AT THE FEET OF JESUS

It is our privilege and duty to bring the congregation to the feet of Jesus in worship. We can only lead people where we have been!  As a preacher, I need to know the way, consistently coming in consecration to Christ on a daily basis.  This will ignite a passion in me, as I worship Him, to bring the people to bow before Him on the Lord’s Day. No matter what else we may accomplish, should we fail to bring the church to bow at His feet, then our purpose for gathering has failed. However, as the old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”  Likewise, we may bring people before the Lord and the failure is theirs—they would not drink of the Living Water. But, let us model and bring a message that brings them to the feet of Jesus.  That we can do—and must do!

There are many lessons to learn from the visit of the Magi. It is a wise man indeed who falls at Jesus’ feet to worship Him. There are numerous occasions where this act of submission, devotion, and adoration is recorded in Scripture.

 

They bow at Christ’s INCARNATION.  “When they … saw the young Child … [they] fell down and worshiped Him.”  (Matt.2:11).  This stresses His humanity. We marvel that God would become man—the Infinite as an infant; the Creator becoming a creature!  To know He came in love to be one of us in order to save us fills us with awe.

They bow at Christ’s TRANSFIGURATION. “They fell on their faces” (Matt. 17:6).  This stresses His deity. Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of His glory. For one brief, shining moment, who Jesus was on the inside burst through to the outside. They were smitten by His splendor and fell at His feet.  Only a man could die for us, but only God could save us. How marvelous!

They bow at Christ’s RESURRECTION. “They came and  held Him by the feet” (Matt. 28:9).  This stresses His victory. He stands before them as Conqueror of death!  It is now nail-scarred feet before which they fall. Wonder and worship is their response, and ought to be ours as we bow before the One who holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave!

Later, John would record how he would bow at Christ’s GLORIFICATION.  “I fell at His feet as dead” (Rev. 1:17a).  This stresses His supremacy. Those who bow before Him now as the Lord and Savior, will bow before Him in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. When we gather for worship, spiritually we may bow before the glorified Christ in anticipation of literally bowing before Him someday!

The Gospel song, written by Squire Parsons, Jr., puts it:

If I leave this world of sorrow sometime before you do,

Just look for me in heaven and we'll talk the ages thru;

But if, at first, you fail to see me, let me tell you where I'll be,

I'll be thanking Christ, my Savior, for saving a wretch like me.

Don't look 'neath the gates of pearl, don't look on the streets of gold,

Don't look by the walls of jasper, nor among the many sights untold;

For I've been longing and I've been waiting for the precious, holy One to meet,

There I'll be thru the countless ages, look for me at Jesus' feet.