World Unyielding

… and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

Luke 7:38

Openly regarded as a sinner, the woman approached Christ with purpose. And our Lord bore testimony of the same woman: her many sins are forgiven, for she loved much. What love launched her into such extravagance? None other than the love of Christ that drew her attention to His feet. These were sinless, holy feet that never took a wrong step. Do we not confess with John the Baptist, saying of Christ, ‘the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen’? These were feet belonging to the preeminent Christ, worthy of exaltation.

We confess the surpassing beauty of our Saviour’s feet. Not as the world counts beauty. No manicure here. The physical state of first-century feet would likely trigger repulsion today in the sanitised Western world. Dirt embedded between the toes and adorned with calluses. Nothing to marvel at unless you have spiritual eyes to see by faith. Then you behold the Saviour’s feet made beautiful by the good news He brought, the peace and salvation He proclaimed, and the sovereign God He declared. No feet more ready to share the gospel of peace have walked this earth. Jesus’ purpose was to preach, and for that reason, He went from town to town. And for those who received the gospel fit for sinners, the beauty of those feet that brought good news of forgiveness of sins became immensely precious.

Is there not more incentive for us to lay prostrate at Jesus’ feet today? Those pierced feet, which bear the wounds of crucifixion at Calvary, where He shed His blood without which there is no forgiveness of sins. Indelible marks upon His feet. Scars of which He is not ashamed. He displayed them as proof of His resurrection to His disciples. Battle scars from a bloody war waged at the cross, where He fought courageously to defeat sin, death, and hell. His feet did not run from the plan of salvation set in motion by the Father. Though the feet of His disciples fled in all directions, Jesus was undeterred on their account. His feet did not stray. He stood firm in the battle.

Now, O my soul, lay me down at the Saviour’s feet to study them with tears of joyful thanksgiving. Mine is the sin, His is the righteousness. My sin drove the nails through Jesus’ feet. He was pierced for the guilt of my rebellion against God and crushed for my great sin. He died the death I deserve. And through His death, Jesus has given me a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. Yes, my soul, wash His feet with joyful tears and wipe them with the headdress He bestows. Soak His feet with tears as your sorrow turns to joy at the remembrance of His victory. Though it was a hard-fought battle, He rose victorious. And now God has put all things under His feet. Rejoice in the victory Christ won for you. Anoint His feet with the oil of gladness. He has won you eternal life. And is gratitude a stranger to you? Do not grow faint in kissing His scarred feet, and I too may say, ‘I would kiss you; I would not be despised.’ O my soul, get at His feet today and worship the resurrected Christ, your heavenly victor.