(38) Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. (40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (41) And Jesus answered, and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: (42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
It should seem, that after this conversation with the lawyer, our Lord and his disciples moved onward in their walk. According to the account given by John, Jesus and his disciples were returning from Jerusalem, at this time after the feast of tabernacles: and they were now entering Bethany, the town of Lazarus and his sisters. See John 7:10. The conversation here recited is but short, but it is very striking. The contrast between these sisters, in their different pursuits, is finely set forth by the Lord himself. Oh! what a folly is the diligence of even the most inoffensive employments, bounded by the prospects of this life, when compared to the desire of the one thing needful. The Reader will not fail to remark, that Christ himself is that good part alluded to, which never can be lost. All else may: all else will. God, our Father, hath given the Church nothing to have, and hold forever, but his dear Son. And this first, and best, and comprehensive gift, which includes every other, is given never to be recalled. Mary's choice of this is not to be supposed as if resulting from her own natural affection. If we love him, it is because he first loved us. Nature untaught, uninfluenced by the grace of God, would never make choice of Christ to all eternity. But when the Lord's choice of his redeemed, which is always accompanied with the grace of the Lord in the heart, directs the soul to Jesus; then, like Mary, our choice flowing from the Lord's choice, and our love issuing as a stream, from the fountain of his love, we are made everlastingly secure in the grace of God in Christ; and Christ, with his fulness, becomes a portion to live upon in time, and to all eternity, and which can never be taken away.