Journey
Martha and Mary of Bethany
Two sisters welcome Jesus, send word when their brother Lazarus is sick, and each tell him "my brother had not died" when he comes.
People in this journey
Opening stop: Cumbered about much serving, Luke 10:38
Luke calls it Martha's house, and no husband is mentioned, so she may have been head of the household. Hosts in Scripture take a guest's meal seriously; Abraham hurried to have one made for his three visitors (Genesis 18:6-8). Careful is the word Paul uses when he tells believers to be careful for nothing, and to pray instead (Philippians 4:6). Jesus does not fault the serving itself. He names the anxiety and the many things, and sets one thing beside them.
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
King James Version
The Lord appoints seventy others and sends them two and two ahead of him, telling them the harvest is great and the labourers few, to carry neither purse nor scrip nor shoes, to say Peace be to this house, to eat what is set before them, to heal the sick and to say the kingdom of God is come nigh. Cities that refuse are to be left with the dust wiped off, and woes follow on Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. The seventy return with joy that the devils are subject to them, and he tells them to rejoice rather that their names are written in heaven. He then thanks the Father for what is hidden from the wise and revealed to babes, and tells the disciples privately that many prophets and kings desired to see what they see. A lawyer asks what he must do to inherit eternal life, answers his own question from the law, and then asks who his neighbour is. The parable that follows sets a priest and a Levite passing by against a Samaritan who binds the wounds and pays an innkeeper. In a certain village Martha receives him into her house while her sister Mary sits at his feet; Martha complains of serving alone and is answered about one thing needful.
Continue the journey
This journey has 9 stops. The opening stop is free. Premium opens the rest of the guided path, and every Scripture chapter stays free to read.