Season 4 Episode 5 Judas and Martha

[Dr. Shane]

This episode starts out with the disciples traveling without Jesus. They had upset Jesus in the previous episode with their inability to grasp His mission to bring in a kingdom of grace and salvation. Jesus had sent them onto Jerusalem without Him. This episode begins with the disciples receiving a gift from Joanna and Judas given responsibility to divide the items to be sold and keep track of the money. The journey to Jerusalem takes a detour after Jesus catches up with them. The group go to Bethany to see Lazarus and Mother Mary who is staying with him and his sisters.

The episode creates a contrast between two characters.  There is Martha, who is giving of herself in service and is taught the importance of balance between staying busy and listening to the words of Jesus.  Then there is Judas who is being taught to look out for himself.  While the disciples are singing and worshipping after supper, Judas goes off to meet with his former mentor. The mentor is full of bad advice and makes Judas feel foolish for giving of himself without compensation. Martha, in contrast, is working her heart out to make sure everything is right for Jesus and His disciples. She gets frustrated that her sister is not helping her. Jesus explains that His words are more valuable than the food she was preparing.

I was married to a Martha. While studying for my doctorate I learned this class of people have a supine temperament. They are born servants. They love to serve but they need recognition. Every church has them and if they are not given the recognition they crave, they will burn out, feel used and unappreciated. My first wife was always busy doing stuff for the church but she didn't read the Bible, do her Sabbath School lesson and often did not participate in family worship because she was too busy doing other things - often times tasks associated with volunteer work with the church. She eventually got burnt out and left the church.

Judas, like too many of us, thinks he is smarter than God.  He thinks God needs his help. Many believers have an idea that they know what God's will is for them in their life. They pray for this or that and while they may add "if it is Your will" in their prayer, they have already decided that it is His will. Then, after the prayer, they go about trying to help God answer their prayer in the way they believe He wants them to. Much like Judas (in this episode) they find others that agree with them and encourage them down this self-determined path. Judas believed Christ's mission was to overthrow Rome.  And, Judas believed (in The Chosen series) that Jesus needed his help to stay on track and move in the right direction.

So there is Martha so busy serving others that she doesn't take time to listen to God's Word. Then there is Judas who thinks he needs to help God out. I have been guilty of doing both of those things.