Sitting at Jesus’ Feet

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Luke 10:39 – And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.


            Our Lord had enemies, but He also had friends, three of whom were siblings: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. On two occasions the Bible records Him feasting with them, both times we find Martha serving and Mary sitting – sitting at Jesus’ feet. And when their brother Lazarus died, it was Mary who fell at his feet in prayer, not Martha. She learned the value of sitting at His feet.

            She knelt deliberately when she sat and listened to Him teach. To her it was a privilege and a priority to hear Him speak. And she could always learn better at His feet, below him in humility and contrition. Martha was too busy serving Jesus that she couldn’t sit at His feet and learn.

            When Lazarus died, it was Mary again who “fell down at his feet” (John 11:32) kneeling desperately. Before she had been learning at His feet, now she was weeping at His feet. The shortest verse in scripture sums up His response to Mary – “Jesus wept.” She moved Him to an expression of tears. If we are ever going to move the Lord, it will be at His feet!

            After the raising of Lazarus, less than a week before Jesus’ crucifixion, we find Mary at His feet again (John 12:3) this time kneeling devotedly. She knew it cost something to truly worship Him. She wanted Him to have the best. For her it was an alabaster box of ointment, valued at one year’s wages. There was also criticism, as before, with her kneeling. Judas rebuked her for not selling the perfume and giving the money to the poor, but Jesus commended her for what she did, saying, “She hath wrought a good work upon me” (Matt. 26:10).

            Today, why not seek for wisdom, why not weep in prayer, why not worship Him – at His feet?