Who is worthy to touch Jesus’ feet?
John the Baptist in John 1:27 felt that he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals though
scripture described him as a man full of the Spirit. Who then is worthy to touch Jesus’ feet?
When the Pharisees accused Jesus for sitting and dining with the unrighteous, He told
them point blank that His ministry was for the unrighteous . This story is told in Matthew
9:10-17, Mark 2:15-22, and Luke 5:29-39. Here, the Pharisees rebuked Jesus for eating with
sinners, to which Jesus responded, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
John said he was unworthy because he was by right righteous, and he knew the way to
heaven which is through Jesus. When he indicated that he was not worthy he meant that
only the sinners, the unrighteous are those who were worthy to touch the feet of the
Messiah.
This is displayed when we see Mary Magdalene who was a former prostitute positioning
herself at the feet of Jesus in Luke 10:38-42 and later in John 11 and 12. Luke says Mary “sat
at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” John 11 says she fell at Jesus’s feet. Mary
anointed and wiped the feet of Jesus in John 12. These acts of devotion Mary showed to
Jesus annoyed the Pharisees.
The connection between Mary and Jesus’s feet is significant.
She knew she was supposed to die on the day she was accused of adultery. She was
appreciative of what Jesus did to save her life hence she took the ministry of taking care of
Jesus upon her shoulders.
She understood the priority and necessity of choosing to abide with Christ. She chose to
wholeheartedly devote herself to the Christ through remaining at His feet. She knew that
sitting at His feet will prevent her service from becoming distracted and unhealthy.
When Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, it was her way of thanking Him for his grace upon
her. This was an extravagant act of worship that showed wholehearted devotion to Jesus.
We see in John 11 Lazarus, who was Mary’s brother, falling sick and Mary calling for Jesus.
Lazarus, like Mary, was a close friend of Jesus but the Bible tells us that Jesus did not heed
the call immediately. Lazarus ultimately died and was buried before Jesus came. Jesus only
came four (4) days after Lazarus was buried.
For the glory of God to manifest, there must be confusion and focus on Jesus. Jesus
Himself said that Lazarus’s death had to happen for the Son of God to be glorified (John
11:4)
Once Mary heard of Jesus’ presence the bible says she arose and went and knelt at the feet
of Jesus. She understood the concept of worship and making it our priority. The posture of
being at Jesus’ feet portrays worship.
At the tomb of Lazarus Mary wept. This touched Jesus whom the Bible says He also wept.
Jesus wept because He felt Mary’s pain. For as long as we humble ourselves and remain at
the feet of Jesus, when we are in trouble He will feel our pain.
The Father-daughter relationship between Jesus and Mary made Jesus connect to her
heart. It is our relationship with God that makes Him feel our pain. There are people of God
and there are children of God and those who obey God are called children of God.
Mary’s posture at the feet of Jesus displayed a few things about her:
✓her humility
✓her devotion
✓her intent listening
In Luke 10 when she sat at Jesus’ feet, there was a sense of trust. She rested in Jesus’
presence and did not worry about all the destructions around her.
Spending time alone with God is an essential part of the Christian life. We must make time
when we can rest in his presence, read his word and speak to him in prayer. However, many
of us are consumed by our busy lifestyles and responsibilities. As a result, we can easily
push this time to the side and give it less priority
Resting in God is an act of trust. When we do that, we don’t put things into our own hands
but leave them in God’s hands.
The narrative primarily shows Jesus’ emphasis on mercy as opposed to self-righteous
judgment.

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