“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” -John 11:32
“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” -Luke 10:39
“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” -John 12:3
I have pondered something for weeks as I paralleled these three passages of Scripture together. Mary was identified by her sitting at the feet of Jesus. This is where she is often found and a most beautiful descriptor of her life.
In desperation, she surrendered at the feet of Jesus.
In quietness and teachability, she sat at His feet.
In worship, she poured it all out on His feet.
Jesus invited Mary to sit at His feet, and today He is inviting you to do the same.
Surrender at the Feet of Jesus
Women were not permitted in those days to learn at the feet of rabbis, and they certainly were not permitted to let their hair down and wash the feet of a man during a meal. Mary lived with a heart set apart for Jesus. Culture would not limit her expression or worship of the One she loved. There weren’t immovable barriers for Mary. When Jesus pulled her to Himself, she came. When faced with death and grief, she submitted to His lordship over her life and circumstances. Does my love for Jesus look like this? If a biography was written of my life, would it say, “She was always found at the feet of Jesus”?
“You must sit at His feet, or you will never anoint them! He must pour His Divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon Him!” -Charles Spurgeon
Nothing was too costly for Mary to pour out on Jesus; her tears, her time, and her treasure all belonged to Jesus. They belonged to Him because she belonged to Him. And in the falling down at His feet, the sitting at His feet, or the bending low to anoint His feet, her heart, too, bent low. She held one common position—humble surrender at the feet of Jesus. He held the rightful place in her heart. He held a place no other deserved.
“‘… but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” -Luke 10:42
Jesus was Lord in Mary’s life. He was her one thing. He was the only thing that mattered. And in every different place, the desire in Mary remained the same: to sit at the feet of Jesus, to worship and weep there. Every context drove Mary to the same end—at His feet.
Feet that would hold the weight of His broken body on the cross.
Feet that would willingly walk to Jerusalem to face the end of His life on Earth.
Feet that would walk a cross on His bloodied back to “the place of the skull.”
Feet that would walk into towns that refused to believe He was the Son of God.
Feet that would leave the streets of Heaven for the dirt roads of Earth.
Feet that would walk out of a grave and into your life to make His home in you.
Go to the Feet of Jesus
I want the simplicity of adoration Mary had for Jesus. He was her everything—her very treasure. Jesus loved and embraced and taught Mary so intimately that going to the feet of Jesus was her rightful response. So much healing and belonging took place at the feet of Jesus for Mary. Let us find our dwelling place this month at the feet of Jesus.
Let me close with the questions I am compelled to personally ask the Lord after pondering these testimonies of Mary’s devotion, worship, and surrender.
Do I go to the feet of Jesus before I go and do ministry?
Do I run from thing to thing, like Martha, doing good things but not the best thing?
When I am grieving or disillusioned, do I run to the feet of my friend or husband before I go to the feet of Jesus?
Do all of my treasures get poured out on the feet of Jesus or the feet of the world?
Do I live at His feet or just go there from time to time?
Mary received what she needed at His feet. Then, He helped her to get up and go. She walked to Lazarus’ tomb with Jesus to witness a miracle. She got up from sitting and anointing His feet in order to face the brutality of the cross. Her positioning at His feet prepared her for what God was about to do. Take hold of that truth today. This is why we should return to our first love. There will be something God will prepare in you for what is to come. But first, we go to His feet.
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