Clinging to Jesus' Knees

Nobody wants to clean the oven by hand. That's why most newer ovens are self-cleaning. Months of pies spilling out of the pan, cheese falling from the nachos and cookies crumbling to the oven bottom makes the task of cleaning the oven difficult and messy.

Add to the difficulty of this task is the fact that most ovens must be cleaned on the knees.

"But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'" Luke 5:8 English Standard Version

Peter, on his knees, grasps the knees of Jesus, at least that is the way I read the story. He asks Jesus to depart from him, yet he holds on to him, and all of this on his knees.

Sin brings us to our knees when we stand in the presence of Jesus. Our good deeds, our righteous acts, are soiled rags compared to Jesus' work, yet it is on our knees that we also hear the words that we are forgiven and loved by this righteous Jesus.

Like Peter we ask Jesus to depart from us while clinging to him with all our might. We know that we are not worthy of his love, yet it is his love that sustains our life.

It is his love that makes it worth getting up in the morning.

It is his love that propels us to deal with our struggling relationships.

It is his love that gives us hope when we contemplate our mortality.

Good things happen on our knees as we cling to Jesus' knees.

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.