Rest in His Presence: The Invitation to Sit with Jesus

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42, NIV).

This short but powerful scene sits in the middle of Luke’s Gospel, a section filled with Jesus teaching about the kingdom of God. Throughout this portion of Scripture, Jesus reveals what it means to follow Him wholeheartedly. In this moment, He uses the everyday life of two sisters to illustrate the difference between distraction and devotion.

Mary positions herself at His feet—a posture used in first-century Jewish culture for disciples learning from a rabbi. It signals humility, attentiveness, and surrender. Luke deliberately chooses this phrase to show Mary as a true disciple of Jesus.

Meanwhile, Martha is doing what any hospitable woman in the ancient Near East would do: preparing a meal and caring for guests. Hospitality was a point of honor in Jewish households. Her desire to serve was not the issue. Jesus lovingly addressed the anxious state of her heart, not her willingness to work.

When Busyness Takes Over

I resonate with Martha. My to-do list can consume me, even as I long to pause. This makes me wonder: Is rest only for the Marys of the world?

Jesus' response to Martha highlights that rest is not a reward for accomplishment but an invitation to trust in His finished work. He wasn't disappointed with Martha's willingness to serve, but He wanted her to see a better way. His response is a reminder that service without connection to Him will burn out rather than build up.

Presence Before Production

Jesus often withdrew to pray to the Father in the Gospels, particularly before significant acts of service, highlighting the importance of presence before production.

Before choosing the twelve disciples, He spent the night in prayer (Luke 6:12). Before feeding the five thousand, He looked up to heaven (Matthew 14:19). Before going to the cross, He prayed in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44). Scripture repeatedly shows us that communion with the Father preceded His ministry to others.

Jesus wanted Martha to see that rest is more impactful than running rampant. Sitting with Him would redirect her focus to a more intentional place, where she could serve as an extension of her identity in Him, not as an attempt to earn His love.

Rest That Leads to Abundant Life

He didn't want the anxiety characterizing her current service to isolate her from experiencing His abundant life. Even though she started in a different place than Mary, He invited her to draw near and step into the same experience.

This passage reveals that serving without surrender will leave us empty, and the fruits of our labor, apart from Him, will fade; but sitting at His feet eases and equips us with something lasting.

Rest becomes the posture where renewal happens. It is not stepping away from responsibility…it is stepping toward the Source who empowers us to carry it.

A Simple Prayer for Returning to the One Thing

Lord, help me when I lose sight of what matters most. Reorient my heart back to the One Thing I truly need. Help me to serve out of genuine love for You, grounded in Your love for me. Amen.