THE FEET OF JESUS
There are three ways that people approach Jesus. The First category belongs to those who seek his hands asking for things such as material possessions and seeking what he can do for them. They treat him like he’s a genie in a bottle only going to him when they want something. Many parents can identify with this because oftentimes this is how children go to their parents; only when they want something always asking for money or things. But our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is not a genie in a lamp that we go to when we have three wishes nor should he be treated as such. Then there are those who go to him in a negotiating fashion trying to bargain with him promising to be good, more committed or more faithful if he would just grant them their wish. We are not to seek things, but God. As we live in obedience to His word we will reap the blessings that He has for us (Deut. 28:1-14).
The Second category belongs to those who seek his face. The face of God represents His presence as in Psalm 27:8 and His divine favor as in Daniel 9:17. There are many scriptures on seeking the face of God where we are instructed and encouraged to seek His face. The believer should always be in a posture of seeking God’s face because the believer is in vital need of God’s presence and favor. As it is written in Psalm 16:11, in God’s presence is the fullness of joy… and according to Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is your strength. We need His presence because in his presence we are strengthened.
The Third category belongs to those who seek his feet. The feet of Jesus represent a place of submission, humility, learning/instruction and promotion. In Luke 10:38-42 we are told of the account where Jesus visited the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. While Martha was busy with preparation of the food and the house for their guests, Martha was seated at the feet of Jesus listening to him as he taught. Martha was upset with Mary because she felt that Mary should have been helping her with the preparations for the guests, but Jesus said something very interesting that lets us know that Mary was in the right posture (seated at his feet). As a matter of fact, he said that Mary had chosen that which was needed (the position of submission and learning).
In Luke 7:35-49 a sinful woman stood behind Jesus at his feet weeping to the point where she washed Jesus feet with her tears and then dried them with her hair after which she anointed them with the precious ointment in her alabaster box. The Pharisees who were present criticized Jesus for allowing this interaction with this sinful woman but Jesus saw it differently. When it was all said and done Jesus told the woman and the hypocritical Pharisees that the woman as a result of her posture at his feet and the posture of her heart at his feet that she was forgiven of all her sins. In this we see submission and humility on her part as well as promotion. She was promoted from rank of sinner to a position of relationship with Christ. This reminds me of another woman who was promoted when she sought Jesus’ feet. The woman with the issue of blood for 12 long years who in Luke 8:43-50 pressed her way through a crowd of people as she yet hemorrhaged just to be able to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. She didn’t seek his hand or even his face, but bowed low to touch the hem of his garment, which was a lowly position close to his feet. It was in this posture that she was promoted from a position of affliction and outcast (because of her unclean condition) to a position of daughter (relationship with Christ).
As you seek God, remember that there is honor in humility. As you grow in Christ and as you are promoted in and by him, always seek his face, but never leave his feet. Never leave the place of submission, humility, instruction because it is in that posture that you will surely gain promotion in God's divine timing.
- Dr. DeShonda Bailey