The record-union., 1898-01-18
MARY AT THE FEET OF JESUS.
THE SISTERS OF THE BETHANY
HOUSEHOLD.
Sermon Preached on Sunday at
Westminster Church by Rev.
w. II. Landon.

Rev. Warren H Landon of San Ra-
fael, who occupied the pulpit OF west
Minister Presbyterian Church on sun
day, preached a very interesting ser
mon on Mary of the Bethany House.
hold" The text was taken from Luke,
X, 80. and John xii, 3. Mr. Landon
said:
These two verses perhaps bring out
as clearly as any we can. find in the
gospels the character of Mary, one or
the sisters of the Bethany household.
The ore shows her at the feet of Je-
sus hearing; the other at the feet or
Jesus doing. We might perhaps nave
selected another verse from the I1tn
chapter of John which shows her at
the feet of Jesus pouring out her grieI.
Whether learning or weeping or serv-
ing, at the feet of Jesus seems to be
Mary's place.
1t requires but a superficial study OF
the character of these sisters. Martha
and Mary, to see that there was a very
great difference between them, dif-
ference in temperament and differ
ence in conduct. And yet Jesus loved
both of these characters. People do not
all have to be made in one mold in or
der that Jesus may love them. lie
still loves people who differ greatly in
temper and conduct.
If Marys character should be highly
praised in this sermon, let it be remem-
bered that we are not praising Mary
at Martha's expense. We are to con-
slider the character of the two sisters
separately. Let it be remembered also
that Christ highly commended Mary,
that he spoke words of praise in re-
gard to her that were not spoken in
regard to her sister 1t is doubtful
whether any woman is named in the
whole range of Scripture who received
such high commendation as did Mary
the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She
is the only one of this interesting fami-
ly who is mentioned by all four of the
evangelists, though Matthew and Mark
in referring to her amounting Of Jesus
do not call her by name. but simply
refer to her as "a woman
Our subject naturally divides itself
into three parts: Mary at the feet of
Jesus learning; at the feet of Jesus
mourning; at the feet of Jesus giving.
L at the feet of Jesus learning. Mar
tha received Jesus into her house and
began at once to look after his enter
tainment. And she had a sister called
Mary, which also sat at Jesus feet and
heard his word" And she continued
to sit there while Martha hustled about
the house We must not conclude that
Mary was an idle soul, and therefore
sat still While her sister toiled. It
may be she knew her sisters busting
spirit; knew that she enjoyed making
these preparations to entertain an hon.
ored guest, and knew also that she
could get along very well without her.
But it is much more probable that
Mary was so much affected by the
teachings of Christ that all else was
well nigh or wholly forgotten at the
time. We must remember that this
was probably the first time that Mary
had heard Jesus speak, and the Won
derful words of life" that fell from his
lip took a very trong hold upon her
Tneditative temperament. Jesus may
have been often at Bethany after this,
but the visit recorded by Luke seems
to have been the first to this home.
There is no evidence that the Bethany
household had previously belonged to
the circle of Christ's professed disciples.
They had probably heard of him, and
at their invitation he came to their
home. I think it is Edersheim who
suggests that when the seventy were
sent out to prepare the way before
him, as some of them passed through
Bethany announcing that Christ would
come that way, an invitation was ex-
tended from this home to him TO find
entertainment with them. Now that
He had come, each sister showed him
~,
pairing to bestow much upon him, Mary
preparing to receive much Martha
giving attention to the work which
she thought must be done in order that
He might be properly entertained, Mary
forg citing all else but the guest.
Mary was not all the time at Jesus
feet, hearing and meditating. But here
was the spring of the prompt, generous
action that marked her after life. She
sat at Jesus feet and learned for a
purpose. She began there as a learn
er. She ended there with grateful ser
vice before His crucihxion. Rustling
Christians are needed, needed in this
age perhaps as never before. but they
viii rustic to no purpose unless they
sit first at Jesus feet
Christ said that Mary in thus sitting
ana ieaTHlnS OF MN mad CHOSEN the
good part which should not be taken
from her. The one who chooses a part
with Christ chooses a good part that
cannot be taken away. DR.. Schaft
says: The good part chosen by her
in receiving the Savior, was: undivided
devotion to His word, the feeding on
the bread of life by faith, which COM
eth by hearing. In the highest sense.
fsrfs ses4 s,-e4.
OF Christ himself, in contrast with all
bustling works, excited defenses of the
truth, and over zealousness for what is
external IN any and every form"
Such a reception Of Christ and of his