THE LESSON OF SITTING AT JESUS’ FEET…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
While visiting door to door in Middlesboro, Ky., we had some friends and the daughter was visiting. She asked me: PREACHER WOULD YOU MIND TAKING YOUR SHOES OFF SO I CAN SEE YOUR FEET? I thought what a strange request? She opened the Bible and read about beautiful feet. I explained my feet was like anyone else’s. I explained the lesson is deeper than feet.
TEXT: Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
SIX TIMES IN THE BOOK OF LUKE WE FIND “AT JESUS’ FEET” DISCUSSED. THERE IS MORE TO THIS LESSON THAN FEET.
REAL DAILY LIFE HAS A TENDENCY TO BURY THE ETERNAL VALUE SYSTEM WITHIN THE BUSYNESS OF MATERIALISM AND MENIAL DAILY DUTIES.
We can argue over personal personality traits. We need to understand the reality of FOCUS, DAILY CHOICES AND OUR VALUE SYSTEM. What you love you will find time to do.
Luke 10: 38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
EVEN A SINFUL WOMAN CAN FIND A PLACE AT JESUS FEET. DO YOU SEE THIS WOMAN? DO WE UNDERSTAND WE CAN BE AT JESUS’ FEET AND MISS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE LESSON “AT HIS FEET.” RELIGION CAN BURY THE REALITY OF THE MOMENT…
Luke 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
We are not just pondering personality types. WE ARE WEIGHING THE FUNDAMENTAL CHOICES AND DECISIONS AND VALUE SYSTEMS ABOUT SERVICE AND DISCIPLESHIP.
MARY’S ACTIONS ARE NOT ABOUT HER LOCATION IN THE ROOM. MARY’S ATTITUDE IS MUCH MORE THAN SERVICE AND DEEDS. THE LESSON OF MARTHA AND MARY HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE POSTURE OF THE CHOICES THEY WILL MAKE. THE MARTHA–MARY LESSON IS MORE ABOUT CHOICES THAN JUST ACTION.
TO SIT AT ONE’S FEET IS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO REST…AT SOMEONE’S FEET SUGGESTS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP.
Will I closely listen? Am I open to God’s words?
THERE WAS A HOPELESS, HELPLESS MAN TRAPPED IN SIN UNTIL HE FOUND THE SWEET SPOT AT JESUS’ FEET!
Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
THERE WAS A LOVING FATHER THAT HAD ONE 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER… NO DOCTOR COULD HELP… WAIT, SORRY, YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER IS DEAD. WAIT YOU WERE AT JESUS’ FEET --- IT WILL BE OK!
Luke 8:41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
TEN VERY SICK PEOPLE… ONE RETURNS TO THE FEET OF JESUS… HE WAS MADE WHOLE.
Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
THE RESURRECTED JESUS SHOWED HIS DISCIPLES HIS HANDS, HIS SIDE AND HIS FEET. THOSE GATHERED THERE WERE WORSHIPPING THE SON OF GOD...
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
MAKE THE CHOICE? THERE IS A LESSON OF FOLLOW THE LEADER… TO SIT AT SOMEONE’S FEET IS AN IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION THAT REVEALS MENTORSHIP, TEACHER – STUDENT RELATIONSHIP. WE COME TO THE FEET OF TEACHERS TO LEARN AND CHANGE…
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
THREE TIMES MARY WAS FOUND AT JESUS’ FEET.
1. TO LEARN, TO BE TAUGHT, TO HEAR THE WORD… FOR INSTRUCTION.
Luke 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
2. HER BROTHER WAS DEAD… SHE CAME TO JESUS FOR COMFORT.
John 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
3. MARY CAME TO JESUS FEET TO SERVE HIM. SHE DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND BUT SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD… IT IS A MEMORIAL.
John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
CONCLUSION: LIFE OFTEN BECOMES “TUNNEL VISION.” TWO SISTERS, TWO ATTITUDES… BOTH WERE SERVING. DON’T YOU CARE JESUS? DON’T YOU CARE MARY IS NOT HELPING ME… MARTHA, MARTHA YOU ARE WORRIED. MARTHA YOU ARE ALL WORKED UP AND WORRIED… MARY MADE THE CHOICE --- THE BETTER PART.
No one can take away from any time spent at Jesus’ feet. MARY WAS SPIRITUALLY RECEPTIVE. Mary had discernment and could see beyond the BUSY CHORES… Beware the hustle and bustle of ministry can kill you.
We learn the favorite place in the world is to be at JESUS’ FEET to worship in spirit and truth. We kneel at Jesus’ feet. At the feet of Jesus we can find joy, peace, understanding, His strength, wisdom, clarity, courage and hope.
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
LET US LIVE AT JESUS’ FEET --- FAITHFUL TO THE CROSS. IF WE LIVE AT JESUS’ FEET WE WILL DIE AT HIS FEET!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I would love to hear from you!
