Martha, Mary & Audacious Women, Luke 10:38-42 & John 12:1-8

Send us Fan MailIf you are a woman, you have likely heard the story of Martha and Mary. Martha is hurried and busy in the kitchen at the big party she threw for Jesus. But Mary sits down at Jesus's feet, anointing him with ointment. Martha complains to Jesus, saying that he should tell Mary to get busy and help her sister. But Jesus says Mary chose the better way. This is usually told to shame busy body women. But this is totally wrong. Instead, it is an invitation into a man's world that they had been excluded from. This story is coupled with Judas rebuking the extravagant use of ointment. And Jesus says that the poor will always be with us, which is also poorly used to remove the shame of not supporting the poor. The common theme is misusing this story to uphold patriarchy and male dominance. They couldn't be more wrong. I describe the audacity of Mary and Martha, and the corruption of Judas in context. text. #marthaandmary #lazarus #judas #passion #Jesus #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusaThe word for "sat" is παρακαθεσθεῖσα which is a reflexive word, which in context literally means "one who sat herself down alongside at Jesus's feet." To sit at his feet is to be his disciple.