Is God Our Passion? Part V

³⁸ Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” ⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” –Luke 10:38-42

Where to start; there are many lessons to learn from these few verses, but we will look at Mary for the purpose of this study. Jesus had come into the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and was reclining and talking. I’m sure Lazarus and the disciples were there, and then there sat Mary at Jesus feet; hanging onto every word He said. I do not believe Mary was lazy or trying to neglect helping her sister. Nothing here would indicate that, In fact, what Jesus says affirms this.

Mary loved Jesus. She longed to sit at His feet and adore Him.

Do we adore Him? Do we long to sit at His feet and listen to Him and Worship Him?

³⁶ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
⁴⁰ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
⁴¹ “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 

⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” ⁴⁴ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. ⁴⁵ You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss

My feet since the time I came in. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. ⁴⁷ Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” ⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”    –Luke 7:36-50

I really can’t think of anything to add here. This woman’s actions are so clear. She was aware of her sins and knew she was lost. She truly repented of her sins and recognized that Jesus was her only hope.

Are we ashamed to weep and fall to our knees before His throne of grace?

Are we afraid of what others will think?

If we are truly repentant, we won’t care who sees us or what they think.

There is one door between us and heaven, it is Jesus. I beg of you, open that door today.