Dear Ones:
What makes a person desire Christ? Sometimes it is the difficulty of circumstances, or the consciousness of need. But there is a higher, greater, and more life-changing reason, and we find it with regard to Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
In Luke’s gospel, chapter 10:38-42, we find that Jesus entered a certain village, and was received into the home of Martha. While He was there, He began to teach, no doubt expounding the truths of Scripture. There was something mesmerizing in His voice, His demeanor, and in the message He was giving. In Matthew 7:28, we find that when Jesus spoke, “…the people were astonished at his doctrine (teaching): for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (v. 29) Most certainly, when Mary heard Jesus, there was the captivating self-control, and graciousness of His demeanor. But there was also a quiet, profound authority and power which was communicated through His voice and words. There was something of Heaven in His words, something eternal. They were true, and Mary knew it.
The effect of Jesus’ presence and power moved Mary to “sit at Jesus’ feet,” where she, “…heard His word.” Not only was Mary captivated and intrigued by the person and message of this Man, but she took the place of teachableness, of willingness to be taught. In doing so, though her sister was busy serving those in the house, all seemed secondary to hearing these words of Christ. The heavenliness of the words, brought before the eternalness of the opportunity.
Mary’s sister, Martha, at this point, complained to the Lord Jesus that perhaps He did not care that Mary had left her to do all the serving, or work at hand. There is no question that Martha was doing a noble and needed service, but according to Jesus, it certainly was not the highest, and best. “Martha, Martha, thou art careful (anxious) and troubled about many things: But ONE thing is needful.” (v.42) What is it that Mary saw in Jesus that Martha did not? Perhaps it was a glimpse of who He truly was…so like all of us, and yet so very different…and good. Jesus would continue to say to Martha, “…Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (v.42) In so speaking, Jesus makes clear that there is indeed a difference between the temporal, and the eternal. Though serving others has eternal repercussions, and blessings, yet, there is in the hearing of the Word of God life-giving potential. There is a communication of God with man, and the call to the heart to respond. Mary was thirsting after God, the eternal…and she knew it. Hence, she took her place at Jesus’ feet to hear His words, eternal words.
The word, “Mesmerized,” means that one is gripped by what one sees, feels, or understands. One is captivated to the point of decisions being made, and positions taken. If we have “seen” who Christ is, and see the eternal nature of His words, spoken in the power and authority of God, then most certainly, we too will choose to sit at His feet every day, for we shall want more than all else to commune with God, to know Him.
It was said by the son of Hudson Taylor, when he and his father were travelling through China, and staying in one-room public inns, that his father would always awaken about 5 am. He would then pull out a candle and the means to light it. Then he would pour over the Scriptures. Why? Because he was mesmerized by Christ…gripped by the eternal. Indeed, he had chosen that better part, which would not be taken away from him.
Love, Dad