Divine Dining March 14, 2026 Devotional

JOHN 11:18-23 | ¹⁸ Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, ¹⁹ and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. ²⁰ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. ²¹ Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

LUKE 10:42 | ⁴² but few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.

Mary and Martha have often been seen as archetypes. Mary represents the value of the contemplative life of prayer and devotion, Martha the value of the active life of service. Both of course are necessary for a healthy kind of discipleship. Devotion to the words of Jesus that never takes the form of loving action is fruitless. Acts of service without an attitude formed by divine law are pointless.

Faith is fed by devotion to Jesus and expressed in real deeds of care and witness. What I love about Martha, however, is not her archetypal value but her genuine growth. Having been brought up short in her passive aggression and distracted service by Jesus, she learns the lesson. Our power to be effective comes from our ability to really and honestly relate to our Lord and our ability to receive His direction and help. In John 11 she expresses her real disappointment with Him directly and her continuing faith that He can still help her dead brother. She goes first to meet Him and actively seeks His aid while submitting to His will. Here she has a laser focus that comes from her love for Lazarus and her trust in Jesus.

Do you balance the active and contemplative? Do you grow from correction?

Gracious God,

Let my prayers be honest and my trust in you complete. For with you all things are possible.

Amen.