Luke 10:38-4238Now 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. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But 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. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38‑42). John 11, 12
She sat, withdrawn, at Jesus’ feet:
Was with Him in His own retreat:
Himself beheld and heard.
She learnt what He came forth to do―
The Father’s Only One and True;
The Everlasting Word.
“One thing is needful.” Mary’s heart
Drank in that good, eternal part.
She hung upon His voice.
His path, His steps would she attend?
Her Shepherd, Guardian, Saviour, Friend
Therein confirms her choice,
He bid her live what He had said:
Bid storm-clouds darken o’er her head.
The Lord! ―Where is He now?
Far, far from sight. To Mary, near;
Her Lazarus to Him so dear
That Death his frame, must bow.
“Beyond the Jordan” Jesus passed;
There dwelt, to come again at last,
In power the lost to save.
He answered thence the mourner’s cry;
“He whom I love, I use, must die;
Must learn Me by the Grave.”
Death shadows Bethany. But still
For Mary, in the Father’s will,
Is solace as before.
“He knoweth all.” “He loveth well.”
“Earth’s many waters rise and swell:”
“HE liveth evermore!”
He comes! He suffers Martha’s haste
His own thrice-precious words to waste;
All lost they seem to be.
And yet those pearls are strung again
By Love’s own fingers, and remain
Faith’s priceless legacy.
And Mary, quickly, at the call―
“He calls thee,” rose—arose to fall―
Falls down His feet beside.
She came unto Him; saw Him; wept:
“Hadst thou been here, Lord, ere he slept,
My brother had not died.”
“Where have ye laid him?” JESUS wept!
He who the keys of Hades kept,
Since first death came by sin.
He who, by agonies and blood,
Would bear the Judgment; own His God;
Spoil Death; destroy its sting.
“Father, I thank Thee!” Jesus said;
Then, speaking to awake the dead,
With mighty voice He cried,
“Come forth!” and Lazarus, the same
Who saw corruption, called by name,
Came, with Him to abide.
Nor quickened only. Raised, released
He sits with Christ: shares thus the feast:
Is with Him in His fame.
But Mary, having felt what woe
Attends the Sent One’s path below,
Bears witness to His name.
The House is with one fragrance filled,
From God’s most costly Plant distilled,
Through grace to Mary given.
She pours the ointment on His feet,”
So beautiful to God, so meet
To traverse Earth and Heaven!