Mark 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone..."

"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses" (Mark 11:25 NRSV).

Question:

Curiosity as to whether people knelt in the early church.

Comment:

This passage really has nothing to do with the early church, but rather with Jewish custom and tradition. Jesus was not describing a Christian in prayer, but a Jew. And Jesus frequently describes a praying person as standing. I can't, offhand, think of a time when Jesus directed people to kneel. "Standing before God" is a familiar image, and it expresses the essence of the relationship Jesus describes. We are the Christ of God in expression. Certainly the Allness of God that is the Source belongs on a metaphysical throne. But we stand before the throne as expressions of that same Source.

  Blessings!

Rev. Ed