Learning to Sit at the Feet of JesusSýnishorn

Jesus, Mary, Martha, and the Good Portion

Another legendary woman found at the feet of Jesus was Mary of Bethany. She was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. Jesus had arrived in their village, and Martha had welcomed Him into her home. Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” (Luke 10:39). Mary understood the importance of spending time in the presence of the Lord, and she wouldn’t let anything to cause her to miss out on an opportunity to do so. She was hungry for the Word. She had a heart to learn from Him. She had a heart of worship. And she was willing to pour herself out, to let go of what others expected her to be. 

And Jesus commended her for that for when Martha complained that Mary wasn’t helping her. He said, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). Mary chose well. She focused on being exactly who God called her to be, regardless of what others thought.

And that is what legendary women do. They die to themselves and to the opinions of others. They realize that the only expectations that really matter are God’s. Both Mary and the unnamed woman understood that. They knew that the opinions of Pharisees and family members weren’t what was important; what was important was to be at the feet of Jesus. So they defied cultural norms and expectations to spend time with the Lord, to worship Him, to learn from Him, and to love Him. They poured themselves out.

Mary’s story also has a cautionary tale for the legendary woman. Her sister, Martha, was a legendary woman of fiery faith in her own right. But Luke wrote that Martha “was distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40). Legendary woman, God has given you many gifts, and He has called you to serve the body of Christ and His kingdom with those gifts. But you need to fulfill your purpose, your calling, not what other people think your calling or purpose is. You need to use your wisdom and discernment to go where God tells you to go and do what God tells you to do. It is all too easy for Satan to keep you from fulfilling your true purpose by having you do lots of other good things. Don’t get caught up and distracted by much serving. 

Jesus is your magnificent obsession. You must follow Him wherever He goes. The day you realize that He is the only One who is holy, He is the only One who is good, when your heart is awakened with a burning desire to give everything to Him at any cost—that’s your defining moment, the time when you pledge your allegiance to Jesus. 

Legendary women who are pouring themselves out have key moments that are evidence of the ongoing process, moments that clearly demonstrate their love, faith, and obedience, moments that are a demonstration of the lives they are pouring out as drink offerings to their Lord and Savior.

LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.—Psalm 16:5

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.—2 Corinthians 2:14