At the Feet of Jesus: Three Moments That Reveal the Heart of Mary
As we celebrate the passion week of Jesus, we continue to look at the passion through the eyes of the women who surrounded Jesus.
On Sunday we learned lessons from watching Martha. The older sister was active, committed, and busy. Martha was head of the household, and everyone knew it. She reproved her sister for letting her serve alone. Martha changed because of her experiences with Jesus.
Today we look at the little sister. Mary of Bethany was so unlike her sister. She is tender and contemplative. Though she speaks extraordinarily little in the Gospels, her posture says everything.
Across three distinct moments, Mary is found in the same place—at the feet of Jesus. Each scene captures a different season of her life, revealing how a surrendered heart responds to Jesus in times of learning, loss, and love.
The First Dinner: Choosing What Matters Most (Luke 10:38–42)
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
The first time we meet Mary and Martha, Jesus is welcomed into their home for a meal. Martha is busy serving—doing what most hosts would consider necessary and honorable. She is more worried about the guest than the meal. We hear Martha, but we see Mary. Mary, however, does something unexpected. She sits at the feet of Jesus, listening.
In that culture, to sit at a teacher’s feet was an intentional position of submission and humility. Mary is choosing presence over productivity, relationship over responsibility. Martha, frustrated and overwhelmed, asks Jesus to intervene. Instead of correcting Mary, Jesus gently redirects Martha’s heart: “Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus would teach us all that Mary is investing in the food that lasts. Earthly food spoils but Mary is investing in things that matter. Mary gets it, Martha, you do not.
Jesus affirms Mary’s posture. He honors her desire to simply be with Him. This moment invites us to ask ourselves an uncomfortable question: In our desire to serve God, have we neglected spending time with Him?
A Grieving Heart: Jesus Meets Mary in Her Pain (John 11:28–35)
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
The second time we see Mary at Jesus’ feet, the setting could not be more different. The setting is modern day Azariyeh which is “the place of Lazarus.” The events of that day change history.
Her brother Lazarus has died. They believed Jesus could do something while he was sick but grieved when their brother died. Both Mary and Martha grieve deeply, each expressing sorrow in their own way.
Martha came first to talk to Jesus. Jesus offered her encouragement and a promise. Sunday’s blog told her story.
When Mary hears that Jesus is nearby, she jumps up quickly and goes to Him. The crowd went with her. Imagine their surprise as Jesus meets them. She falls at His feet.
This time, her position is not one of quiet learning, but of brokenness. Her words echo profound pain: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” There is no attempt to appear composed. Mary brings her raw emotion directly to Jesus.
Here, Jesus’ response is remarkable. He does not correct her theology or rush to the miracle. Instead, He is deeply moved—and He weeps. Jesus entered her pain before He ever removes it. He shudders and groans. The Greek word speaks of a deep-seated sound, like the snort of a horse.
Mary’s posture reminds us that the feet of Jesus are not only a place for learning, but also a place for lament. He is not threatened by our tears. He welcomes them. He, as our Great High Priest, is touched with the feeling of our infirmity.
The Second Dinner: A Heart Poured Out in Worship (John 12:1–8)
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
The final dinner scene takes place after Lazarus has been raised from the dead. Jesus is in His last week before facing the cross. The crisis is ending. The timing is Jesus’ fourth and final Passover. The city is filled with pilgrims gathering for worship. Jesus knew what was about to come and tried to prepare His people.
A dinner party is thrown in a most unexpected place. They are at the home of Simon the Leper. (Emphasis mine) A leper! A dinner party. Jesus and Lazarus are honored guests. They sit together at the head of the table.
Once again, Martha serves—this time with no hint of complaint. Something has changed.
Mary watched the honored guests. Tears streamed from her eyes. She could contain herself no longer. She rose quickly and ran out of the room.
But Mary does what no one expects. She brings an expensive jar of perfume, breaks it, and pours it out on Jesus’ feet. This oil was extremely expensive, the most expensive of the day. It was imported from India. What she poured out would cost one year’s wages.
She assumed the position of slave at Jesus’ feet. She poured the oil on His feet, mixing it with her tears. The house filled with the smell.
People sat in stunned silence and then gasped as she did the unthinkable. She undid her hair and wiped Jesus’ feet with it. Her highest part, her glory was used on the lowest part of Jesus. She did not care.
This act is extravagant and uninhibited. It is costly, emotional, and deeply personal. Mary loses control—not in chaos, but in adoration.
Her posture spoke of honor and worship. When others criticize her, Jesus defends her once again: “Leave her alone… it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” He adds that her act will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached.
Mary’s worship is prophetic. She gives what she has, fully aware—or perhaps not at all—of just how significant her offering truly is. Devotion like this cannot be measured or explained. It can only be poured out.
Our Response: Joining Mary at His Feet
Mary never leaves the feet of Jesus—only her reason for being there changes.
- She sits there in humility to learn.
- She falls there in sorrow to grieve.
- She kneels there in gratitude to worship.
Her story invites us to do the same. Wherever you are today—busy, broken, or overflowing with love—there is room for you at the feet of Jesus. Come honestly. Express where you truly are. Choose the better thing. Jesus will meet you there.
