Foot Problems

• Bible
• Bible study
• Christian Evidences
• Christian Living
• Christianity
• Dr Eliezer Gonzalez
• Faith
• Gospel
• Jesus
• Love
• New Testament
• Resurrection

Nov 10, 2014 2858

 

They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. – Matthew 28:9

Feet aren’t always the most attractive parts of our bodies. They can sometime be dirty, smelly, and… well… just plain not nice. (I’ll let you in on a secret… my feet aren’t my best feature either!)

In fact, in middle-eastern culture, and in Jesus’ Palestine as well, feet are (and were) considered dishonourable and disgusting. Of course back then they had open sandals, rocky and dusty roads, a lot of walking, and no podiatrists!

This helps give some perspective to the story of the woman who had been forgiven, and who dried Jesus’ feet with her hair (See Luke 7:36–50). What that woman did was a shocking thing!

Just before Jesus was arrested, he was with his disciples in the upper room. While they were there, the disciples refused to have Jesus touch their feet in order to wash them. That was something only slaves did. It wasn’t because they thought that Jesus was above that kind of work. Instead, it was because they had their status and they wanted to keep it.

Their society was all about status. If Jesus touched their feet, that turned their world, and their position in it upside down. These days, we don’t talk about status. We talk about things like pride and identity, and self-esteem. These are all closely related ideas.

The gospel of Matthew says that after the resurrection, when the disciples saw the risen Jesus,

[t]hey… grabbed his feet and worshipped him.

What brought about this change? It happened when they understood that Christ had risen from the dead.

It’s happened millions of times since then. People who have been convinced that Jesus is alive, and who, because of that fact, love what they once hated, and turn away from things that they once loved. Their whole world has been turned upside down so that now they see thing right side up.

That’s the good news, that Jesus has died for our sins and risen again for our salvation. It is such great news that the writers of the Bible could say,

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! ­ – Romans 10:15

In that culture, to say that was a huge deal!

And as far as I’m concerned, I’m just glad the Jesus loves the worst parts of me!

Eliezer Gonzalez

Eliezer Gonzalez