Meditation for Preparation – March 10th

How’s Your Posture

Read: Luke 6:17-26

Do you ever think about what your body language communicates to those around you? We know about frowns/smiles/furrowed brow? But what about your posture?

Consider this: How do you stand when talking to someone you respect? How about when you are disciplining your child? Or when you are pulled over by the cops? (Not that any of you ever have been pulled over.) My point is that we take different postures depending on what we want to communicate to those around us.

When I was a student, I could not do my schoolwork if a teacher was looking over my shoulder. In fact, during one of my higher math classes, I remember putting down my pencil and looking up at the teacher to communicate, “I can’t work with you over my shoulder.” There is a reason that interrogations take place with the suspect sitting down; a reason that there is a podium for professors to lecture from; and a reason why moms worry about their children getting taller than they are so they can’t “talk down to them” anymore. 

So when I think through how people use their posture to show their superiority or power or importance, I am blown away by these words spoken of Jesus, “And he came down with them and stood on a level place” and this phrase as well, “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said.”  

I am humbled by this scene. Picture it with me for a moment. A group has descended from the Mountain: not the highly esteemed, but the normal, maybe even less than normal, or maybe those not so wanted by society. Those seeking answers, healing, purpose. Those not very different from us- sinners, wanderers, the needy, the broken. Jesus came down with these people, and when He stood, He stood at a level place with them. He wasn’t peering over their shoulder to make sure they didn’t mess up. He stood on level ground with them, and then at some point He lowered Himself to the point He had to look up at them. 

What does Jesus’ posture teach me? What does it show me about who He is and how He feels towards me? 

In some ways I don’t know because my human mind can’t comprehend the depth of love I receive from my Savior: the love and care shown by His posture in lowering Himself to be on my level. Yet, I can be amazed that when I read of Jesus being lifted up, it is in the most dehumanizing way. He is stripped of His clothes and humanity. He is inflicted with pain and humiliation for my sake. He felt the weight of what it meant to be broken in body and spirit. 

It seems counterintuitive that the one who has made all things and through whom all things were made should have to raise His gaze when teaching His disciples. He would stand on level ground with those that would betray Him, disappoint Him, and fall asleep instead of keeping watch with Him. He knew their hearts, their faults, and their feeble minds but He chose to lower Himself to their level. 

I know there is so much in this passage, and there is so much richness. But to me it becomes all the more sweet when I realize the posture Jesus took while teaching those around Him. Men and women that the world didn’t see as important, Jesus showed such respect for. Do I do the same?

Do I unfairly exalt myself over others? Do I use my posture and stance to communicate my own self-importance? Why did Jesus show such humility? How can I?

These are the things that run through my head today. I don’t have the answers, and I am not sure I want them. To ponder these questions is to look full into the face of Jesus and say “teach me.” I want to be in awe more than I want answers. I want to feel my own smallness while the King of Kings looks up at me to teach me. I want to see the loveliness of Jesus while He stands on level ground with me, knowing I don’t deserve such grace and kindness.

So no. I don’t want answers. I want to live in awe today. Join me to see the beauty of the posture of Christ and pray with me that we all learn to emulate it more and more daily. 

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash