Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
For August u, 1923-Martha and Mary
BY DR.. MARION MICH. HULL

Golden Text: MARY hath chosen
that good part which shall not be
taken away from her." Luke l0:42.
He was on the road from Jericho
to Jerusalem; He had just now an
swered the question of the lawyer
as to who was his neighbor by tell
ing him the matchless story of
the good Samaritan. When He came
into Bethany, He stopped for a bit
and bite at the home of His very
dear friends, Martha, Mary and
Lazarus. He did not have very long
to stay, and He loved very dearly
to be in the company of those who
understood and loved Him. 1t was
particularly refreshing to Him now
for the opposition to Him was grow
ing more intense every day. But
here was a place where He could
find fellowship and His huban heart
hungered for it,
At Work
Martha and Mary started the prep
arations for His physical neeGs.
Pretty soon Mary had finished her
part of the task, and had placed her
self at His feet to listen to Him as
He talked of the Father. 1t was a
wonderful opportunity for her, and
one that would not last long. for
soon He smust be moving on His
journey. As a matter of fact He did
not get back that way for quite
while again. And He was enjoying
her, fellowship as much as she was
enjoying His.
Shortly they were interrupted by
the entrance of the older sister into
the room; and her manner made her
entrance rather disturbing. She was
all wrought up. She had been MAX
ing elaborate preparations; she had
started this, and before it was COM
pleted, she had begun that. She
was distracted by the many things
that she was attempting to do so
that she finished neither the one nor
the others. Her heart was all right,
she wanted to give the best that she
had to her loved guest, but it took
more time than she had and she
was not getting through. A glimpse
through the door showing Mary sit.
ting quietly at the feet of Jesus was
more than she could stand, so she
rushed in with something of a re.
buke to Jesus. Lord. is it no con
Germ to you that my sister hath Left
HE to serve alone? Tell her to help
me-"
If she had not been so distracted
by the many things she would hard
iy have spoken that way to Jesus.
When one duty pulls you this way,
and before you have half completed
that another duty pulls you in an
other way, and another in still
different direction, it is very easy
to lose control of yourself and say
something in a manner you would
not otherwise use. That is one of
the dangers of attempting too many
things at one time.
But Jesus brought her to herself.
Martha, Martha" He said, you
are torn and all in a tempest about
many things They are all good,
but there is only one best; and
Mary has deliberately chosen that,
and it shall not be taken away from
her. Id rather have your presence
than your pies. Your fellowship is
more to me than your food. l have
but a short time to stay here ana
I had rather have you than yours.
The two sisters illustrate the great
truth that the good may be worst
enemy of the best. Mary deliberate
ly chose the best, and shaped her
work, so that she could have thar.
The word also in verse thirty
nine and the word left" in verse
forty, are Illuminating, for they
show that Mary mad not neglected
her part of the work to sit at the
feet of Jesus. She did her work
and also sat at His feet. She left
her sister still dabbling with the
many things after she had finished
what she had to do. The incident
has been often used to say that
Martha was the practical one ana
Mary the dreamer: but such is far
from the truth. Jesus commended
Mary and condemned Martha, so you
had better not line up with Martha
against Him. On the contrary it
is only the practical worker who
can finish what has to be done and
have time also for the contempla-
tive.
In Trouble
We have another picture of thH
two sisters. Their BROTHER Lazarus
was very i'll: evidently the usual
remedies had proven useless, for
his sisters sent for Jesus, who was
in Perea. across the river. He had
healed Martha s husband, Simon. of
leprosy, and they were sure that
He could heal their brother and also
sure that He would, for they knew
how much He loved him. All of
this was stated in the brief mes
sage that they sent. Lord, he
whom tnou lowest is sick" Tha.
was all. Just that bit of informal
ton. No request was necessary:
they felt sure that Jesus, would do
everything necessary as soon as He
was informed. "a
1t must have seemed strange to
them when day after day passed.
and He did not come. Death came
. instead. and burial Immediately, for
putrefaction began early in a hot
climate, and they did not embalm
the bodies. Four days later Jesus
arrived. AS soon as she heard that
Jesus was coming, Martha went out
to meet Him. But not Mary; sine
remained at home. Martha had to