Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2066
“At His feet.” Luke 7:38.
THE Easterns pay more attention to posture than we do. They are demonstrative and express by outward signs much which we do not express, or express less energetically. In their courts certain positions must be taken up by courtiers. Oriental monarchs are approached in positions which indicate the greatness of the king and the submissiveness of the petitioner. So, in their worship, the Easterns abound in postures significant of the humility which should be felt in the Presence of God. The most of us think very little, indeed, of outward postures. Perhaps we do not even think enough of them. Inasmuch as in devotion we think little of the position of the body, let us pay all the more attention to the posture of the soul.
And if it seems to us to be a matter of indifference whether a man prays standing as Abraham did, or sitting as David did, or kneeling as Elijah did. Yet let us take care that the posture of the soul is carefully observed. One of the best positions in which our heart can be found is at Jesus’ feet. Here we may fall, or here we may sit and follow excellent examples to our exceeding benefit.
The first thing that is necessary to spiritual life at all is to recognize the Presence of Jesus and to come into relationship with Him. To look at Him is salvation. As to look at the brazen serpent was healing, so to look at Jesus Christ brings life eternal to the soul. After we have come to look at Jesus and so there is a connecting link between us and Him through which salvation comes to us, we are described as being in various positions with regard to our Lord. We are on His heart. Just as the priest of old carried the names of the twelve tribes, so does Jesus carry all His people on His heart— and that is where we are at this time.
There are favored times when, like John, we are on His bosom. We feel His heart beating with true affection to us. We not only believe His love but there is a kind of sense—which I may not call sense either, for it belongs not to the grosser forms of sensation—but there is a kind of spiritual sensitiveness which causes us to feel that Jesus loves us. We seem to say, “God is love, I know, I feel.” For in our very hearts the love of God is shed abroad by the Holy Spirit. Then are we raised to His bosom. And it is a blessed posture to be in—
“Oh, that we could with holy John Forever lean our heads upon The bosom of our Lord!”
We are described, also, as being in the hands of Christ. All His saints are in His hand. He gives unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, for He Says, “none shall pluck them out of my hand.” See your position in the hollow of His hand, while in the Father’s hand the hand of Christ is embraced and He tells us “none is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
Then, too, we are described as being on His shoulders. Does not the Good Shepherd, when he finds the strayed sheep, cast it upon His shoulders and carry it home? When Aaron stood pleading before the Lord he not only carried the names of the tribes upon his breastplate but he had them in of gold upon his shoulders. Christ carries us on the heart of His love and on the shoulders of His power. Thus are we perfectly safe.
You see, then, where we are. And I do not want you to forget this, while I urge upon all the Lord’s people that they should seek to be “at His feet.” You can keep all the other positions and this, too. Though that were impossible for the body, it is quite possible for the spirit. The highest delight and the fullest assurance are perfectly consistent with the lowliest reverence. You may rise even to the Master’s lips, until you can say with the spouse, “Let Him kiss me with the kisses
of His mouth, for His love is better than wine.” And yet you may still be lying at His feet, conscious of your unworthiness and bowed into the very dust under a sense of His love.
We must leave those other positions and consider the one in our text. And we have only two remarks to make— namely, first, that at His feet is a becoming posture. And, secondly, at His feet is a helpful posture.
I. First, AT HIS FEET IS A BECOMING POSTURE. This is proper because of the majesty of His Person. As He is Divine, “at His feet” is the creature’s becoming place. Jesus is “God over all, blessed forever.” Let us exhibit the lowliest reverence whenever we think of Him. He comes very near us and we sing at the communion table—
“His sacred name a common word On earth He loves to hear; There is no majesty in Him Which love may not come near.”
But there is majesty—there is Divine majesty. Jesus is our Brother but He is the first-born among many Brethren. He has a human head but on that head are many crowns. He wears a nature like our own but that Nature is in union with His Godhead and we cannot think of Him without bowing with lowly adoration before Him. The sun and the moon and the eleven stars make obeisance to this star of Bethlehem. All the sheaves bow before this Joseph’s sheaf, as it stands upright in the midst. Jesus, You are He whom Your Brethren shall praise! All Your mother’s sons shall bow down before You, for You are exceedingly glorious. Behold, every tongue shall confess that You are Lord and every knee shall bow before You. Therefore with glad prostration of spirit we bow at Your feet even now.