The Luke 8 stories I read all have something in common. Back in February, the same stories showed up in Mark’s gospel, and I realized that everyone was healed with just a touch.
I noticed something else today.
All those healed also wound up at Jesus’ feet.
The Demoniac
Jesus heals a demoniac, casting his demons into a herd of pigs. When word of the miracle got around…
…the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind… Luke 8:35 NIV
The Synagogue Leader
Jesus returns from this event to Galilee, where:
a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. Luke 8: 41-42
The Bleeding Woman
On the way to heal Jairus’ daughter, Jesus noticed that power has left him. A woman who has bled for years touched His cloak and the bleeding stopped immediately. When Jesus asked who touched him:
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Luke 8: 47-48
Sometimes my daughters and I act out Biblical passages as a way of learning the Bible. When one was younger, she’d always ask me to “Do the acting.” Given the choice of a part for her to play, I noticed that she preferred the leads, like Pharaoh, or God…
Anyway, one time we were acting out a scene where people fell to the floor to worship God. So, we hit the ground ourselves, going prostrate.
I was overcome with emotion.
There’s something about laying down for God that is an ultimate act of worship. It expresses thanks and demonstrates that He is God and we are not. I imagine that when I go to heaven, the moment I see Jesus, I will hit the ground. In tears. If he gives a crown or says “Well, done…” I imagine handing (tossing?) the crown back and saying, “All of it is of you… all by Your grace.”
Jesus served each of these people. He took care of them. But each recognized their rightful relationship to Him: at His feet. So that’s where they went — to the ground.
I need to do that more often, imagine myself sitting at Jesus’ feet, or falling to His feet. As an act of worship.
And there’s something else. Somehow going to Jesus’ feet feels childlike, as if to say, “I trust you. I know you love me. Take care of me.” And he does. I need to fall at Jesus’ feet in acceptance of what He’s brought into my life, with childlike trust.
There’s one more thing. These people eventually stood. I imagine Jesus helping them up, letting them know that He loved them, forgave them, that He would walk with them. I need to imagine Jesus lifting me up, too.
After all, Jesus was lifted up on the cross (to wash not just my feet, but my whole body) so that one day he could lift me to my feet and say, “forgiven.”
Today’s Readings: Joshua 1:1-2:24, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16, Luke 8:26-56. See About for what I’m up to with these daily posts. Your daily blogger, Holiday Longing.
