Sitting at the feet of Jesus
“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain;
(The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 1-2 NASB)
and after He sat down,
His disciples came to Him.
He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,”
Oftentimes we race right past these opening verses, moving quickly into The Beatitudes, but today, may we pause to dwell here, seeing the way our relationship with Jesus is intimate, a conversation, a sitting down at Jesus feet to learn and be taught. This is an unrushed time. We see where Jesus is positioned, where He is seated, and we sit down at His feet. Then, as Jesus opens His mouth to teach, we listen.
Let us notice the two groups.
The crowds were present there on the mountain, but they sit farther away.
Jesus’ disciples of Jesus were there as well, but they were seated directly at the feet of Jesus.
The crowds were listening to Jesus speak.
His disciples were listening but also learning from the words Jesus speaks.
The crowds followed Jesus to the mountain hoping to experience a miracle.
His followers went up with Jesus onto the mountain to be taught.
The crowds remained positioned, sitting away from Him.
Jesus’ chosen ones followed Him and came to sit down, close beside Him.
Oh, Father, let us not follow You as the masses do, seated far away from Your presence, but let us follow You in intimate, personal communication. Help us to daily sit at Your feet, learning from You. Lead us to carry on an on-going, all-day conversation with You, one that begins early, while it is still dark and one that continues until we lay our head on our pillows to rest for the night. Let us learn from You, seeing the way we are to walk. Thank You, Father, for this relationship You have provided, for Your guidance, for Your care, and for Your personal attention to every detail of our lives. You are our loving Father, and we worship only You. You are our Provider, and we honor You. LORD, You are our Redeemer, and we bow at Your presence.
May we never approach our days as the crowds but only as Your disciples.
May we constantly learn from You, hanging on every word that comes from Your mouth. &
May we carry this testimony of our intimate relationship we share with you to the masses, proclaiming to them the glorious gift we have been given, Your salvation, that which we gladly receive.
In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, asking for these, knowing that in seeking Your will, we will receive.
Amen.
“Ask, and it will be given to you;
(The Gospel According to Matthew 7: 7-8 NASB)
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened.”