KNEELING

The physical act of kneeling is normally associated with an attitude of humility and a submissive will of the individual doing the kneeling. Normally, it is not done in protest. Often a person will knee and pray, asking God to heal his loved one who is critically ill. We have seen a grieving widow kneeling beside the flag covered casket containing the body of her husband who was killed during combat. Luke records in Acts 20:36 and Acts 21:5, when the apostle Paul “knelt down and prayed” before he left his brothers and sisters in Christ, and continued on his journey to Jerusalem. It must have been a very emotional scene as men, and perhaps others were weeping, thinking that they would not see the apostle again. Bible student are acutely aware of Stephen, the first martyr for Christ as recorded in Acts chapter seven. He was being stoned to death by those people who were opposed to the truth he was preaching. The last words recorded by Luke that was uttered by Stephen is found in Acts 7:60: “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord do not charge them with this sin,” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” How merciful and forgiving was this servant of God, while kneeling, knowing his death was imminent! Jesus Christ, while in the Garden of Gethsemane, “knelt down and prayed.” Our Lord was a humble servant of His Father and He prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:41,41, NKJV). Jesus knew of the terrible suffering and death He was about to experience; but, He was submissive to His Father’s will, knowing that His death on Calvary’s cross would grant salvation to all who would surrender their lives to Him. In Hebrews 5:8, 9, we read: “(T)hough He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Our precious Savior suffered death that we might live - in Him. We all should kneel before the cross of Christ, being obedient to His will for us to do. In Romans 6:1-4, we learn that we should die to sin and be buried with Him in baptism, so that we can be resurrected to walk in newness of life. It is when we obey that form of doctrine (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus) that we are freed from sin and become servants of righteousness (Romans 6:17, 18), In the hymn, ‘Kneel at the Cross’, we have these encouraging and comforting thoughts: “Kneel at the cross, Christ will meet you there, He intercedes for you; Lift up your voice, Leave with Him your care And begin life anew. Kneel at the cross, Leave every care. Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there.”