Have you ever read the same passage in different translations and suddenly something new jumps out that makes sense? Let me show you what I mean:
And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Luke 7:37-38 ESV
When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. Luke 7:37-38 NLT
I never understood how she could cry on His feet if He were reclined and she was standing. I know that’s not a deep spiritual question to ponder, but as a personal trainer familiar with body movement, it made me wonder.
She Knelt Behind Him
We can look at her tears as a symbol of a profound sense of Christ’s significance. So deep that all she could do in His presence was weep, kneel behind Him, and anoint Him with tears and perfume. Her tears washed the dust from the streets off His feet. Then she wiped His feet clean with her hair. And she anointed His feet with rare perfume. All of these actions required her to kneel. Kneeling is a functional movement of the body, heart, soul, and mind. Kneeling was not an afterthought. It was an intentional sacrificial act of worship designed to reveal the depth of her devotion. Her soul was pierced, her heart was moved, and her mind developed a plan that the body had to carry out.
Our bodies and the physical activity they are capable of are not separate from our spiritual lives. As she knelt, tears began to flow. A connection that should not go unnoticed. Kneeling lowers the body physically and tears lower our emotional defenses. Together, they symbolize openness, surrender, and humility in His presence. Functional fitness equips us to worship and honor God fully with our bodies. However, kneeling in worship can be a challenge when we lack the mobility to do so. Restoring or rebuilding that capacity is simple, but we must be willing to pay the price. Modifications might be needed, but it is possible to kneel before Him again or for the first time, if you’re willing to put forth the effort.
Let’s examine the functional movement patterns involved as she knelt behind Him:
- She would have most likely started with half-kneeling. This is the action of getting down on one knee.
- Next, she would be upright but on both knees. This is known as Tall kneeling.
- Lastly, to humble herself in His presence, she would have further lowered her body to a sitting position with her heels beneath her. This is called short or low kneeling.
This week, before my attempt to move through this progression of kneeling, my first thought was, “Can I get back up?” Whether it’s age, injury, or mobility, if this functional movement feels challenging, there are ways to modify or assist you in each stance.
For example, holding onto a chair as you lower one knee can give you the stability and confidence to complete the movement. Placing a towel or a mat on the floor so your knees have a cushion against the hard surface can make that position more bearable. And if sitting with your heels beneath you is painful, sit on the floor with your knees to one side.
Action: If you’re physically able, kneel with your heels underneath you as a prayer position. Otherwise, choose another position in this progression and use it as you offer God a sacrifice of praise. Acknowledge His significance in your life and pour out your heart, soul, strength, and mind to Him in love.
*For those of you who prayer walk, take time before you walk to kneel and pray. Then ponder that experience as you walk. For your copy of this week’s screensaver, click here. And to access all of my YouVersion Bible App devotional plans, click here.