is getting close, she the whole world, they don’t often say that the gospel “summons people to runs out to meet him, saying, “Lord, if that he loved specific individuals. confess Jesus as and Lord.”4 I you had been here, my brother would However, here is one: “Jesus loved tell Martha’s story to grieving friends, not have died” (John 11:21). After this Martha” (John 11:5). The honest and in telling her story, I get to tell questioning, though, Martha displays dialogue in this scene captures the kind Jesus’ story; I get to evangelize. This her faith: “I know that even now God of relationship I want to have with God, tale of a woman puts the question on will give you whatever you ask” (John one in which I can ask hard questions the table and gives the answer. 11:22). Jesus tells her that her brother and still be loved. Who is Jesus? He is the promised will be raised up, and she offers her In the final story told from one, the King. I want to grow as a knowledge: “I know he will rise again Martha’s life, she hosts another meal student of Jesus, like Martha did, in in the resurrection at the last day” for Jesus. The mention is short. At the faith, knowledge, relationship, and (John 11:24). dinner, “Martha served” (:2). service. I want my life story to preach Jesus teaches her more and gives Mary is again at Jesus’ feet, while the gospel, just like Martha’s does. her hope: “You don’t have to wait for Martha is again serving. I believe this the End. , right now, Resurrection serving is voluntary, not expected. It Becky Castle Miller is the discipleship director at an and Life. . . . Do you believe this?” is celebratory, not stressed. This time, international church in the (John 11:25, MSG) Martha’s statement of Martha doesn’t stop Mary. They each Netherlands and blogs about understanding is powerful: “Yes, Master. serve the Master in their own way. emotionally healthy discipleship All along I have believed that you are the Martha’s story contains the gospel at medium.com/wholehearted. She conveys her five kids around town on bikes Messiah, the Son of God who comes into story. In these glimpses of her life, and studies theology in the middle of the night via the world” (John 11:27, MSG). Jesus’ identity is revealed, his death the live streaming program at Northern Seminary.

1. Craig Keener, “Man and Woman” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1993), 589. 2. N.T. Wright, “The Biblical Basis for Women’s Service in the Church,” Priscilla Papers 20, no. 4 (Autumn 2006): 7. 3. Scot McKnight, lecture in the class Introduction to Interpretation, Northern Seminary, Lombard, IL, September 1, 2016. 4. Scot McKnight, The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 149.

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