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A
survey once discovered that while 83 percent found their first kiss to
be exciting, 6 percent thought it was disappointing. Thirty-five
percent said the best kiss of their lives made their knees weak, 33
percent claimed it caused them to hear fireworks, and 23 percent felt
the earth move.
Seventy percent kiss with their eyes closed, but 61 percent said they
sometimes peek. Men peek 67 percent of the time, while women only open
their eyes for 55 percent of their kisses.
The
Romans are credited with perfecting the kiss. Kissing friends on the
cheek was so common that it is said they couldn’t get through a day
without kissing someone—a shopkeeper, a neighbor, a relative, or a mere
acquaintance.
The
Romans did have their limits, however. Passionate kissing was reserved
strictly for one's lover. In fact, once a couple had sealed their
engagement with a passionate kiss they were considered “married” even
though the actual ceremony had yet to take place.
Because of the importance of a romantic kiss, Roman law required couples
who were caught passionately kissing in public to go ahead and become
married.
There are 42 references to kissing in the Bible. Of these, only three
refer to romantic kissing. Proverbs 7:13 warns against the alluring
nature of the kiss of an adulteress, while Song of Songs 1:2 and 8:1
praise the kiss the lover has for his beloved.
The
most infamous kiss in the Bible was the one that Judas gave to Jesus to
identify him to the Roman soldiers on the night of the betrayal.
Perhaps the most meaningful kiss recorded in the Bible was that of a
sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet while he sat at a banquet table.
Luke 7:38 says, “As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began
to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them and poured perfume on them.”
This
coming Monday is Valentines Day. The actions of this sinful lady were
like a Valentine to the Lord. Jesus not only praised her actions, he
also forgave her sins.
Some
years ago, a minister held an outdoor service in a great city. The
curious gathered as he told the story of the sinful lady who had
anointed Jesus’ feet. As he described Christ’s acceptance and
forgiveness, a woman of the streets who had short, chopped-off hair
began to weep. Not just little tears, but a river of tears.
“This man who forgave the woman—can he forgive me, too?” she pleaded.
“Yes,” the preacher assured her.
“And
will he come again?” she asked.
“He
may come soon,” the preacher said.
At
this the woman began to cry all the more. “No, no. He can’t come
soon. My hair ain’t long enough yet to wipe his feet.”
Forgiven persons are anxious to express love and appreciation to Jesus.
It is our Valentine to our Lord.
Paul Jetter, Upper Valley Community Church |
