Sitting at Jesus' Feet
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 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 10:38-42
There’s been a lot of debate about this passage. Typically, it has to do with personality types – the “Martha” who is harried and worried and the “Mary” who is serene and contemplative.
But the meaning of this account goes well beyond that. It has to do with a fundamental decision about discipleship.
Luke writes how Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet.” This isn’t just a description of her location in the room. It has to do with the posture of her heart. It’s an assertion that Mary had made a studied choice to be Jesus’ disciple.
Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet.” This isn’t just a description of her location in the room. It has to do with the posture of her heart.
To “sit at someone’s feet” was a technical expression used in ancient times to indicate the intimate relationship between a disciple and a rabbi. For instance, Paul cited his credentials to the religious leaders in Jerusalem by stating, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus…brought up in this city at the feet of (the great rabbi) Gamaliel…”
To make someone your rabbi was fundamentally a choice to be with him in order to learn everything you could from him. Every activity in life became an opportunity to learn from the rabbi how to be like the rabbi.
My Heart’s Posture
That being the case, the heart posture of “sitting at Jesus’ feet” can indeed include quietly listening to His words or diligently seeking His counsel. But for the “everyday disciple,” it can also include playing a round of golf or cooking a meal… negotiating a contract or working the assembly line…handling a frustrating situation or resolving a conflict… encountering a person in need, or engaging in a conversation with someone far from God.
All it requires is asking Jesus to be your teacher in the moment. To consider how He would act and then do likewise.
What if you would wake up each morning in this new year and take some time to sit at Jesus’ feet? To see if He might have a word for you as you enter into your day.
And then what if you left that moment whispering a prayer:
“Jesus, I want to ‘sit at Your feet’ throughout this day. I want to think, speak, and act as one who has spent time with you, learned from You, and is seeking to follow after You.”
Jesus, I want to “sit at Your feet” throughout this day. I want to think, speak, and act as one who has spent time with you, learned from You, and is seeking to follow after You.
Qualified?
Then again, maybe you think you’re not qualified to be a disciple of Jesus. That you don’t have the necessary maturity to make the spiritual cut.
So here’s another detail we are apt to overlook in the Luke account. Prior to Jesus, guess how many rabbis in all recorded history had a female disciple? Zero!
No respectable rabbi would ever let a woman be in His intimate circle. Yet Jesus not only allowed for it, He encouraged it.
Male or female, young or old, rich or poor, all are welcome to sit at His feet. That includes YOU. But only you can decide to choose the “better thing.” Why not give it a shot? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Male or female, young or old, rich or poor, all are welcome to sit at Jesus' feet. That includes YOU.
PRAYER
Lord, I think at times I make following you to complicated. That I have to attain some level of maturity in order to be accepted as Your disciple. Help me to take a cue from Mary and simply sit at Your feet. And then help me to follow You throughout my day so closely that I am covered in the dust of my Rabbi.
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