Mike Focht 8/2/2024
The Scriptures give us several occasions where various people find themselves at the feet of Christ. Two, in particular, are touching and full of beauty and instruction. In Luke 7, we see a woman who was an infamous sinner—a fact that Jesus corroborated—come and anoint Jesus’ feet with oil and tears, kissing them and wiping them with her hair. Then, in John 12, we are told that Mary of Bethany came to anoint Jesus for His burial. She also anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair.
Both of these occasions are practically dripping with pathos. It is lovely to picture these broken women, bowing as servants at their Master’s feet and breaking their most precious possessions to pour out on Him. That said, the picture can carry so much poetic beauty that it is easy for us to lose the force of what was happening. We are all so apt to carry away the beauty and leave the gritty behind. These women are an example to us, and if we were indeed present, I believe that most of us would come away with something more than a poetic feeling.
First of all, Jesus’ feet were still feet. These women used their hair to wipe away something. They came to Jesus’ feet and found the dust and dirt of life there. These women expressed their love and worship in the gristle, texture, and smell of real life. They met with Jesus on a level and at a place where others didn’t want to meet Him. It was there that they expressed their humble love. It is the same today. Those who genuinely wash Jesus’ feet will also do so in a gritty, real-life way. It usually won’t look charming to those who are watching. It usually happens in ordinary places and daily ways that others try to ignore or escape.
Secondly, both of these occasions were awkward. Their worship at the Savior’s feet was something that made others uncomfortable. Those who sat around the table and watched what was happening criticized and complained. We can expect the same today. Anyone anointing Jesus’ feet with their most precious love, worship, and possessions will often make others uncomfortable. Far from being a beautiful act recognized for its worth at the moment, the true anointing of Jesus will often face the disdain of both the unsaved and the saved. People will look at this type of worship and either label the giver unworthy or the gift an utter waste.
Third, in both moments, no one stood up for the women. Notice that as they were worshiping Christ and humbling themselves at His feet, not another soul sought to defend them from subsequent complaints or condemnations. Nevertheless, though no man stood with them, Jesus Himself spoke up for them. To anoint Jesus’ feet today, we must do so with absolutely no thought of what others will think or say. To get to His feet, our eyes must be on Jesus alone. The solitary nature of this path should not discourage us! Take heart, my brothers and sisters! If your heart is sincere, Jesus will come to your defense.
May God help us not to flitter through life looking for a beautiful moment or place to “sit at Jesus’ feet”! If you keep your eyes open and your heart soft, you will likely find your place at Jesus’ feet in life’s dirty, daily, unpoetic scenes. Others will likely find your actions uncomfortable or unnecessary. Even so, their beauty will be seen most clearly as those in eternity look back and wish they had done the same!