Grace is Found at the Feet of Jesus

God focuses on who we are in Him, the being, before He focuses on what we do, the doing. God’s grace makes us who we are in Jesus so that we can do what pleases Him. Grace also puts us in the position to know who we are in Jesus.

Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, is mentioned three times in Scripture. Each time that she is mentioned, she is located at the feet of Jesus.

Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Mary is at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words. Martha was distracted by trying to make everything perfect for Jesus. There was nothing ungodly or immoral or unspiritual about what Martha was doing. It just was not the best. Mary had chosen to seat herself at the feet of Jesus listening to what He was teaching. Martha was distracted from the best by the good, from the essential by the unessential, and from the being by the doing.

Mary found blessing at the feet of Jesus.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is by God’s grace receiving God’s blessing.

John 11:28-32

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

She came to Jesus with great sorrow over the death of her brother. In her grief, she said to Jesus that if He had gotten there in time, Lazarus would not have died. But even in the anger and grief, she fell at Jesus’ feet.

She found comfort there at the feet of Jesus.

Comfort is found by being in the presence of Jesus, not in doing, but in being. Our comfort is found in Jesus because He is the God of all comfort.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing the comfort of God through the presence of Jesus.

John 12:1-3

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So, they gave a dinner for Him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with Him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Mary came and worshiped Jesus at His feet. She anointed Jesus’ head and feet. She then wiped His feet with her hair. A woman’s hair was her glory according to 1 Corinthians 11:15. She surrendered her glory to Jesus. She worshiped Jesus with the precious gift she brought. It was a selfless act of love and devotion and faith. It was an act in which Mary gave her best to Jesus.

Mary found real purpose worshiping at the feet of Jesus. Nothing given to Jesus in love is ever wasted.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is worshiping Jesus at His feet and experiencing the reality of His love.

Mary came to the feet of Jesus and found blessing, comfort, and love.

We when we come to Jesus and bow before Him at His feet, we will find blessing, comfort, and love.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

In God’s Grace Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls.

                                    Joe