“Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. She said [to him], ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'” Luke 10:38-42
“A certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.…‘
“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again…’
“She went and called Mary, saying, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ When she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him… When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept…
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 11:1-3,20-23,28-30,32-35; 12:1-3
Mary treasured time at the feet of her friend Jesus. Those feet tough and dusty had walked miles and seasons bringing enlightenment, good news, and healing. She relished settling there to listen, to sooth, to weep, to anoint. It was her worthy place as His servant, her comfort place as His friend, her humble place of wonder for this God-man who spent Himself for others. The Lord understood her deepest heart and commended this posture, this place of offering and receiving, as the one thing necessary, the good portion. (John 12:7)
All of God’s children have a portion in Christ Jesus and at His feet. To situate ourselves there is to understand our relationship and value the place of learning and loving. How determined are we to make the necessary commitment of will and time? (John 13:3-5,14-16; Philippians 2:3-8)
What urgencies, what busyness, troubles, and distractions pull us from stooping before Jesus, from stopping to listen? What have we gleaned there that will not be taken away, that we can emulate? Time at Jesus’s feet relieves anxieties, renews hope, and magnifies love.
Lord, keep me loving and learning at Your feet.
As the rain and snow 