St Timothy Presbyterian Church in Toronto: Sermons

Luke 10:38-42

Misunderstood

One of the most misunderstood and unappreciated people in the Bible is Martha. We often hear, Don't be like Martha. I would like to focus on Martha today.

We should thank people like Martha. Because there are people like Martha, our life becomes so easy. They know how to take care of you. They are hard working people. They are very detail minded and action-oriented people. They have a gift of hospitality. Serving is what they do. And they are very good at it.

That's why Jesus went to Martha's house so often. That was the place where Jesus was able to rest after many days of stressful life.

Jesus lived a stressful life. Demand from people, confrontation with those who hated him, hearing all the unfounded criticisms, false rumours. All these things, Jesus had to deal with almost on a daily basis. So, he needed a place where he could simply rest, not having to think about these things. That place was Martha's house. And it was Martha who took care of Jesus and his disciples.

Martha was the eldest among three siblings. Mary and Lazarus were her younger sister and younger brother. Their father probably died early and left a good fortune. They had a big house to accommodate many people. Mary: Perfume – tens of thousand dollars. As the eldest, she took care of the household. She used her wealth to serve others. She blessed her community with her wealth.

She was good at what she did. She was a very capable person. She was generous and giving.

An Open Book

In terms of her personality, she was direct and to the point. She didn't like to beat around the bush. She was like Peter. Direct – even to the point of being blunt.

When her brother Lazarus died, Jesus was delayed. He didn't come on time. When she saw Jesus, this was what she said.

Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (John 11:21)

She was direct. She was basically rebuking Jesus, Why were you so late?

If you came earlier, my brother would have lived.

Even in today's passage, Martha was very direct to Jesus.

Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.' (Luke 10:40)

She might have been direct and blunt but she had no hidden agenda.

She was an open book.

Jesus and Martha

Jesus knew Martha very well. That's why he did not get offended. Jesus didn't mind at all. Jesus called her, Martha, Martha, That is a very affectionate way of calling Martha.

Jesus loved Martha and her family.

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (John 11:5)

John didn't say Mary and her sister. He said Martha and her sister. John knew that Martha was the central figure. Martha had a very intimate relationship with Jesus where she could talk to Jesus in that way. Martha was just being Martha in front of Jesus. She didn't have to be somebody else. Jesus let her be.

It is not that Martha treated Jesus in a rude way. Not at all. She had deep respect for him and had great faith in him.

When Jesus said that he was the resurrection and life, this was what she said.

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.'(John 11:25-27)

Martha was a wonderful disciple of Jesus. She was a very capable disciple. Jesus trusted her and depended on her and found good rest whenever he needed it.

One Thing

BUT THERE WAS ONE THING SHE OVERLOOKED. She was able to take care of many things and she did very well but she overlooked one thing. That was to UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS WENT THROUGH. When Jesus visited Martha and Mary this time, Jesus wanted to talk to Martha and Mary. He wasn't interested in eating. He wanted to talk to them. Mary knew that. So she sat at the feet of Jesus and listened.

Mary had a keen sense of knowing what others are going through. Do you remember? When Jesus had raised Lazarus, they all gathered together to celebrate the rising of Lazarus. No one was thinking about death, especially, Jesus' death.

But somehow Mary knew that something serious, something dark was coming. So she wanted to prepare for that. That's why she broke her perfume and anointed Jesus' feet. And Jesus was surprised too. He knew that she was preparing for his burial. Jesus too wondered how she knew.

Mary had this keen sense of knowing when others had no idea. In today's story too, Mary knew exactly what Jesus needed. Jesus wanted them to listen to him.

Martha missed that. But don't ever think that Jesus disapproved Martha in any way. Jesus loved Martha. Jesus appreciated Martha. If you are like Martha, don't ever try to change yourself.

Come and Listen

Martha was like a rock on whom people can depend. Even Jesus. Martha held her family and the community together with her leadership. She was honest, direct, capable, hard-working, open, and transparent. She had all the beautiful qualities as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

But even strong people like Martha can break. They can be tired and drained. They can be exhausted and feel unappreciated. They can be also burned out.

They don't need to stop being Martha. They just need to come to Jesus and listen.

Jesus knew what Martha was going through. All this time, Martha served Jesus and gave him a place where he could rest. NOW JESUS IS SAYING TO MARTHA, IT IS YOUR TURN TO REST. Come and listen. I will give you rest.

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

We all need that time of rest. We also live a very busy life. We get a lot of stresses. Sometimes we feel tired and exhausted.

That is when we should stop doing what we do for a while. And just come to Jesus and enjoy his presence. Enjoy listening to him.

We don't always have to be productive. We don't always have to be capable. We don't always have to be in charge. We don't always have to take care of others.

We need time to just let go and enjoy things in life. Instead of always worrying about what we have to do, we need to be taken care of. And God will take care of us.

True Rest

I read a book called, Rest , by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. He is a visiting Scholar at Stanford University.

He said this.

Work and rest are not polar opposites Rest is not work's adversary. Rest is work's partner. They complement and complete each other. Further, you cannot work well without resting well.

I think he saw it right. Work and rest work together, not against each other. We think about how to do well in our work but we don't think about how to rest well. Learn how to rest well and that will help you work.

Resting well does not mean just playing. Resting well is finding confidence that you will be all right.

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know His power

In quietness and trust

That is true rest. Martha needed that. We all need that.

The post About Martha appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Galatians 5:1, 13-15

Reflect on Freedom

What is freedom? Last two days, we have reflected on Going beyond through Simon's lectures.

Going Beyond the Life that Controls Us

Going Beyond our Broken Places

The Power to Go Beyond

Thank you, Simon, for guiding us with rich materials for us to reflect on.

Let us reflect on freedom this morning.

This is what St. Paul said in today's passage.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence (Galatians 5:13)

Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence. We can see that in Paul's mind, freedom is not to do whatever you want. Freedom is not about self-indulgence. Eat whatever you want to eat. Say whatever you feel like saying. Do whatever suits you. In Paul's mind, that is not freedom.

In the beginning of this chapter, St. Paul said,

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Stand Firm: Yes, that is what freedom does. It is the power to stand firm. Freedom to me is the power. It is the power to go beyond not to be bound to my wishes and desires. It is the power to leave behind what holds us back and takes off to the unknown. It is the power to overcome our own fear and weaknesses, take challenges and go beyond where we are. It is the power to live freely the life that is truly worthwhile without reducing it because of fear.

Fear and Empowerment

No one is FEARLESS. Fearlessness is not what is required to live a courageous life. Everyone has fear.

Especially when you are called to do what is beyond your ability, you have this fear. Because you have to go beyond your comfort zone.

When Jeremiah was called by God, this was what he said.

Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy. (Jeremiah 1:6)

When challenges come to us, we look for ways to escape. We come up with reasons. But these reasons are only excuses.

I am only a boy. – that was Jeremiah's excuse.

God did not say, Oh, I understand. Go and live as only a boy. That was not what God did.

This was what God said to him.

Do not say, I am only a boy ;

for you shall go to all to whom I send you,

and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them (Jeremiah 1:7, 8)

GOD DID NOT LET HIM LIVE OUT HIS FEAR.

When God called Moses, Moses did the same thing.

O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.(Exodus 4:10)

I have never been eloquent – that was Moses' excuse.

But God did not let Moses to live out his insecurity.

This was what God said.

Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak. (Exodus 4:12)

When God called Isaiah, the same thing.

Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5)

I am a man of unclean lips – that was Isaiah's excuse.

God did not let Isaiah live out his spiritual inadequacy.

God did this to Isaiah.

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.'(Isaiah 6:6, 7)

Then God asked,

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? (Isaiah 6:8)

Then Isaiah said,

Here am I; send me! (Isaiah 6:8)

You see a pattern here. No one is fearless. When they received a challenge to go beyond their comfort zone, they all feared. And they came up with good reasons not to take the challenge. Excuses. They wanted to get away.

But God did not let them live out their fear. God reassured them. God empowered them. WHEN THEY HAD THAT EMPOWERMENT, THEY EXPERIENCED FREEDOM. The power to go beyond their own weaknesses, shortcomings, inadequacy, and insecurity.

Beyond Yourself

That power – that is freedom. In that sense, freedom is not to do whatever you want. Doing what you desire. But the real freedom is to go beyond yourself, not just to please your insatiable desires.

Many times, the greatest bondage is ourselves. We are the ones who limit ourselves. We are the ones who restrict ourselves. We are the ones who hold us back. We become our own shackles that bind us.

For the rocket to go beyond our earth, it requires explosive power. But when you go out in the universe, you can see the earth in a clearer view from outside. You see the whole picture and also see how beautiful it is.

The power that fires off the rocket from the earth atmosphere – that is the freedom. It is the freedom to fire you off from yourself so that you can go beyond yourself. You can see yourself from outside. You can see the whole picture of who you are and also you will see how beautiful you are. Then you can see not only yourself but also others and their beauty. How beautiful the life of freedom is.

Narcissism is a trap. Narcissism is dark power that makes us be bondage to ourselves. Narcissism is the opposite power of the power of freedom.

That's why Jesus said. You want to follow me? First deny yourself. Be free from your own narcissism. Experience the power of freedom.

That was what St. Paul experienced. He had fallen into narcissism of his own righteousness. He thought he was pretty righteous. He thought his righteousness separated himself from others. But he didn't realize that that was only his narcissism. It was all about I, I, I. He thought that his righteousness would save him.

But when he met Christ, he was free from his self-idolatry.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:19, 20)

He is saying that his narcissism has been crucified. He no longer lives with his power. He lives by the power Christ gave him.

The Power of Resurrection

That was how all those people overcame themselves. Jeremiah, Moses, and Isaiah. They experienced the power of God that helped them to go beyond themselves. They overcame their fear, their insecurity, and their spiritual inadequacy by the power of God not by their fearlessness. When they experienced the power of God, they experienced freedom.

It is a bit long quotation. But listen carefully and see what's going on in Paul's mind. It is a confession of a man who experienced the true freedom in Christ.

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:4-11)

It is the power of resurrection that frees us not only from the fear of physical death but from the fear of losing ourselves. This is the power that inspired many people to die in their struggle to pursue freedom rather than to live without freedom.

Break the Chain 

My friends, now you go down and you may face many challenges. Don't let your fear handle your challenges. Be free in Christ. You can be creative.

You need to practice every day to be free. YoYo Ma, probably the greatest cellist, still does scale every day.

Engage with new ideas. Try something new. Don't be stuck in the old pattern. Unstuck yourself. Don't be afraid of failure. Failure is a necessary step of growing up. Failures can be your great teacher if you are free. Break the chain that binds you. Go forward and go beyond.

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