Reel Luke

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

Luke 10:38-42

Helpful Stuff to Know

We learn more about Jesus’ friendship with Mary, Martha, and their brother, Lazarus, from a story in John 11:38-44 when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Martha likely owned her own home, and her younger sister, Mary, lived with her.

This story shows that women believed, followed, served, and learned from Jesus.

Be Sure Not to Miss

Martha did a good thing by inviting Jesus into her home. Things went wrong when she shifted from an attitude of hospitality to one of comparing and complaining.

Jesus didn’t reprimand Martha for preparing a meal and doing a good thing. He reprimanded her for worrying about the wrong things and for telling him what he should say to Mary.

Martha and Mary had different ways of connecting with Jesus. Both ways were OK.

Comparison is always a lose-lose situation. Martha both thought she was better than Mary (“I’m doing all the work”) which can lead to pride, and thought she had it worse than Mary (“It’s unfair that she’s just sitting here!”) which can lead to bitterness.

Right before this story is the parable of the Good Samaritan which shows the importance of loving others and serving them. Be sure to consider that context when reading this story.

Be Careful About

Some people think this story teaches that people shouldn’t do​ things for Jesus, they should just be​ with Jesus. But the story doesn’t say that. Perhaps “the one thing worth being concerned about” is Jesus himself. For Mary, that meant sitting at his feet and listening and learning. For Martha that could have meant serving him behind the scenes by preparing a meal — but at some point she was no longer satisfied with that and things became about her instead of Jesus.

Reel Questions

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Reel Setting (place)

  • Where did this story happen? (Describe the setting — in a house, on a road, by a lake, in a city, etc.)
  • What do you think that place looked like? smelled like? sounded like?
  • Do you think it matters that this story happened in that specific place? Why?
  • What about the place in this story feels familiar? What feels strange?

 

Reel People (characters)

  • Make a list of all the people in this story and give a one-word description of each (include “crowd” if there is one). Why did you choose that word?
  • What does Jesus say and do in this story? List all the things. Does anything surprise you? Why?
  • Which person (besides Jesus) is most interesting to you? Why?
  • What details about the characters do you wish were included or explained in the story? Why?
  • Why do you think [choose a specific character or the crowd] spoke or acted the way they did?
  • What are some different things that [the person from previous question] could have said or done? How would that have changed the story?
  • What do you think the onlookers were thinking and feeling as things were happening in this story? Why?
  • How do you think the main characters might have changed after this story? Why? (Sometimes it tells us, like with Zacchaeus, but other times it doesn’t.)
  • How do you think the crowd or onlookers might have changed after this story? Why?
  • If you’d been there, where would you have been standing or sitting? What would you have been thinking or feeling? Why?

 

Reel Events (plot)

  • List all the events in the story.
  • List some details that aren't included but are assumed in the story.
  • What do you think are the two or three most important moments in this story? Why?
  • If this story were a film, when would the music be scary or tense? When would it be joyful or upbeat? Why?
  • What do you think maybe happened right before this story? What do you think maybe happened right after this story?
  • Does the biblical story before or after this one matter to this story? How? Why do you think that?
  • What are some different ways things could have happened or ended in this story?
  • If this story were happening today in your school or town, what are ways Jesus might have acted or explained things for your context?
  • What would you call this story if it were a full-length book or movie? Why?

 

Real Faith

  • What’s a way people could misunderstand or misuse this story?
  • Why do you think this story is in the Bible? Why would God want us to read and learn from it?
  • What are you learning about Jesus (or his Father or the Spirit) from this story?
  • What are you learning about following Jesus (living for Jesus and living like Jesus) from this story?
  • After reading this story, what are some questions you have about Jesus and following him?

 

Story-Specific Questions

How do you most naturally connect with Jesus — through your head (e.g., thinking and learning), heart (e.g., praying and reflecting) or your hands (e.g., serving and helping)? For more about this idea, check out the Head, Heart, Hands​ series of Lessons.

What are some ways you serve Jesus? What are some ways you spend time being with Jesus?

What do you think caused Martha to change her focus and attitude?

What could Martha have done differently to keep her attitude in the right place?

How can you keep your heart focused on Jesus, no matter what the circumstances are and other people are doing?