Monday, October 5, 2009

3Fold Blessing At Jesus' Feet

Ask any Christian - where is the best place to be in the Lord?

Some say in His arms. Some say on His breast. Some say on His shoulders.

I say at His feet!
(I can hear see some of you scratching your head!)

It is not a common place for a Christian to want to be.
Most often we envision ourselves serving from positions of power.
Some feel inclined to move from nations and nations to preach.
Others feel more inclined to run the race.

There is nothing wrong with the above (if you're doing it by grace).
But I recently discovered an exciting blessing and anointing at Jesus' feet.

If ever there is a place a Christian ought to be, He should always begin at Jesus' feet.
Ever wonder why?

But what does Jesus' feet mean in present day 'up and going', 'non-stop' Christianity?
Being at 'Jesus' Feet' has so often been a common saying that it has perhaps lost its meaning today.

Read these References:
Luke 10:38-42
John 11:1-44
John 12:1-11


Jesus' Feet Is A Place Of Learning
Most Christians feel, they SHOULD SERVE, whether or not there is deep gospel/theological understanding. They are more concerned about ministry results instead of a believer's growth (in fact they measure the believer's growth by the growth of the ministry!).

These Church goers want Christians to serve.
Jesus begs to differ - He tells Martha that Mary has chosen the better. And it is better for her to remain there.
In Luke 10:39, the word used for Mary's act of sitting at Jesus' feet is -parakathizo¯
It means to sit very close.
The word listen in v39 isakouo¯
It means to hear in understanding. She did not just let words pass through her head, she comprehended what Jesus was teaching in the house.

Martha, on the other hand, was burdened - perispao¯
It shows a 'dragging' burden that follows you here and there.

The word serve here is - diakoneo¯, that is to attend to (as though in a ministry).
Martha was burning with zeal - she was committed and SERIOUS about doing what she did without knowing what she ought to know.

Rather than let Mary be dragging around a burden of service, Jesus PREFERS that Mary stay close by and listen with understanding.

A 'burdensome' service only pulls a believer AWAY from Jesus.
Does that mean we DON'T serve? Of course not. I will show you an even better way to serve as you continue reading.

Jesus' Feet Is A Place Of Refuge
Consider John 11 where Lazarus is dead, and the ONLY thing Mary could do was to run to Jesus and fell at His feet.

John 11:32
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." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

I used to think it was the crowd. I used to believe it was emotions accumulating and waiting to burst.

I now think that very act of a bawling believer at the feet of the Saviour is all that moved Him.

Jesus did not react in the same way when zealous Martha came. And having Mary at His feet, His heart reached for the purpose of His coming - to bring life and the resurrection. No theological class, no silent rebuke like the one Martha about Jesus being the resurrection and the life.

Just a saviour that was moved to the heart. And when His heart moved, his lips that commanded the creation of the world, commanded the resurrection of a man in a tomb.

Jesus' Feet Is An Anointed Place To Serve
John 12:3

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.

Mary did in one act, what Martha could NEVER achieve in one lifetime of cooking in the kitchen. That's the kind of noteworthy service one can achieve when serving at His feet.

It's not about the achievement. It's not about 'I did more than you'. It's not about having many ministries under your belt, or having utilised all the human talents God has given you.

It's about receiving and resting at His feet.
It's about letting Him give and overflow your cup.
It's about learning to relax in His presence, and letting Him lead.
It's about not letting service draw you far away from Himself.


At Jesus' feet, you have more to receive from Him - and hence, more to give.
Because when we are at His feet, it's NEVER about us.
It is never about our boasting, or our ministry, or our pride.
It's not about what we've done, or how we've obeyed.

It's all about being as close to Him as possible.
And having depart from that place should tear your heart apart, and not create a more burning desire to serve.

Be like Mary at Jesus' feet...