In the Bible, we see that Mary understood the value of being at the feet of Jesus. We are told about three times when she was at His feet.
Sitting at Jesus’ Feet
The first time, Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His word (Luke 10:39). Mary was listening to Jesus. She was paying attention to Him and to what He was saying.
But her sister, Martha, was “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40 (NKJV)). The word distracted in this verse means that Martha was “over-occupied” or drawn away.
Could you imagine if Jesus came over to your house for dinner? How much time would you spend planning the meal, shopping for the best ingredients you could find, and making sure your house was spotless? Wouldn’t you want everything to be perfect? Then after Jesus arrived, how much time would you spend making sure that the food was cooked to perfection and beautifully plated? You would want to ensure that Jesus had everything He wanted.
Don’t misunderstand, serving is good. The problem was not Martha’s desire to serve. It was Martha’s failure to focus on what was important in that moment. She was so occupied with what she was doing that she wasn’t paying attention to Jesus.
Jesus was there; Jesus was teaching them. But Martha wasn’t listening. Martha didn’t hear. In fact, Martha was so distracted that she was complaining to Jesus. She approached Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40 (NKJV)).
Instead of telling Mary to help her sister, Jesus acknowledged that Mary was in the best place – at His feet, hearing His word. Jesus told her,
Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV))
There is a time for service. Yet, we must remember that there is also a time to sit at Jesus’ feet, hearing His word. We need to spend time in the Bible, reading God’s word. As we learn about the things He wants us to know, our relationship with Jesus will grow deeper.
Falling at Jesus’ Feet
The second time we see Mary at Jesus’ feet, her brother Lazarus had died. When Jesus came, she fell at Jesus’ feet weeping (John 11:32-33). Mary took all her sorrow and pain to Jesus. She was honest with Him about what she was thinking. She told Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32 NKJV)).
When we’re going through a heartbreaking situation, we too should fall at Jesus’ feet. We should bring all our pain and sorrow to Him. You can be honest with Jesus about what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling.
Jesus invited us to do so. He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)). It is God who “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 (NKJV)). That includes your broken heart.
When we bring all our pain to Jesus, we are admitting that He is the One who can help us. By bringing our sorrow to Him, He can comfort us and begin the healing process.
Worshipping at Jesus’ Feet
The third time we are told about Mary at Jesus’ feet, it is only a few days before His crucifixion. While Jesus was having dinner, (John 12:2) Mary came to Him with her most valuable possession – an “alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard” (Mark 14:3 (NKJV)).
The perfume was worth about 300 denarii (Mark 14:5; John 12:5). A denarius was a coin used at that time. Commentators suggest that 300 denarii was the equivalent of a year’s wages. The flask of oil was likely Mary’s dowry – what she would have presented to her husband at the time of her marriage.
Mary broke the flask and poured it on Jesus’ head and anointed His feet (Mark 14:3; John 12:3). Then she wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:3).
Mary came to Jesus with her future. She gave it all to Him and worshipped Him. She didn’t hold anything back. “[T]he house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:3 (NKJV)). The fragrance of Mary’s worship and devotion filled the room.
When the disciples were “indignant” and “criticized her sharply” for wasting the oil because it could have been sold and the money given to the poor, Jesus rebuked them (Mark 14:4-6 (NKJV)). He said,
Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” (Mark 14:6-9 (NKJV))
We too should bring all that we have to Jesus and worship at His feet. As our Lord, everything we are and everything we have belongs to Him. Don’t worry about those who may be indignant or criticize you for your worship of Jesus. As you worship and pray, the aroma of your devotion will fill your house. Our prayers are like “golden bowls full of incense” (Revelation 5:8).
So let’s be like Mary –
- sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His word;
- falling at Jesus’ feet in our distress; and
- bringing all that we have and giving it to Jesus as we worship at His feet.
Beautiful Cathy, Lord always has a good way of reminding me to be more like Mary and just resting at his feet.
I love how you illustrated how Mary did this on 3 different occasions ♥️