While listening to Air1 on the radio driving home, the DJ was talking about a new realization for him about the culture and times of the bible versus our own times. We always seem to overlay our own culture and standards onto everything that we encounter, and this includes the Bible. When we do this we can get a skewd understanding of what is written down.
     The DJ was discussing the bible story of when Jesus was sitting and teaching his followers while at the house of Mary and Martha, Luke 10: 39-42. As a child and on into adulthood, I was taught this was a story about priorities and ensuring that we focus on what is important. Martha was obviously miffed that Mary was not helping and that she had to do all the work. This is in fact the truth  and a logical stopping point. Yet, was there more to this story than just a lesson on when to work and when to listen?
     Let's step back into the time of those who are involved and the culture that was prevelent during that era. You see all throughout the bible it speaks of men and their actions. The world as a whole was very male dominate and Paternal in nature. Even God's dealings was usually with a male. In that culture, men and women were seperated and never intermixed due to their beliefs and customs. The women cooked, cleaned and tended the young children. The men ate together in a seperate room; they talked and discussed business in a seperate room; and entertained guests seperately from the women. The woman would bring the food and drink but would not stay and dine with them. She would wait until the men were finished and would remain seperated. She would come get the dishes and clean up the place but not remain in the room. She was a servant in her home.
     So now lets go back to the text and look at this setting again...was more going on in Martha's mind than just Mary's not helping her with the duties of a woman? Martha was obviously concerned about the family reputation here. You see Mary had stepped across a boundary that could lead to family dishonor. She had intermixed with men at length and sat in the presence of men  when all the cultural norms would be saying she was acting as a 'loose woman'. Her sitting at the feet of our Lord, was litterally at the risk of not only her personnal reputation but that of  the family honor as well. Her 'place' at this time was in the kitchen or in another room seperated from the men. So when Martha went to Jesus to discuss her sister and 'complain' about the lack of help, she was also attempting to enlist his help in getting her sister out of there and back where she belonged so that their family would not become the 'local gossip' and looked down upon.
     With all this in mind, let's look again at Jesus' response to Martha..."Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled by many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her." Now on the surface that could be only addressing the fact that Mary was not helping, but what were the 'other things'? I submit that Jesus knew Martha was concerned about cultural dictates and her family's name. So why did He not adhear to the cultural values and send Mary back into the kitchen? Jesus was making a point to cross over the subservient male vs female tradition. He was acknowledging that not only was it proper for Mary to be with him but it was the best choice no matter the cost. That Jesus accepted her as an equal to the other disciples within that room. Jesus was saying that he loved all of us the same; male or female. He was crossing the segregation bounds that were prevelant during that time and challenging them. He wanted to challenge these old ways of thinking and tear down the walls of segregation that were built throughout thousands of years.
     Remember, in the beginning man and woman walked together throughout the garden. Both were talking with and being treated as children by God. God also stated that a man would leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife. And the two would become ONE. Not that the man would take a wife and she become the servant/slave within their house. God ordained that men were to treat their wives as Christ had treated His 'Church'. Yet I do not see where Jesus treated His disciples as lowly servants and slaves. Not once. No, it was Jesus who donned the towel and assumed the role of slave and washed their feet for them. Jesus showed us that we are to accept His daughters as equals and our treasured partners in this life.
     I usually forget this and have to be slapped in the face with it by the Spirit. I am always forgetting that servant/slave relationship that I am supposed to mimic as I walk alongside my bride. For this I beg my Father's forgiveness and my Penny's as well.
     "Father help me to keep this lesson at the forefront of my mind and help me to always demonstrate my love for your daughter so that our sons, whom you loaned to us, will understand what it means to be a Man of God. Amen."