In my last post, I pointed out that Jesus answered the question the expert at the Law asked with The Parable of the Good Samaritan. He did not offer an answer to the unspoken question of “How do I love God?” He answered the question the lawyer was prepared to hear, without the accompanying lecture about everything else that was lacking in his understanding. After all the Shema begins, “Hear O Israel!”

 

Hearing. How strange that what is said and what is heard can be two different things! Strange how something can be said over and over again, but only at just such a moment, when circumstances in our lives come to a particular crossroads, do we actually hear it. Hear it with our heart, I mean!

 

Jesus knew what was in our hearts and minds. He knew what we would or could hear and what we couldn’t.

 

Additionally, we are told to “Ask. And it will be given.” The lawyer asked, and Jesus gave him the answer he requested.

Jesus also said, “The Father knows what you need before you ask.” We are invited to ask, because God loves us. And we receive what we ask. Yet, the Father knows that what we need might be something else, or something more than what we ask? It is a strange conundrum!

 

This story that I am relating comes from Luke chapter 10 verses 25-37. I think it is important to note that chapter 10 verses 38-42 says this:

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

 

People treat this as a separate story with a separate lesson entirely, but I think it is an example of God giving what is needed, alongside what is asked, but can we hear it? We didn’t ask how to love God, but He will show us a picture of what it looks like.

 

In this story we see a contrast in two ways that the women seek to love Jesus. One loves him by serving him, and wants her neighbor to do the same. The other loves Him as her God and hears Him. I point out again that the Shema says, “Hear, O Israel, The Lord your God! The Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”

 

I don’t know if the lawyer would have been present for this exchange. It’s possible that he followed Jesus as he went on his way, and that he was among those gathered there that day, but it’s possible that he went his own way. And you can say I’m wrong and that these two passages are separate and unrelated, but I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe God listens to what I’m worried about and He comforts me in those places, but He also gives me what I need. Peaches because I like them. Spinach because I need it. They sit side by side on my plate. Some days I eat both. Some days I eat the peaches and look at the spinach and say, “That’s weird? Those aren’t peaches.” and then run away to play.  

 

God is remarkably patient and unassuming in the way that He speaks to us. Burning bushes are rare. But manna is daily. If I don’t eat my spinach today, He will give me more tomorrow. Hopefully, I will “taste and see that the Lord is good” before I grow weak and sickly, but either way, He will continue to give me what I need, and He will continue to let me choose.

 

He won’t make me obey, and He didn’t let Martha choose for Mary either even though she asked. So, apparently asking has limits.

 

There is another dinner that Jesus had at Martha’s house (at least one more). It is right before He enters Jerusalem on a donkey. Right before Passover. John 12:2-3 tells of this dinner. Martha serves the dinner, Lazarus reclines with Jesus at the table, and Mary pours perfume over Jesus feet. 

 

Jesus lets them all love Him in the way they each choose. He lets them each decide how close they want to be to Him. 

 

He respects us enough to let us be free, He hopes we will trust His gentle nature enough to let Him help us and guide us to all the good things He has for us. 

 

What does this teach me about Rule 1? To listen to God, even more than we do for Him? Maybe. To know His kind and gentle nature since “we love because He first loved us?” Maybe. That a Good Neighbor respects the rights and freedoms of all? Well, that would be Rule 2, but I did say that to be a good neighbor, you first had to know One.  I don’t know exactly what it teaches. I don’t think it necessarily has to be only one lesson, but I do think it says, “You are free! Love me any way you are able! You are welcome as near Me as you’d like to be.”