by David Brenneman
What might it mean to place something at Jesus's feet? To place it at the foot of the cross?
I am no theological scholar but what I understand is what I might impart today.
In the various Gospels we see people who came and bowed to Jesus. We read in Revelation of the Elders putting their crowns they received at Jesus's feet. We Read in the book of Acts of people bringing their offerings and placing them at their feet.
As I looked farther into this, I understood the thought behind it. As one website described it, it was a sign of great respect. When approaching a King one would bow down out of respect as they came near.
But what of our problems, situations, issues of life?
As Believers I know we give everything to Jesus, literally the good, the bad, and the ugly. We trust Jesus to deal with what's beyond our comprehension and our apparent ability to handle. We are to be dependent upon our Great Shepherd. We shouldn't be thinking we got this all the time.
In Christ we are following Him. We see in the Disciples of them giving their all in learning from Jesus.
It's important to implicitly trust God when we cry out to Him. He said that His Word provides everything pertaining to life in godliness.
God doesn't need our offerings but chooses to accept them from a person who's heart is right before Him in order to bring glory and honor to Himself.
Our problems and situations are able to also bring honor and glory to God. Jesus said that nothing is impossible for God.
Offerings and our prayer needs come out of a heart that relies on God. Our offerings are to be from a grateful heart. A possible way to look at it, is its our watering the seeds of faith. Our prayers feed our faith.
Throughout King David's writings we see him at Jesus's feet.
Sin and death were defeated at the cross of Jesus Christ. Leaving things at the cross would be a reminder to ourselves that our sin is dead and done. Jesus took it all on and defeated it. In Christ Jesus we share His victory over it.
When we lay something at His feet we want to share in His victory over those things. But if we keep panicking and taking them back, we will never see it.
Scripture says we walk by faith and not by sight. When we trust our eyes more than our faith we lose. Peter sank in the water when he did this.
We read of Jesus talking about asking, seeking, knocking. This too is connected. It's our prayer life. Prayers are an offering as much as material needs, physical needs are.
Jesus told us about being anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving bring our requests to God. It's with an implied belief and trust that He's got this and that He knows what is best.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
We are the flawed human beings.
He is not. He is the Creator God.
He is the God who Sees.
He is from beginning to end.
He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He took my place, your place, on Calvary.
He tells us to bring our burdens to Him.
Psalm 55:22 NASB "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."Perhaps that sums it up.
I know that I know that I know that leaving my burdens with Jesus brings such relief that words cannot describe it. Jesus said "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”
Jesus often was alone with His Father. He wasn't just sitting there, He was communing with Him. Sharing His burdens with His Father. Receiving strength and wisdom from His Father. He was wanting to follow everything as His Father had planned out in full obedience.
Another example is the real storys in the Gospels of the official who's daughter was ill. He came to Jesus and was at Jesus's feet to cry out to Him to heal his child. After being assured that the child would be ok, he left Jesus in faith believing and indeed she was healed. I kind of find it hard to believe that he didn't bow down to Jesus in his anguish and need. Certainly doesn't sound like he approached Jesus with "Hey, Jesus! Got a second? Look, if it's ok with you, and you have a moment, could you come on over to heal my kid?"
My thoughts are that he probably dropped to his knees before Jesus because he needed a miracle and knew where to go to get one.
We are told to pray without ceasing. That certainly implies bringing the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives. Our burdens our joys our everything.
Our anxiety our hopes our ideas our plans.
Everything. Just as believing as that official at Jesus's feet to believe that Jesus can and will do something.
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