Continuing our series on worship, today I want to look at the Greek word proskeneo, which occurs over 60 times in the New Testament. It is mostly translated in English as worship. It expresses intimacy in worship and literally means “to kiss toward while falling down before the divine.” In most New Testament passages it is used to express people’s response to Jesus’ mercy by falling to his feet to kiss them and worship him. The word was rarely used in ancient Greek because it was culturally seen as a humiliating act. While Greeks thought of it as undignified, Christians thought of it as an example of pure devotion, which was common among the Hebrews who thought nothing of humbling themselves before God in expression of worship.
Today in our Western culture, like all Greco-Roman influenced cultures, the idea of being prostrate on the ground, kissing the feet of Jesus, does not sit well with people. The Catholic church has employed this act of worship with kneeling benches, but in the protestant church kneeling is mostly unheard of.
Some suggest this act is in the heart rather than physical, but in the New Testament, 59 out of 60 times, the act is physical not metaphorical. Over the years I have often felt driven to my knees in worship, my heart taken captive by the majesty of Jesus or the awe of his presence. Even then, I must confess, it is still an expression rarely present in the modern church. As with everything, there are exceptions, and with my recent knee injury I can understand this. For most of us the real issue isn’t that we can’t, but we feel it is undignified. It is a humbling act of worship. Yet, in the scriptures, there is something about the quality of every event where the word is used . . . they are grateful. Specifically, in almost every time it appears in the gospels, the person falls at Jesus feet because he has rescued, healed, or saved them. As you consider what it means for you to worship God, let me invite you to consider moving out of your comfort zone and stepping into a place of humility and gratefulness. Bow down at the feet of Jesus and kiss the son.
Next week we will look at two Hebrew words: shachah, which occurs 172 times in the Old Testament, and sagad’.
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