In the Gospels there are four touching portraits of a woman at the feet of the Lord Jesus. In the first of these pictures, the woman is unnamed; in the other three, the woman is said to be Mary of Bethany. It is also possible that Mary was the unnamed woman in the first of these stories. These four scenes, viewed sequentially, unfold a story of developing love. Running parallel to this love story is a progressive revelation of the offices of the Lord Jesus as Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King.
The Commencement of Love Luke 7:36-50
The first scene takes place in the house of Simon the Pharisee as a woman, who was known publicly as a sinner, came into the home. In reverence and repentance she bowed at the feet of the Lord Jesus. The woman was aware of her condition and recognized her great need for salvation as well as the ability of the Lord Jesus to meet that need. Tears of repentance poured forth and she proceeded to wash the Lord’s feet with her hair. She then anointed His feet with perfume. This is a beautiful display of contrition and brokenness. The character of the Lord is such that “a broken and contrite heart [He will] not despise.”
The Lord Jesus acknowledged the depth and extent of the woman’s love in the parable of the debtors. After the parable the Lord said, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.” He further told her, “Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace.”
This, then, is the commencement of the love story. As a repentant sinner, the woman came to the feet of the Lord and found in Him a Saviour who could save her from the penalty of her sin.
The Communion of Love Luke 10:38-42
In Luke 7, the sinful woman came to the Lord Jesus. Here in Luke 10, the movement is on the Lord’s part as He came seeking to have fellowship with His own. Martha welcomed Him into the home and then she became busy in preparing the meal. Mary took advantage of the moment and spent time at the Saviour’s feet. Martha’s work was important but Mary had “chosen that good part,” like the maiden in the Song of Solomon who could say, “I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” This was Mary’s portion, the place of protection and provision.
Mary occupied the place that prepared one for service. The Lord Jesus reveals Himself in His office as Prophet, where He unfolds precious truths and instructs His devoted servant. At His feet Mary heard and understood truths about the passion of Christ that few others were able to grasp. The opportunity was available to others, but it seems that Mary alone took advantage of the privilege.
The Comfort of Love John 11:32-36
This is a very different scene, and it stands out because it involves sorrow and death. In verse 32 we see Mary in a familiar and natural position, at the Saviour’s feet. Here “she fell down at His feet,” not as a sinner, not in service, but in deep sorrow. This is the sorrow of a broken heart in the face of death and the loss of a loved one.
What comfort she found in the Saviour’s love as He sympathized with her and wept with her! The depths of His feelings are seen in that “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.” Here the Lord Jesus is seen in His priestly office, as the One who is “touched by the feelings of our infirmities,” and can thus, in love, respond to the deepest need. The place of comfort was found at the feet of the One who could not only sympathize but can also control the future.
The Consecration of Love John 12:1-9
Once again Mary, and only Mary of all who were present, is at the feet of the Lord Jesus. In an act of worship she took costly ointment and anointed the feet of her beloved Lord. She then used her hair and wiped the Saviour’s feet. She was the one who realized what was coming—as a result of the previous time at the Saviour’s feet—and thus came prepared to anoint Him in advance for the day of His burial.
Here Mary is seen not as a sinner coming to her Saviour for salvation; nor as a servant being instructed by the Prophet; not in sorrow to be comforted by a Priest; but rather as a saint recognizing the Lord Jesus as her Lord and King. She acknowledged Him as her Sovereign and gave Him the best she had to offer.
The Consummation of Love
There is coming a day when all saints will bow at the feet of the Lord Jesus when He is seen on His throne in glory. As shown in Revelation 5, the redeemed shall bow at His feet and proclaim the worthiness of the Lamb that was slain. Each of His offices will be recognized and appreciated to a depth far beyond our present capacity.
Each week at the Lord’s Supper there is a foretaste of this day as the precious bottle of perfume is broken and the fragrance of worship ascends on high. The bottle is filled during the week as saints sit at the feet of the Lord and learn of Him. The perfume is costly because of the time involved to fill the bottle and because the contents are thoughts of the Lord Jesus in His glory and beauty.
The Challenge of Love
Each Christian has bowed at the Saviour’s feet on that day when they came as sinners for salvation. In the future the redeemed will prostrate themselves at His feet when He is revealed in glory. In the interval between salvation and glory is there any better place than at the feet of the Lord Jesus? This is the choosing of the good part that Mary enjoyed. Love for Him is expressed not so much in activity as it is in appreciation; this is demonstrated by the desire to be intimate with the Lord who died for us.
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love how much I owe.
Is there time in the day to sit at His feet to learn of Him? Are we daily approaching His throne of grace and finding mercy for times of need? Has there been the experience of lying at His feet in consecration of self to Him and the overflow of a heart of worship? It is only those who sit at His feet who are equipped to stand for Him. Thus the necessity to spend time in “Mary’s college.”
MARY
from the Children’s Hour
Happy Mary! oh how sweet
Thus to sit at Jesu’s feet;
With a true, unwavering heart
Thus to choose the blessed part!
Happy Mary! thus to hear
Holy words of heavenly cheer:
’Tis no marvel that to thee
All things else should trifling be!
Happy Mary! on that Face
Beaming with celestial grace,
Fixed is thine adoring gaze,
While thy heart is filled with praise!
Happy art thou! Earthly care
Falls on thee as down on air,
While thy longing soul is fed
Freely with the Living Bread.
Happy all who daily sit,
Mary-like, at Jesus’ feet;
By His Spirit and His Word
Taught to own Him as their Lord.