NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 17
NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 17
Here we have the beginning of the new company on the earth. In the history of the man who had fallen among thieves, Judaism is proved to be inadequate to meet man’s need. These two women, Martha and Mary, set forth the beginning of the new company; one acts according to man’s mind or human feelings, the other acts in simple attachment to the Lord. Mary studied His mind, literally she sat near Him, not on the ground as one now might suppose; she studied Him; Christ Himself was her attraction. Martha was trying to be useful, she felt her responsibility to her guest, but Mary was occupied with Himself, and not with all that she could do. If you do not understand Mary’s gain in having chosen the “good part”, which is the beginning, you will not understand the “manifold more” of Luke 18: 30, where the description of the new company ends. The “manifold more” is the company of the Lord Himself, and this is the “good part”. Nothing can satisfy real affection but company. You get a touching instance of this in John 1: 38. The two disciples want to know where He abides, and the Lord says to them, “Come and see”. He ministers to their love, and when going to leave them He says, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you”. Hence the season of the deepest joy to us now is in the assembly. Mark how Mary gained when she was in sorrow in John 11, because of the death of her brother. She was disappointed that Jesus had not come, but when she heard that He had come she rose up quickly to go to Him, and seeing Him she fell at His feet; she was quite conscious of His greatness. He walks with her, He endears Himself still more to her, so that in the next chapter, when His death is apprehended, she anoints Him for His burial. That which would have added most to her own distinction here she buries with Him. The alabaster box in Luke 7 was bestowed on Him to make much of Christ on the earth; many have done likewise, but few have acted like Mary. The love of the Lord culminates in this, that we should be with Him. He died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. I find the one who is set on usefulness does not advance like the one set on personal affection to Christ. Thus we learn in Canticles the reciprocity of affection.
The Lord give us to be more personally attached to Himself; then we shall be useful according to His pleasure.