Mary
I had this moment the other day, where I was thinking about who in the Bible do I relate to most. Every time I read about Peter, I think, “Oh Peter….” I realized, I say it because I see myself in him. He’s kind of an overachiever (ugh, I hate being called that, but it’s true). Jesus says, “Who do they say I am?” And Peter is that kid in the class that doesn’t remember to raise his hand when he gets all excited and just blurts the answer out, “Well some say…” I can see Matthew rolling his eyes at him. He’s almost naive and innocent….a little unaware of those around them. I’m slowly lifting my hand because it’s me.
Peter is also famous of another moment. Jesus predicts his “superstar” disciple will deny Him...three times. Peter knows how hard he is trying to be the best disciple ever. He asks a lot of questions. He answers as many questions as he can, when Jesus asks. And then the very person he is striving to please says, “You’re going to mess up, Peter, not once, not twice, but three times.” I can feel his heart crushing as his view of perfection is in ruins. Peter exclaims, “No way!”
We all know how the story continues, though, Peter does deny Jesus three times, BUT God uses him. Remember, Jesus changes his name to Peter. The Jesus later identifies Peter saying that his name means “the rock” and God uses that rock to build his church.
I have friends and family reading this blog nodding their heads in agreement that I am Peter. I kind of blurt things out at times, I want to know Jesus, but don’t always know what I’m doing, and I make mistakes, yet God somehow uses me anyways.
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But then I asked myself this question:
Who in the Bible (besides the Trinity) do I want to be more like?
The “greats” came to mind:
Moses - a great leader, choses and set aside from day one, has great communication with God
David - anointed young, has a meditative heart, warrior, king, man after God’s own heart (need I say more)
Paul - second greatest redemption story (after Jesus redeeming the whole world), greatest church leader and mentor to ever exist
Then I quickly turned to others like Esther, Aaron, John the Baptist. But the answer wasn’t any of those either.
The answer is Mary. Not mother of Jesus, Mary. Not Mary Magdalene. Mary, the sister of Martha.
If you’ve ever read my blog or talked to me before, you probably know that I identify as Martha. Actually, sometimes I re-read the story of Mary and Martha and think that it’s a prophetic story of my own life (I mean, it probably is that too). When I think of Mary, I side so much with Martha that I think, “Must be nice…”
But when I really think hard about Mary, I think, “Wow! She’s so cool.” In reality, I’m just jealous of her character. I love Martha (most days I embrace Martha), but man it’s exhausting being her.
We see Mary twice. The first time we see Mary and her sister Martha is when Jesus and his disciples stop over to their place for dinner:
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.”
The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”
--Luke 10:38-42 (TPT)
We later see her in a few chapters told by John. Mary and Martha had a brother named Lazarus, who was close with Jesus. Lazarus had died and Mary and Martha had Jesus over to mourn with them. Jesus wept with them, but then raised Lazarus from the dead. The story picks up here:
Six days before the Passover began, Jesus went back to Bethany, the town where he raised Lazarus from the dead. They had prepared a supper for Jesus. Martha served, and Lazarus and Mary were among those at the table. Mary picked up an alabaster jar filled with nearly a liter of extremely rare and costly perfume—the purest extract of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped them dry with her long hair. And the fragrance of the costly oil filled the house.
--John 12:1-3 (TPT)
Mary is so freaking cool! Need I say more?
While the Peter in me wants to blurt out all the things in my head, I pray for the ability to be more like Mary and sit at Jesus feet and listen. I want the ability to worship Him, uninterrupted by thoughts and distractions the way she does.
We see her in both stories drop everything for Jesus. In our human (and Martha-wired) brains, we think she “should” be helping her sister in the kitchen. In our human brains, we think she should be protecting her expensive perfume. But she drops it all (quite literally) and says, “It’s all for You.”
I’m not knocking Peter at all. He was foundational in the early Church. The Church needs leaders. But the Church also needs good followers. The Peter side of me yearns to lead the Church, but sometimes my call is to simply follow - be the workerbee. Mary is that example for me of just humbly following Jesus.
Jesus calls out the most important quality of Mary to Martha, though. “Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”
Mary has the “One Thing.” Mary chooses wisely. Mary chooses to approach the throne undistracted. And Jesus blesses that and protects that choice.
I love Peter. Peter is bold (and sometimes I’m not). Peter is eager to learn. Peter is a leader. Peter is strong.
But I also love Mary. Mary is meditative. Mary is focused. Mary is dedicated to worship. Mary has the One Thing.
