At the Feet of Jesus

Introduction

Bro. Chris this past Friday night got me thinking about that “one” thing that’s needful…He preached on “Too Busy for a Blessing” there about Mary and Martha…How Martha was “cumbered about” with everything material, temporal, but Mary was doing the “one thing that is needful” by worshiping at the feet of Jesus.

This got me thinking about what happens when you get at the feet of Jesus…We see quite a few examples of this in the Bible, so I’d like to look at few of them tonight for just a little while.

Here in our text verse tonight, which we will use as a springboard; we find the need of restoring health to many was soon evident after Christ returned to the area of the Sea of Galilee.

Notice with me:

The pursuit by the people. "Great multitudes came unto him" (Matthew 15:30).

Whenever Christ entered an area, the word was quickly circulated that Christ had come. In this case "great multitudes" were informed and came to Christ to either hear Him teach or see Him perform miracles or both. Here the reported emphasis is on healing miracles.

The passion of the people. "With them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others" (Matthew 15:30).

The passion of the people is evident in their bringing the needy with them to be healed. Many (such as the blind) of the needy could not come on their own, and many others (such as the lame) would need assistance in coming to Christ. It was a noble passion by the multitude to help bring the needy to see Christ.

The prudence of the people. "Cast them down at Jesus feet" (Matthew 15:30).

The needy were brought to Jesus. "Cast... down" can indicate a rough treatment but in the context of the word it is obvious the needy were not thrown down with carelessness but were put down with care before Christ. Wisdom takes people to Christ for their great need.

Men are tallest when they kneel at the feet of the Savior!

Let's look tonight at a few different things that took place when people fell at the feet of Jesus:

Peter Fell Down at The Place of Conviction

Luke 5:4–8 AV

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

The Lord had implicitly instructed Peter to put out more than one net in verse 4, but in Peter's skepticism he let down only one. That one net grew so full of fish that it broke.

Peter needed help, and quickly. Obviously the men were not prepared for such a catch.

Had Peter obeyed completely, he would have had multiple nets to receive this great catch of fish, and the single net would not have broken. Likewise, when we only partially obey we miss out on what God may have for us.

Proverbs 3:5–6 AV

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

If you tell the Lord in your heart, "If you say so, I'll obey," then be sure to obey with your whole heart and follow all of God's instructions.

When you examine the New Testament, Peter had a tendency to jump in with both feet. That seemed to be his nature, but it wasn't here. Don't make the same mistake that he made.

May the Lord help us to obey Him completely because He said so!

The Palsied Man Was Let Down at The Place of Conversion

Luke 5:18–19 AV

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

Webster's Dictionary describes palsy as being: "paralysis of any part of the body sometimes accompanied with involuntary tremors." His condition and experience could be summarized as follows:

He was sick.

His disease had reached vital parts of his body; he had become helpless and hopeless; there was no cure for his ailment.

He was sure.

Carried by four of his friends, the man approached the building in which Jesus was speaking, but the size of the audience made an entry through the front door impossible. So they went up the steps outside to the roof and began removing tiles.

He was surprised.

When the Lord said, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee," he was no doubt amazed. He had not come seeking forgiveness, but to be healed!

He was saved.

The man's life was transformed; his pain was replaced by peace; paralysis by praise; helplessness by happiness. Everything changed when he reached the feet of Jesus!

2 Corinthians 5:17 AV

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Isaiah 1:18 AV

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

These men simply took their friend where there was hope, where there was help! You and I need to do the same...We need to be bringing people to Jesus today! Bringing them to church! Bringing them somewhere they can get some help!

The Father Kneeled Down at The Place of Concern

Matthew 17:14–16 AV

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

This was a miracle that the disciples weren’t able to perform because of their unbelief.

When I think about this father here, I can’t help but think about how the best parents are those who seek the mercy of God for their children.

This father here recognized the great need of his son…He recognized that the need of his son was spiritual, not physical. He realized that his boy was possessed of a devil, and what a blessing it is when parents earnestly seek the salvation of their children!

This father knelt down at the feet of Jesus and found the help he needed for his son!

He brought his son to Jesus!

I think about how blessed I am to have a Father and Mother than brought me to the house of God…I was drug to church 9 months before I was even born, and thank God for it! I’m thankful for parents that made sure I sit under the preaching of the Gospel!

The preaching of the Gospel is the means by which God gives life and faith to sinners, it’s the means by which He communicates mercy to the needy!

1 Peter 1:25 AV

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Mary Sat Down at The Place of Contentment

Luke 10:38–42 AV

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.

When studying that word “cumbered” I found one source that said “it is a burden that weighs a person down.” Another resource shows that it means, “distracted” - She wasn’t necessary doing anything that was wrong, but it was wrong in that it was keeping her focus away from Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1–2 AV

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

You could say that this account from the life of Jesus shows us three types of people who say they follow Jesus Christ.

· There are people like Mary: Those who know how to serve and also sit at Jesus’ feet, this is the place where true contentment is found.

· There are people like Martha: Those who diligently, and with the best intention serve God, but without adding the one thing – a continued focus on Jesus – and they find nothing but great frustration.

· There are people who don’t do either. They are not even in the house with Jesus, for they are too busy with their own pursuits.

Conclusion

Where are you tonight?

Are you at His feet? Are you in the house, but distracted by everything else around you? Are you even in the house at all?

Whatever the need, come get some help!