“Unexpected Guests”

“Unexpected Guests”
Brian Reid – July 8, 2007

The other night I decide to drop in on one of my neighbors up the street here. The husband and wife had told me numerous times to bring Peggy along and have a visit. These are new friends of ours and we are still getting to know them. Peggy and are a little slow at getting around to everyone, so even though we had had an invitation, we had yet to call and setup a time to visit.

But, the other night I was out doing some running around and I was driving past their place, and I decide, on the spur of the moment, to stop and say, ‘Hi.’

Well, even though they were happy to see me, I was an Unexpected Guest. The wife said something like; “Oh, you should have called, I would have cleaned up the house a bit.”

The husband said something like; “Please excuse the mess, we worked all day.”

After they gave some more excuses about the cleanliness of their house, I finally said; “I didn’t come to see your house, I came here to see you. If I want to come and inspect your house, I will call and make an appointment.”

After a shaking start, I visited for about 45 minutes, we had tea and cookies, talked about a few things – and I left. I told them that I would be back, with my wife, Peggy, for a nice visit, and I assured them that I would call first.


Isn’t strange that we all seem to dislike an Guests, that just drop in, Unexpectedly. We feel we must have the house spick & span. All the laundry has to be folded and put away. All the dishes clean and placed, perfectly, into the cupboard. The floor must be clean enough to eat off of. The kids have to be wearing their Sunday best; their faces and hands all washed up and their hair neatly combed.

The bathroom is always a room that needs cleaning and adjusting; as you hide those things that might be embarrassing.

The kitchen has to be perfect as well; with something great, just cooked, to snack on. The ‘good’ China needs to be used, lots of cold stuff to drink, and a variety of hot beverages.

The entranceway has to be cleared of clutter, such as boots of shoes. There are also many things we remove from sight, because we don’t want the guests to get the wrong idea of who we are, or what kind of people we might be. We worry about what they will think of us, or the things they might say going out the driveway.

These are the things, we all might worry about when people come over; and it is multiplied by 1000, when we have Unexpected Guests.


But, what would you do, what would you think, what worries would you have if one, most, Unexpected Guest, arrived at your door? What would you do if Jesus came knocking?

In our scripture lesson today, we hear about Jesus visiting Martha and Mary; and even though He was an Unexpected Guest, this day, He was not a stranger to this house.

Let me set the scene…

After the Temptation, Jesus returned to Galilee to preach, teach and heal. During this period of time, He began gathering His group of disciples. Later, Jesus commissioned them and reveal to them, His true identity, as the Son of Man and the Son of God, and He also revealed to them His true mission; being the Perfect Lamb of God, the Holiest of all Sacrifices.

Jesus true mission, on this earth, would take Him to Jerusalem, where He would be rejected, tried and crucified. Jesus knew what lay ahead of Him; He knew the great responsibility He had to face up to; and He knew he must die to save many others. The villages of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, were Jesus’ resting-places during His last days on earth.

After teaching throughout Galilee, He headed towards Jerusalem; and decided to visit His friends.

So, when Jesus arrived at the house of Martha and Mary - what was it He was looking for, and what was it that He needed? Think about it!

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to die. His whole being was taken up with the intensity of the inner battle to bend His will, to change His own will, to alter and adjust His very own will, to that of God’s will – the will of God.
Jesus had journeyed from the Sea of Galilee, along the Jordan River, through the wilderness of Samaria, to the Mount of Olives, to a tiny village at Bethany; to the door of His friends.

But, what was He doing there?

(move to the resting place, on the stairs)

Jesus had come to Martha and Mary’s house; He wanted, what can be found in this Sanctuary, at anytime through the week. He wanted, what I find here, as I sit and listen, as I sit and listen. And, if you sit and listen, you, too, will hear it.

Jesus came to Martha and Mary’s house, and all He wanted was Quiet.

(back to pulpit)

When Jesus came to that home, it was a great day – a day to celebrate. And Martha was eager to celebrate and put on the best the house could offer; but all Jesus wanted was Quiet.

Martha went fretting and fussing; was worried and upset; over-occupied, distracted and troubled. Martha was preparing a big dinner, a feast, fit for a king; a celebration - a party. All Jesus wanted was Quiet.

A big fancy dinner and celebration was not what He sought. But as Martha rushed and fussed and cooked, Mary fell to Jesus feet, and listened.

In verse 38; With the cross before Him, and with the inner tension, deep in His heart, he had turned aside to Bethany, to find an oasis of calm, far from the demanding crowds – if only for an hour or two; and that was what Mary gave Him.

That was what Mary gave Him; a listening eye, a calmness around Him, she gave Him her attention, she gave Him the gift of quality time. Martha was running about, trying to make everything perfect, and never thought to address Him, make Him feel welcome, or listen to Him.

In verse 39, Martha noticed Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, and then in verse 40; “Lord,” she said. “Do you not care that my sister has left me to get on with the work by myself? Tell her to come lend a hand.”

But the Lord rebuked her in verses 41-42, saying; “Martha, Martha, you are fretting and fussing about so many things; but one thing is necessary. The part that Mary has chosen is best; and it shall not be taken from her.”

Jesus was saying two things.

First, he was saying that He didn’t need a big meal, He didn’t need a feast or a celebration. He was saying; “I don’t need a big spread; one course, the simplest meal will do.”




Martha was going way over-board on this meal; she was doing too much, having too much, worrying too – she though everything had to be perfect…when all Jesus wanted was a simple and ordinary meal. “…you are fretting and fussing about so many things; but one thing is necessary…

The second thing, Jesus was saying, was that Mary had chosen to sit and listen, to talk to, to communicate with, Jesus. To be there for Him and to listen to what He had to say. Mary knew and understood that Jesus had so much to say, and so little time to say it.

Jesus was simply saying that listening to the Word of the Lord is of great importance; and anyone who takes the time to sit and listen – fill find what their looking for and will benefit from it greatly.

Martha and Mary both loved Jesus very much; and on this occasion both were serving Him. But, what Martha failed to understand was that in her hurriedness and her desire to serve Jesus, in the only way she knew – (through hospitality), she was actually neglecting her guest.

Jesus did not blame Martha for being concerned about such household cores. When He rebuke her, He was asking her to set priorities; for it is possible for our service to Christ to decay into mere busywork - that is totally devoid of devotion to God.

Service for Christ grows out of receiving the Word of Life from Christ. A life of effective service, is a life rooted in prayer, worship, and study of the scriptures. (x2)
Martha served Jesus with gusto, zeal, zest, enthusiasm and vigor - by preparing a grand meal, a celebration, a feast; but that was not what Jesus wanted – He wanted Quiet.

He wanted Martha to come and sit at His feet as well, so He could tell her (also) of the love of God and of salvation, and eternal life.

He wants you to come and sit at His feet as well, so He can tell you (also) of the love of God, and of salvation, and eternal life.

We cannot serve someone, when we do not know what they stand for. We can serve someone when we don’t know what they have promised, said or did. We can’t serve Christ, if we don’t know who God is, and why Jesus had to die.

And we can’t serve Christ, if Christ remains for us, an Unexpected Guest.

(insert Dianne McCullough – story)

Let Us Pray: