Beautiful, Crusty Feet

I have never been one to go to a nail salon on a regular basis.  As a matter of fact, having my nails done is not one of my top priorities.  During the summer, I may or may not paint my toe nails.  With three little ones under foot, they don't stay looking nice for long anyway.  And today, as we were getting ready to leave the house, I realized the last time I even put on shoes was Sunday.  Except for the few minutes I spent out in the garden yesterday afternoon.  And why does this all matter?

³⁷ And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil ³⁸ and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.

~Luke 7:37-38

For some reason, I was struck with this passage tonight.  The image of Jesus' grocery store feet.  His nasty, dusty, crusty feet.  As I think about this passage, I wonder if Simon looked at Jesus' feet and was disgusted.  I mean Simon saw Jesus' feet and didn't even offer him water with which to wash them.  I wonder if Simon looked at Jesus and didn't see him as any different than himself.  Or better yet, if Simon saw himself as better than Jesus.  At any rate, here this woman was and her life was mirror of Jesus' feet.



Like His need for water to cleanse the filth from His feet, she was in need of The Living Water.  The Living Water to cleanse her soul, her very being.  And still she came to Jesus.  In all her filth, she came with all that was valuable to her and made a sacrificial offering.  She revealed her deepest need.  And yet, He met her there.  At the point of her realization, He extended grace.  Her worship wasn't through gritted teeth.  It wasn't a way to pridefully reveal her own righteousness.  Her worship was for an intentional audience, one man, Jesus.

As I think about my time with Him today and everyday, I wonder, am I seeing Jesus for who He really is? Am I intentional in my worship?  Do I use my invitation to meet with Jesus for the benefit of His kingdom or my own?  I hope the next time I put on my shoes, I remember just how much I'm in need of His cleansing.