The Forgiven Woman: An Outpouring of Grace
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Suppose we crash a party—circa a.d. 30—when Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, knowing his guest of honor would draw a crowd.
Women weren't permitted to serve or consume the feast while men reclined at the table. The poor were allowed to hang around the periphery, collecting food scraps that fell to the floor.
Among the less fortunate was "a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town" (Luke 7:37). Since her name and specific sin aren't mentioned—prostitution, scholars say—we can pencil in our names and sins as we watch this scene unfold.
Undone and Unbound
Knowing Jesus would be there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. Perfume being expensive, her jar would have been small and easily hidden.
Did she mean to anoint the Lord's head, as had Mary of Bethany (Mark 14:3), who was chastised by the disciples for wasting what might have been sold? Or did this unnamed woman plan to donate her alabaster jar and its contents to support Jesus' ministry financially, as Mary Magdalene had done (Luke 8:2-3)?
Whatever her intent, she drew near to him. Then, undone in his holy presence, she wet his feet with her tears. Sorrow for her sins flowed from her heart. Gratitude for his acceptance poured from her eyes.
So brave, this woman, standing in a crowded room of men—former customers, some of them—silently confessing her sins. Watching her, I, too, feel the sting of tears. Could I stand before a group of men who "knew me when" and make such a painful admission?
Having soaked Jesus' feet, she knelt and wiped them with her hair. She was embarrassed, perhaps. Or simply wanted to serve him. Unbound tresses were a serious breach of social custom, but our sister didn't care; Jesus was her sole concern.
Observing her extravagant display, I'm ashamed of the times I've restrained myself during worship—should I lift my hands? sing with abandon? kneel for prayer?—too concerned with others' opinions and not focused enough on my Savior.
Scandalous Devotion
What this courageous woman did next was shocking. She kissed Jesus' feet. A scandalous act. But glorious.
Again, I'm cut to the quick. In 24 years of knowing the Lord, have I done one risky thing to express my love for him? Knocked on a stranger's door to share the gospel? Served food at a rescue mission?
Forgive me, Lord. For holding back. For giving you anything less than everything.
This woman withheld nothing: Opening her jar, she anointed Jesus' feet with her costly perfume. The scent that marked her as a prostitute—paid for by the many men who'd used her—was now poured out as a love offering for the one man who respected her.
Pointing to her humble example to teach his host a lesson, Jesus assured Simon, "her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much" (Luke 7:47).
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2006, September/October, Vol. 28, Issue 5, Page 30
Related Topics:
forgiveness, Holding Back, Jesus, Life of, Sorrow, Women in Biblical Times
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Average User Rating:
Terri
This article was very eye opening for me. I have not given a lot of thought as to the customs that existed when this actually happened. While reading this article I really paused and thought about how I would have felt if I were that woman in a room full of men. And that was the eye opening part for me. I never thought of how courageous that woman had to be to open up and spill her guts in front of a group of male listeners. She really had to have been concentrating on Jesus and nothing else. I don't know if I could do what she did, I have suffered from a spirit of fear in the past and am just now ( having been a Christian for three years) getting over all my fears. I will never look at that story in the Bible in the same way. This article really changed my view of that situation forever.
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