If you’re around my age, then you probably remember the movie “There’s Something About Mary.” The politically-incorrect comedy tells us of a love story, of sorts, where an ‘average Joe’ gets the woman of his dreams, Mary. Throughout the movie, Mary is depicted as being a nonstop worker, and having all aspects of her life held together in amazing harmony. She and her life seem so perfect that nearly everyone, in fact, says “There’s just something about Mary.” However, as the film progresses, we begin to see Mary has a void in her life causing a sense of unrest.
Now, there is a story in the Bible that talks about another Mary. The short story is documented by the physician/historian Luke, and is found in chapter 10 of his gospel. In it, he tells of Mary and her sister, Martha, during a visit with Jesus. While the sisters were both hosting the party for Jesus and his disciples, Martha was apparently the only one doing all the preparation and serving. Mary was “sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to what He said” while Martha was nonstop working, “distracted by her many tasks” (v 39). Martha clearly was irritated by this, and asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. When I read this story, as a type-A ‘get-it-done’ person, I was with Martha; I mean, those crab cake appetizers ain’t going to fix themselves! But how did Jesus respond? “Martha, you are worried and upset many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her” (v 41-42).
I didn’t get Jesus’ words here. Was He condoning laziness? Martha was working in service, not just working in vain, while Mary was seated and lounged with their friends and guests. Was Jesus saying service was optional? What was He meaning by His words? As arguably the greatest teacher in history, His words often carried a deeper meaning than initially understood by the listener. And for me, this was definitely one of those times. A friend of mine gave an excellent lecture on this story, explaining “the one thing necessary” that Mary had was her relationship with Jesus. Martha was “worried and upset by many things” because her service, though good, had become more important than the relationship. Jesus was saying, even more that her (and our) service, He just wants her (and us)!
The lesson of the story is this: There is only one thing that can fill the void in all of our lives. We can try, like Mary from the film and Martha from the story, to fill it with work and play, and even service; but it won’t work. The “one necessary thing” is to know Jesus loves and wants you, and to spend time with Him. Mary understood that, and it gave her great comfort and peace. So much so, I expect the people of her day were saying, “There’s just something about Mary.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matt 11:28 (NIV).
