Today’s blog is just a taste. I want to whet your appetite to search the word and find the gems that God has placed there for us during this season. The days between Passover and Shavuot, the fifty days, are so very special. These days are counted and acknowledged each evening. After Yeshua’s resurrection, He appeared to many during the Counting of the Omer. In fact, I found ten instances in my study (there might be more) in which He appeared to an individual or five hundred! Let’s just take a look at one instance.
It was hard to choose just one appearance but, the one that I wanted to look at was in Matthew 28:8-10, “So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Yeshua met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Yeshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” Before these verses Miriam (Mary) of Magdala and the other Miriam (Mary, mother of James) had been grieving Yeshua’s death, their rabbi, Messiah and hope had been removed. They had just endured the traumatic death of their Messiah, an earthquake and then saw an angel! Thankfully, the angel encouraged them and showed them the place where Yeshua had been laid to rest. They are instructed to tell the disciples that He has risen and that they will see Him in the Galilee. But as they are on the way to the disciples, Yeshua appears to them. What do these women do? The women “took hold of His feet and worshiped Him”. Both of these women had been grieving Yeshua’s death, and now they are overwhelmed with joy as their Messiah stands alive before them. When they see their resurrected savior in the flesh, they are moved to submit themselves and worship Him. I love this definition of worship, “Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission”, Webster’s Dictionary, 1828. When we are grieved and have no hope, that’s when we need to remember to submit ourselves and worship our Messiah. <
The women not only worship at Yeshua’s feet but, they take hold of His feet. Taking hold of His feet is extremely symbolic. Let’s look at the reasons why:
- When we look at the culture during this time, we find that many people were barefooted or wore simple sandals. Your feet would become incredibly dirty, which is why the lowliest servant of a home would have the job of cleaning the guest’s feet. This is why when Yeshua washes the disciple’s feet (John 13:4-17) it is so mind blowing to them! Yeshua is showing them to submit one to another, no one is more important than another and He is demonstrating humbleness. The women were exhibiting their submission to their master and their love.
- All things will be under Messiah’s feet, Matthew 22:44, “The Lord said to my Lord; ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ The Messiah will have authority, he will reign in Jerusalem! In Zechariah 14:4 it says, “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west…” During these days of Counting the Omer we need to remember that one day our Messiah will rule and reign.
- Messiah’s feet are beautiful. Why? Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Yeshua brought the Good News (in Hebrew basar) which meant that there was a way through Yeshua to attain the kingdom of God. Yeshua proclaimed peace (shalom) meaning completeness, wholeness, being fully integrated, and inner peace. Yeshua’s very name was “salvation” and He came to lay His life down so that we could be reconciled to God.
Each one of these encounters with Yeshua during the Counting of the Omer is significant and enriching. Take time to study them and let me know what the Lord shows you during these special days!