Be His hands and feet, my friends, but don't forget to sit at His feet as well.
When I first started dating my boyfriend, I realized that we both had quite a few quirks.
I could make sounds during my vocal exercises that would make your ears bleed. He made funny noises if you tickled him in certain places.
I could eat a giant bag of granola in three days. He could eat an entire box of spaghetti in one sitting.
But one special peculiarity he did not seem to fancy was my ability to put both feet behind my head. And not because I was flexible, but because of my feet.
Most people, like my boyfriend, don't love feet. And unless you're a podiatrist or Steve from Fuller House, they might even gross you out a bit! Nevertheless, however, at the feet of Jesus is one place we all need to reside. And at the feet of others is how we can best serve the world.
What if they smell?
In Matthew 15, Jesus feeds over 4,000 men, women, and children. After performing yet another miracle, He attempts to escape to the Sea of Galilee to rest and recharge. But at his feet is where we quickly find another crowd.
"Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them" (Matthew 15:29-30, NIV).
When people knew where Jesus was, they laid those in need of healing at His feet, and He healed them. The Passion Translation says it this way: "After leaving Lebanon, Jesus went to Lake Galilee and climbed a hill nearby and sat down. Then huge crowds of people streamed up the hill, bringing with them the lame, blind, deformed, mute, and many others in need of healing. They laid them at Jesus’ feet and he healed them all" (Matthew 15:29-30).
It is clear that at the feet of Jesus is where everyone wanted to be. I doubt they ever thought to consider, "What if they smell?". And unlike my boyfriend and many others who loathe feet, these people knew by sitting on the floor, at Jesus' feet, they would live.
A Humble Approach
I find it ironic that if we want God to heal or speak, we humble ourselves before Him. And nine times out of ten, the way we physically humble ourselves before God is to bow in humble surrender, adoration, and praise; at his feet.
Today, we all long to sit at His feet because He humbled Himself long ago. And not only did His feet walk our earth, but they were pierced to a cross.
Philippians 2:5-7 of the Evangelical Heritage Version reminds us: "Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Though he was by nature God (Or in the form of God), he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed (Or something to be used for his own advantage, or something to cling to), but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man (found in appearance as a man)."
In other words, Jesus was willing to walk and live like the rest of humanity (while still remaining perfect), because He was willing to get His feet dirty. It didn't matter if they smelled, or were unclean, Jesus was in the business of washing others' feet, and He encourages us to do the same.
Lead by Example
In John 13, just before the Passover festival, Jesus knew the time of His crucifixion and death was near. Within hours, He would be beaten, whipped, and maliciously murdered by those who praised His name days before.
Taking His disciples to a special place, Jesus desired to have one last meal with them. As the meal was in progress, however, Jesus began to wash each of their feet. I can't help but ponder how He could wash the feet of Judas, who would turn Him in for a few pieces of silver, and those like Peter who would deny His very name.
"It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean" (John 13:1-11, NIV).
It is no wonder that the best place we can communicate with our Savior is at the foot of a cross where those feet were nailed.
His feet were not only nailed to a cross, but He washed our feet so we would know to not fear the smelly, weird, and distant feet of those He now calls us to serve.
"When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:12-17, NIV).
There is a reason we come to the feet of Jesus, and it is my prayer that you will come to His feet today. Not only to receive something from Him but also to represent His hands and feet to a hurting world.
Be His hands and feet, my friends, but don't forget to sit at His feet as well.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/carlosphotos
