Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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Luke 10:38-42 Our Posture Toward Jesus

6 December 2016

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

We find these sisters two other places in Scripture acting in very similar ways to what they are doing here. We can observe a pattern of behavior in each and glean some understanding of what Jesus feels in the most important part of being a disciple.

First of all, let us examine the physical posture of each sister in these accounts.

In Luke 10, Martha speaks (almost rebuking Him for not forcing her sister to help her) to Jesus while standing. Mary is at the Master’s feet.

John 11 gives the account of Jesus going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Once again, we see that Martha meets Jesus and rebukes Him while standing face to face. On the other hand, Mary comes to Jesus saying the same words but she falls down at his feet.

In John 12, Martha is busy serving the guests once again. Mary is anointing the Savior’s feet with very expensive ointment.

We cannot ignore the physical position of each woman in these encounters. I believe it is there posture which brings dramatically different reactions from Jesus.

In Luke 10, Jesus says that Mary has chosen the good part and He will not tell her to stop worshipping Him in order to help with serving. This is not to say that there are not important logistical things that need to be done. But we need to get the NECESSARY things done in time before worship so we can be focused on Jesus. Further, are we drawing attention to ourselves by how much we DO at church, or are we drawing our own attention to Jesus?

In John 11, the sisters say basically the same thing to Jesus but perhaps in a much different tone. Martha speaks to Jesus face to face and when Jesus answers her, she seems to get no true comfort in the doctrine of the resurrection. When Mary comes to Him saying the same thing, she falls at His feet. Now, the same words bring the Savior to tears! It is her humble petition to the Son of God that brings dramatically different results.

In John 12, Martha is busy serving again. She is the older sister and she should be the focus of the story. After all, it is HER house. But the focus of the account is on Mary. And where is she? She is once again at the Savior’s feet. This time she is anointing them with ointment before His death.

By humble posture and focus on the “good part,” Mary has gained a deeper understanding of Who Jesus is. In fact, I believe the scene in John 12 shows that she had a better understanding than any of the twelve apostles!

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Tags: devotional, discipleship, luke

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.