LESSONS LEARNED AT THE FEET OF JESUS
LUKE 10: 38--42
INTRODUCTION: HERE WE HAVE A CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO SISTERS, MARTHA AND MARY. WE KNOW IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR TWO SISTERS TO DISAGREE, OR HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WAYS TO DO THINGS; ESPECIALLY IF ONE IS DOING ALL THE WORK.
ORDINARILY, WE WOULD DEFEND THE ONE WHO IS SADDLED WITH ALL THE DUTIES OF WORK WHILE THE OTHER SITS IN LEISURE, BUT OUR TEXT BEARS OUT THAT THERE IS A GREAT LESSON TO LEARN HERE DESPITE THE OBVIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE STORY OF MARTHA AND MARY BEGINS IN LUKE 10 AND ENDS IN JOHN 12. WE FIND MARTHA BUSY WITH THE HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND MARY SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS.
I. WE FIND MARY WAITING AT THE FEET OF JESUS.
(A) MARTHA IS COMPLAINING TO THE LORD BECAUSE SHE IS DOING ALL THE WORK. (SOUNDS BAPTIST TO ME)
1. MANY TODAY WANT TO DO IT ALL AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT DOING ALL THE WORK.
2. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO WORK FOR GOD AND IF IT IS A BURDEN TO YOU, GOD CANNOT BLESS YOU.
3. IT MUST BE DONE WITH A WILLING HEART, NO MATTER WHO DOES IT.
(B) MARY IS AT THE FEET OF JESUS. IDLE AND LAZY??? NO!
1. SHE IS GLEANING EVERY LESSON AND CLINGING TO EVERY WORD THE MASTER SPEAKS.
ROMANS 10:17: FAITH COMES BY HEARING...............
1. SHE IS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE JESUS IN THE HOME
2. SHE IS SITTING AT THE FEET OF KNOWLEDGE.
3. WHAT A JOY TO SIT AT THE FEET OF THE MASTER.
LUKE 8: 35: JESUS HAD CAST THE DEMONS OUT OF THE MANIAC OF GADARA***** AND NOW HE SITS AT THE FEET OF JESUS, CLOTHED AND IN HIS RIGHT MIND.
4. IF THE LOST PERSON WOULD GET SAVED AND ALLOW GOD TO CLEANSE HIS MIND. HE WOULD BE IN THE RIGHT MIND FOR GOD TO BLESS AND USE.
(C) NOTICE THE LORD’S GENTLE REBUKE OF MARTHA.
1. MARTHA, YOUR WORLDLY CARES OF THIS WORLD IS CAUSING YOU GRIEF AND STRIFE.******
2. MARTHA YOUR WORK WILL STILL BE THERE LATER.*****
3. MARTHA WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS WORTH MORE THAN ANY WORK YOU MAY HAVE.*******
4. I’M SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM TO MARY WHILE YOU RATTLE POTS AND PANS AND SLAM DOORS.
5. INSPIRATION IS GREATER THAN IMPRESSION.
6. WORSHIP IS GREATER THAN WORKS******
7. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD IS ETERNAL
II. JOHN 11: 20: MARY WEEPING AT THE FEET OF JESUS.
(A) MARTHA AND MARY HAD SENT WORD TO JESUS; LAZARUS IS SICK.
1. JESUS, AFTER HEARING THE NEWS DID A STRANGE THING: HE STAYED THERE TWO MORE DAYS.******
3. FINALLY, HE TELLS HIS DISCIPLES: “LAZARUS IS DEAD.”
4. HE THEN MAKES A STRANGE STATEMENT: I’M GLAD FOR YOUR SAKE THAT WE WERE NOT THERE.”
5. A LESSON AWAITED ALL WHO WERE IN BETHANY.
6. NO NEED TO HURRY WHEN YOU ARE THE GIVER OF LIFE AND THE RESURRECTION.
7. HE COULD BE FOUR DAYS LATE AND BE RIGHT ON TIME.
8. BUT WHY FOUR DAYS?
THE JEWS HAD A TRADITION. THEY BURIED THEIR DEAD ON THE SAME DAY THEY DIED.
THEY BELIEVED THE SPIRIT OF THAT PERSON STAYED BY THE TOMB FOR THREE DAYS, AND THEN DEPARTED TO PARADISE OR TO HELL.
9. IT HAD TO BE 4 DAYS. (1DAY, 2 DAYS 3 DAYS*****)
10. EVEN THE UNBELIEVING JEWS COULD NOT DENY THE MIRACLE JESUS PERFORMED ON THE FOURTH DAY.
(B) WE FIND MARTHA RUNNING TO GREET JESUS.
1. HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY: LORD IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE MY BROTHER WOULD BE ALIVE.
2. MARTHA’S FAITH HAD BEEN SHAKEN**
3. SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHAT A GREAT AND POWERFUL GOD WE SERVE.
(C) V23: THY BROTHER SHALL LIVE AGAIN.
1. MARTHA REPLIES: “I KNOW HE WILL LIVE AGAIN ON THE GREAT RESURRECTION DAY.”
2. JESUS SAYS: MARTHA, I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND HE THAT BELIEVES IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD SHALL LIVE.
(D) HE THEN SENT A MESSAGE TO MARY:
1. THE MASTER IS HERE AND HE CALLETH FOR YOU.
2. WHAT A DIVINE INVITATION
3. WHAT A JOY TO KNOW FOR THE CHILD OF GOD HE WILL ONE DAY CALL FOR US, TAKE US HOME WITH HIM TO LIVE FOREVER.
4. V.33: THE SISTERS AND THE JEWISH FRIENDS WEPT
5. V35 : JESUS WEPT.
6. MANY THINK IT IS A WEAKNESS TO WEEP. IT IS NOT.
7. DAVID WEPT* PAUL WEPT** JESUS WEPT.
8. ONE DAY HE WILL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS.
III. JOHN 12: VS. 1--7 (READ)
WE FIND MARY WORSHIPPING AT THE FEET OF JESUS.
(A) SHE TOOK A POUND OF OINTMENT OF SPIKENARD, VERY COSTLY AND ANOINTED THE FEET OF JESUS, WIPED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR AND THE ENTIRE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH THE SWEET AROMA OF THE OINTMENT.
THIS WAS SIX DAYS BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION.
1. IT WAS THE CUSTOM OF THOSE DAYS TO BATHE THE HOT DUSTY FEET OF THE GUEST.
2.THE SPIKENARD OINTMENT WAS VERY COSTLY AND VERY STRONG.
3. SHE WAS ANOINTING HIM FOR BURIAL. FROM THAT POINT TO GOLGOTHA’S HILL, THE SWEET SAVOR WAS UPON HIM.
(B) NOTICE THE OPPOSITION OF JUDAS (DEVIL INCARNATE)
1. WHAT A WASTE! COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD, GIVEN TO THE POOR. (he cared not for the poor but for the money.)
2. UNBELIEVERS TODAY, LOOK AT WHAT WE DO AS A WASTE
3. OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST, OUR SERVICE TO GOD, IS BUT A WASTE TO THEM.
4. TO THE WORLD IT IS FOOLISHNESS BUT TO US IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.
(C) THE SECULAR, UNBELIEVING WORLD TODAY IS FILLED WITH WRATH AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE AND GOD’S PROGRAM.
EXAMPLE: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.
1. SECULAR WORLD SAYS IT IS A BAD IMAGE. BLOODY AND VIOLENT, NOT FIT TO WATCH. WHAT IRONIC HYPOCRISY.****
2. CAUSES FOLKS TO HATE JEWS. PREPOSTEROUS!!!!!
3. SOME SEEM TO FORGET OR DO NOT KNOW CHRIST WAS BORN A JEW.
4. A TRUE CHILD OF GOD CANNOT AND WILL NOT HATE JEWS.
5. TO DO SO WOULD GO AGAINST SCRIPTURE.
6. WHAT THE UNBELIEVING SECULAR WORLD FEARS IS A GREAT REVIVAL OF PEOPLE BEING EXPOSED TO THE WORD OF GOD AND OBEYING THE WILL OF GOD*****
