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A Special Dinner Guest
The Story of Mary & Martha

by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha

Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian



Terry and Jerry waited impatiently at the window with their noses pressed against the windowpane. At any moment their cousins should be arriving.

They had carefully cleaned their rooms making sure to get all the dust out of the corners. The bed was made with freshly laundered sheets. They had even picked a bouquet of flowers from the garden to put in a vase on the nightstand. Everything was ready for their special guests.

They heard the car pull into the driveway and rushed outside to meet their cousins, who were scrambling to get out the back door. With smiles and giggles, they willingly helped carry the suitcases inside and showed their cousins where they were to stay. What FUN they were going to have this week!



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blue jar Jesus spent a great deal of time, walking from town to town, teaching people about the love of God and how they should treat one another. Some people didn't like what Jesus had to say, so they rejected Him and his teachings. Other people loved Jesus very much and followed Him from place to place, listening attentively to EVERY word.

yellow jar kitchen When Martha heard that Jesus was going to be walking through the town of Bethany, she was FILLED with excitement! She loved Jesus SO very much and hoped that she would be able to spend some time with Him. She put on her best clothes and ran out of the house and down the street to meet Jesus.

“Please, PLEASE, come to our house!” she pleaded. “I know you must be tired and hungry after such a long day. I would LOVE to prepare a nice dinner for You. Won't You PLEASE come?”

Martha's persistence paid off. Jesus agreed to go to Martha's house for dinner. Martha was BESIDE herself with joy. She turned and ran back to the house to prepare for her Special Guest.

“Mary, MARY!” she cried out. “Guess who is coming to our house today!”

Martha began preparing a special meal When Mary, who was Martha's sister, discovered that JESUS was on His way, she was JUST as excited as Martha. Quickly they began to tidy up the house and make it presentable for their Special Guest.

Martha began to get a little anxious. “There is just SO much to DO. How will we EVER manage to get everything DONE before Jesus arrives?” she thought to herself. She busied herself with all the little things that needed to be done, like dusting and straightening up the room. Then she went into the kitchen to begin preparing a special meal.

“Let's see . . . flour . . . sugar . . . figs are in season . . .,” she was thinking out loud. “I can make a delicious fig pie for dessert.”



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While working busily in the kitchen, she heard voices just outside. “It's JESUS!” she said excitedly. “I MUST go welcome Him.”

She took a short break from her kitchen duties to say hello and welcome Jesus into their house. Then she went back to finish cooking the meal.

Jesus sat at the tableMary listened intently

The table was set with the best linens. All the food was perfectly arranged on the plates. Martha was SO busy working, she didn't have time to visit with Jesus. She realized that she was doing ALL the work and her sister Mary was in the other room listening to Jesus and not doing ANYTHING to help.

kitchen tools hanging from bar

Martha was becoming more and MORE angry with Mary As Martha continued to fuss with preparing a perfect meal, she was becoming more and MORE angry with Mary. “It's just not FAIR that she is in there having a good time talking to Jesus, and I am in HERE, working myself into a frenzy,” she thought. “I've had ENOUGH! I'm going to go in there and DO something about this!”



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Jesus lovingly spoke to Martha She put a fake smile on her face and went into the other room. “Jesus, could you please ask Mary to come into the kitchen? I could surely use some help in here,” she said as pleasantly as she could.

Jesus turned to her with a grim look and lovingly spoke her name. “Martha, Martha. You are so busy trying to make everything just right. You are going to TOO much trouble. You are WORRYING too much.

“Look at Mary sitting here calmly enjoying my company. She has chosen the better thing, and I will not make her leave Me.”

bread basket Martha quietly went back to the kitchen, finishing her tasks as quickly as possible so that dinner could be served and she too could enjoy time with her friend Jesus.


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REMEMBER: Take time every day to love Jesus and listen to his words.

THINK!

1. In what town did Mary and Martha live?
2. Who was the special guest?
3. Who chose the better thing, Mary or Martha?


A VERSE TO LEARN

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a).



PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Do you have friends you like to visit often? Why do you like to visit them? What would you think if you visited a friend who just kept themselves busy in another room while you were waiting to play with them? Do you think that would be rude? How would it make you feel?

What would you do if Jesus came to visit you? Would you fail to talk to Him and go, do other things as Martha did, or would you sit at his feet like Mary and listen to what He had to say?

[After discussion:] Jesus said He's standing at the door of your heart, knocking. If you'd open the door, He'd come in and sup with you. He doesn't ask you to prepare food for Him. He wants you to sup on Him. Remember, He's the Bread of heaven and the Word of God. What He means is that He wants you to read his Word every day and talk to Him about it. He also wants you to talk to Him about what's on your mind and in your heart, and what's going on in your life. He wants you to have faith that He hears you and will satisfy your needs as He sees fit. Would you like to invite Him into your heart now and have a talk with Him?



LET'S PRAY

Dog and boy praying

****************************************************
Dear Jesus, I love You so much. Help me to remember
to take time each day to tell You that I love You
and to listen to the words You gave me in the Bible.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
****************************************************


CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Luke 10:38-42


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JUST FOR FUN

Bake a Bible Cake



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COLORING FUN

crayons

Color the Bible Verse
Mary Listens to Jesus
Bible Colour and Learn: 17 People in The Life of Jesus

Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books



child reading a book

Martha and Mary - Friends of Jesus (Bibletime Books)
Mary and Martha (Candle Little Lambs)
Mary and Martha (Answers in Genesis read online)
Mary and Martha's Dinner Guest
The Best Thing To Do
The Hear Me Read Bible

Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Children's Books
Early Reader's Bible
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Pilgrim's Progress Comic
Spanish Children's Books

365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year


365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories
The Children's Illustrated Bible
The Picture Bible (also in Spanish)
The Preschooler's Bible
Toddler's Bible



activities

Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Mary and Martha Activity Ideas
Crossword Puzzle
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Activities for Jesus Visits Mary and Martha
Jigsaw Puzzle (print)
Spot the Differences
Word Line Up

Best Book of Bible Activities
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Christian and educational toys
Crossword Books
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
Games
Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
Sticker Books
The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry
The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles



crafts

Jesus Visits Mary and Martha Craft (online)
Mary and Martha Bible Craft
Mary and Martha Crafts and Activities
Mary and Martha Lantern

Bible Crafts
Bible Crafts & More (Ages 3-6)
Crafting the Word of God

Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]


Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts

More! Bible Crafts on a Shoe String Budget:
Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes

(Reproducible: Ages 5-10)

Puppet Crafts For Kids



singing birds

Martha, Martha Song from The Donut Man: Camp Harmony & The Celebration House, DVD

Come Mary, Come Martha (online)
Mary and Martha Puppets Song (online)
Mary and Martha Song (online)
Mary/Martha [Donut Man Music Download]

100 Ways To Know God Loves Me & 100 Songs
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
Bible Songs on CD
Bible Songs on DVD
150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids

Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
The Bible in a Minute (sing along)

25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music



CDs and DVDs

Jesus Visits Mary and Martha (listen online)
Jesus Visits Mary and Martha (watch)
LifeKids: Mary and Martha (watch)
Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary (watch)
Martha - Little Bible Heroes animated (watch)
Mary and Martha Bible Theater (online)
Mary and Martha Science (online)
Mary and Martha Sunday School Bible Adventures (online)
Mary, Martha and Jesus Song—Donut Man DVD
We Can Follow God! (online)

What's in the Bible: What Is the Bible?
Jesus Is the Good News


All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (watch online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (listen & watch online)
Read and Share DVD Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs
Children's DVDs



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RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

Mary and Martha [Download] (Powerpoint Bible Presentation)
Mary and Martha Bible Exploration
Mary and Martha Children's Sermon
Mary and Martha Puppets
The Most Important Thing—Mary and Martha sermons for kids
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit

Free Bible story images
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
Bible for Children in 232 languages
Children's Ministry
Bible Memory Match Game
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Big Book of Bible Games
Bulletin Board helps
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Children's Ministry Volunteers That Stick
Children's Sermon
Church Supplies
Closing Prayer

FREE materials to Bible schools, Bible colleges, seminaries,
churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide


52 Games That Teach The Bible
Free educational videos
God's Servants Teach Me

God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs


Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles

Leading Little Ones to God:
A Child's Book of Bible Teachings


Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Resources
Object Talks
Opening Prayer
Parenting Resources
Pray & Play Bible for Young Children
Puppet Scripts
Review Activities for Bible Lessons
Seven Laws of the Learner
Spanish Resources
Sunday school resources
Sunday School Songs: Lyrics and Tunes (online)
Talking to God
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit

The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry


Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know

Children's resources


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Copyright © 2023 by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

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