Series: Short Stories with Jesus
Message: Feet Kisser
Preacher: Jessyka Albert
Reflection: Jessyka Albert
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Purpose: Vanessa Rivera
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Luke 7:36-48 in the New International Version (NIV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: Recently, a group of elders, teachers, and parents from the church took a group of teens up to Glacier View Ranch to go sledding. Late in the afternoon, snow began to fall lightly and then all at once it began dumping. Two cars headed down the mountain; both cars got stuck. One group was taken in by a family who let them stay until the roads cleared up. The other car got a little more than stuck. This car slid off the road and ended up hitting a tree. Everyone was safe with no injuries to be reported, parents were notified, and a ride was in place to bring all the leaders and teens back down the mountain. The leader driving the car then called to inform me of what happened and that every- thing was taken care of. After I was assured that everyone was okay, that parents knew what was going on, and that the group would be back home soon, I asked the question, “Are you OK?”
When a high pressure situation like that happens and adrenaline kicks in for the responsible one. Knowing that every- one was “safe,” allowed the adrenaline to wear off. Hearing that question, “Are you OK?” allowed this individual to breathe and feel the emotion of a scary situation.
After such horrible events such as many of the recent school shooting we have seen in the United States, photos follow of students being reunited with their parents. You can see that these kids have been in shock and have been trying to hold it all together, but when they fall into their parents’ arms they fall apart. They feel all the emotions they have been holding back. All the pain. All the fear. All the hurt.
When this woman falls at the feet of Jesus, she weeps. She lets it all out.
Sometimes we are so busy being the responsible ones. We are in shock. We are running on adrenaline. We are holding it all together. This story reminds us that it’s OK to let it out. Jesus can handle it. Jesus wants to handle it. As you pray today, don’t rush through it so you can avoid letting your guard down and falling apart. Fall apart at the feet of Jesus. Wet His feet with your tears. Seek His comfort. His forgiveness. His stability. His love.
Recalibrate: What is currently holding you together? What would it look like to “let it all out” at the feet of Jesus?
Respond: During prayer, allow yourself to fall apart if you need to. Don’t make any effort to try and hold yourself together while praying to God.
Research: Take an inventory of your own reactions to stressful situations. How do you normally handle them? Do you have a pattern? Does that pattern involve Jesus?
Remember: “She has been forgiven of all her many sins. This is why she has shown me such extravagant love.” —Luke 7:47 (TPT)
Jessyka Albert is a graduate of Union College and a native of Washington State. She has been the associate pastor at Boulder Adventist Church since 2016. She serves over three branches of faith development, Wonder, Adventure and Purpose.
Go through your photos with your little one, pointing out who is who and how they are connected to you. Talk about how everyone is invited to be part of God’s family.
Have you ever been left out before? It’s never fun to feel like you’re not good enough, smart enough, or sporty enough to be included. Jesus looks at the size of our heart and its ability to love. Then He says “Come play on My team.” Who can you play with today that you normally would not?
Simon said the woman was a sinner while Jesus said she was saved. Why do you think Jesus and Simon had such different views of the same person? Jesus does not classify others the way we do. Pray and ask Jesus to help you see people with love today, especially those you may have labeled incorrectly. Write a few sentences about this experience in a journal. Did the labels change? Consider doing this the rest of the week.