“Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land,” ELW 333
Devotion
Refrain
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
No one can do like Jesus,
not a mumbling word he said;
he went walking down to Lazarus' grave,
and he raised him from the dead. Refrain
When Jesus was on earth,
the flesh was very weak;
he took a towel and girded himself
and he washed his disciples' feet. Refrain
Yonder comes my Savior,
him whom I love so well;
he has the palm of victory
and the keys of death and hell. Refrain
Let's think about feet. Did the disciples wear Doc Martens, Air Jordans or Vans? Did they benefit from gel insoles or a stiff shank? How did they cut their toenails? Not too many podiatrists in Jerusalem! Let's also think about transportation. How did Jesus and the disciples get from Galilee to Jerusalem? There were no planes, trains or automobiles—no megabuses either.
Disciples walked. They probably had a pair of sandals. Their feet were dry, dusty, mud caked. At the end of the day it would have felt good to soak your feet as you washed the miles and the grime away. Twenty four dirty, stinky feet would have meant several trips to the well, several buckets of water. What an odd scene it must have been. This great man—whose stories, miracles, compassion, life of prayer and teaching had transformed you, led you to leave your life to follow him—was now clad in a towel, down on the floor washing twenty four feet.
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for this amazing, blessed memory of the time you washed my feet, showing me how much you love me. You are my rock in a weary land, you are my shelter in the time of storm. Amen.