Selected
Beauty is usually associated with an attractive face, a melodious voice, harmonious music, magnificent scenery, a fresh blanket of snow, a gentle deer or fragrant rose. We do not usually associate beauty and feet!
The biblical word "beautiful" literally means belonging to the right hour or season (timely) i.e. by implication, flourishing or ripened at the fit season. Our Lord Jesus Christ came in the fullness of time. In due time Christ died for the ungodly. He appeared at just the right time in human history.
Some people can appreciate the beauty of feet in their skilful design, the structure, strength and function. Seldom do we find they are the subject of the poet or the artist.
The physical body of the Lord Jesus, prepared by the Holy Spirit, must have been perfectly formed. Can we imagine Mary examining and holding those infant feet of Jesus. Mary knew that a sword would pierce her soul but she did not know it would mean the piercing of His feet. Beautiful feet belong to the One who was sent by the Father. The One who made peace by the blood of His cross and announced the good news to all mankind. Everyone who proclaims the glad tidings of Christ has beautiful feet. Do we follow His steps? (1 Peter 2:21).
When John the Baptist contemplated loosing the leather thongs of his Master’s sandaled feet, he exclaimed: ‘I am not worthy." The angels were commanded to carefully guard Christ lest He dash His foot against a stone (Psalm 91:11-12).
The lame, blind, dumb and maimed were healed at those beautiful feet (Matt. 15:30).
To walk by faith where Jesus walked is an experience to be longed for. "He went about doing good" by the sparkling sea of Galilee, by Jordan’s historic banks, on the quiet road to Emmaus in the peaceful town of Bethany, the bustling streets of Nazareth and Jerusalem, and to Jacob’s deep well where He sat weary with His journey. The sound of His feet is still heard as He draws near and walks with the sad, the lonely, the perplexed and burdened traveller along the road of life (Luke 24: 15).
The scriptures record two women who are identified with His beautiful feet. One was depraved. But her tears of contrition washed His feet, her hair dried them, her lips kissed them and her hands anointed them. Her faith was crowned with forgiveness (Luke 7:36-48). The other, a devout woman, poured costly ointment on His feet and wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of such sacrifice still fills the house where He is in the midst. It is never a loss to lavish our love on Him (John 12:3).
Those beautiful feet climbed the stairs to that upper room and walked through the Kedron Valley to Gethsemane. We may follow His steps to the house of Caiaphas, the judgment hall, the place of the pavement. Then "He bearing His cross went forth" to the hill of Calvary. There the dogs surrounded Him, the band of evil men encircled Him, "they pierced my hands and my feet," (Psalm 22:16). How gently Joseph of Arimathea must have removed the nail from those blessed feet as he took the body down from the cross.
After His resurrection adoring women held those pierced feet. The terror-filled disciples behind locked doors beheld with wonder the wounded Saviour and were made glad. We, who are His, shall see Him forever as the Lamb freshly slain, this same Jesus.
All things will eventually be put beneath those feet. His foes will be His footstool and His feet shod with power and glory forever. We shall gladly fall down before Him to extol Him, saying, "Worthy is the Lamb, that was slain". Amen.