At Jesus' Feet

"And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words." (Deuteronomy 33: 1-3 KJV)

The most ancient method of teaching students was more like the personalized instruction of our modern tutors, it being done either one on one or in small groups, and where the student (disciple) literally "sat at the feet" of his master (teacher), or else walked around with him as he lectured and discoursed homiletically. Oftentimes the closest of social bonds was formed between master and teacher, they spending much time together, the lessons mostly given in informal settings, often around a supper table.

In the giving of the law by Lord God to his ancient people, Moses describes it under this figure. God is acting as a teacher on Mount Sinai, instructing the people personally in his laws; All the people are viewed as sitting at the foot of Sinai, as disciples sit at their master's feet, to hear and receive the instructions of Lord God. The people were being "schooled" by the Lord.

What is further interesting to notice about the above passage of scripture is the fact that Moses is rehearsing this historical event, in his old age, to a younger generation who are seated before him, that is, at his feet. He might have even begun by saying - "Children, just as you are sitting before me, hearing my words and receiving my teachings, so your fathers and grandfathers sat down at the foot of flaming Mt. Sinai, at the very feet of Lord God himself, and they heard his words just as clearly as you are hearing mine now."

Ancient story-telling too, like education methods, was also often done in such a small group manner, where listeners huddled near the story teller.

"I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day." (Acts 22: 3 KJV)

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle all had their students in the academies who sat at their feet to hear their words and to adore their persons. Paul also "sat at the feet" of one of the Jew's leading doctors of their law. Later, however, Paul would come to fall at the feet of Jesus, and to enter into his school. Jesus says to all - "learn of me." (Matthew 11: 29 KJV) He invites people to sit at his feet, to enter his school, to learn of him and his ways.

It is interesting that our English words "school" and "scholar" come from a Greek word ('schole') and means, basically, "leisure." It really tells us something about Greek ideas about education and learning, and about real freedom to do what one wants, the freedom to fulfill man's higher needs and aspirations, such as only, in ages past, only the rich could afford to obtain or have opportunity of fulfilling.

It was assumed, in Greek society, that a man would spend his time in noble and important activities if he were free to do so. A man's "free time," or his "leisure time," was the time when he would be schooled and actively engaged in more important things, in "leisure studies" and in "leisure behavior."

The Greek understanding of "leisure" and "school" involved contemplation, something men do once they are freed from working, and from obligations, and from necessity. School was not therefore unpleasant, but joyous, for it represented freedom from doing less important activity, like "making a living," to the ability to do more important activity, what one really aspired to do.

"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples." (Matthew 9: 10 KJV)

"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24: 3 KJV)

"And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples." (John 6: 3 KJV)

Jesus sat down with his students! He personalized his instruction to them! There were no "walls" between him and his students. John, one of the twelve disciples whom Jesus made an apostle, was often at Jesus' feet, or in his bosom, as they reclined together at supper and in informal settings.

"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved." (John 13: 23 KJV)

But, probably the greatest disciple who is known for her place at Jesus' feet, is Mary Magdalene. Notice these passages:

"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 KJV)

"Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment...Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this." (John 12: 1-3, 7 KJV)

"Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11: 32 KJV)

"And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them ("Mary Magdalene and the other Mary" - verse 1) saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him." (Matthew 28: 9 KJV)

Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet while Martha chose to busy herself with work! Mary chose the "good part"! Her choice was wisest! Yes, we need to be busy in service to the Lord, but we must not neglect to sit at his feet!

"And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him...Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine...Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." (Luke 8: 26-30, 33, 35 KJV)

At the feet of Jesus! "In his right mind"! "Clothed"! "Freed"! Leisurely doing what he wants! Learning about the one who liberated him! Adoring him!

"And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them." (Matthew 15: 30 KJV)

"Cast them down at Jesus' feet"! What better place to take the sick and needy? to take sinners in need of spiritual healing and renewal? "He healed them!" The "feet of Jesus" is truly the place of healing and spiritual leisure!

"For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter." (Mark 7: 25, 26 KJV)

"And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house." (Luke 8: 41 KJV)

"Fell at his feet and besought him"! Yes, the feet of Jesus, the place of petition! A happy place! An uplifting place!

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" (Luke 17: 15-17 KJV)

This was said about one of ten lepers who were healed. Nine of them did not even return to give the Lord thanks for healing them! But that one leper! That truly thankful and appreciative one! He returned to "fall at the feet of Jesus"! And there he not only made petition, but returned deep gratitude and love to his Lord.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3: 20 NIV)

Will you invite Christ into your heart so that you and he might spiritually dine together in heart? Will you recline in his bosom and sit at his feet?