Part 22 (1/2)

The Woman Who Lived a Sinful Life.

Her Character: She was a notorious sinner, possibly a prost.i.tute or adulteress. Rather than trying to defend what was indefensible in her life, she admitted her sin and made a spectacle of herself in a pa.s.sionate display of love and grat.i.tude.

Her Sorrow: That she had offended G.o.d so grievously.

Her Joy: That Jesus forgave her sins and commended her for her great faith and love.

Key Scripture: Luke 7:36 - 50 Monday HER STORY.

The woman felt as though the world had unraveled in a moment's time. Doors had opened, walls had crumbled, thoughts of the future no longer frightened but thrilled her. She felt clean and whole, innocent as a girl still living in her father's house. Her heart was a wild confusion of sorrow and joy as she followed the rabbi through the doorway.

Ignoring the stares of the men, she walked over to the place where Jesus was reclining at a table. In her hands she held an alabaster jar of perfume. Her body trembled as she approached. She hardly knew what she was doing as she covered his feet with her kisses and then anointed them with the precious perfume, wiping his feet with her hair. How else could she express her heart to the man who had loved her so well?

Like any good Pharisee, Simon loved the law, measuring his days by the steady rhythm of the regulations by which he lived. They were a fence safeguarding his purity, protecting his sense of settled security. How good of the holy G.o.d to provide a map for the right eous, a way of life to set him apart from ordinary Jews-like the woman who had just walked through the door, hoping to glean a few sc.r.a.ps from his table.

Simon was surprised that a sinful woman, even a hungry one, would enter his house. But his surprise grew as he noticed she was not eating but weeping so profusely that her tears were spilling onto the feet of one of his guests. Everything about the scene repelled him, offending his sense of order-a notorious harlot kissing the man's feet, wiping them with her hair, and then pouring perfume over them. It was an astonis.h.i.+ng performance.

Even more astonis.h.i.+ng was the fact that his guest seemed to enjoy the attention. ”If this man were a prophet,” Simon thought, ”he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner.” All of his questions about Jesus were put to rest by the scene he had just witnessed. His ordered way of looking at the world was safe enough, bolstered by the judgment he had just made.

As though he had overheard Simon's secret thoughts,Jesus turned and spoke to him. ”Simon, I have something to tell you.

”Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, ”I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”

”You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ”Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, ”Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, ”Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Though this woman was a notorious sinner, she recognized her great need for grace. Repentance turned her world on its head, opening up an entirely new view of things. Simon, by contrast, was a religious man who, no doubt, had done his best to live a respectable life. His sin was tucked away, hidden even from himself. His habit of judging others had formed a fence around his one-dimensional view of the universe, s.h.i.+elding his neat and orderly life from the unpredictable power of grace.

But Simon and the woman both owed a debt they could not possibly repay. Though Simon's sin was less obvious, it was the more dangerous. He was like a man who was following a map he was certain would lead to heaven-but when heaven came down and walked into his house, he didn't even know it. The woman, on the other hand, realized just how lost she had been. Forgiven much, she loved much. She found heaven at the feet of Jesus.

Tuesday HER LIFE AND TIMES.

WAs.h.i.+NG FEET.

The scene in this story is one of about thirteen instances in which Scripture talks about was.h.i.+ng one's feet. The sinful woman in this story did the act reserved for the lowest, most inexperienced servant of the household.

Most people in Palestine wore sandals or went barefoot, so their feet were constantly dirty from the dust of the roads and fields. When they went into a house, they removed their sandals at the door. A good host or hostess made sure guests' feet were washed as soon as they entered the home. A basin of cool water and a towel were the only equipment required. After walking on hot dusty roads, the foot was.h.i.+ng provided not only clean feet for entering a home but also a refres.h.i.+ng start to a visit.

When the three visitors came to Abraham when he was living ”near the great trees of Mamre” (doesn't that sound like a wonderful place to live?), Abraham provided water for them to wash their feet (Genesis 18:1 - 5). Lot revealed the basic rules of Eastern hospitality when he invited the two angels into his home, telling them to ”wash your feet and spend the night” (Genesis 19:1- 3). Laban provided water for all of those with Abraham's servant to wash their feet (Genesis 24:32). In Egypt, Joseph made sure his brothers had water to wash their feet after their long journey from Palestine (Genesis 43:24). The priests were told they must always wash their feet and hands before going into the temple (Exodus 30:19 - 21). Not surprisingly, the list of good deeds that New Testament widows should be known for included, along with raising children and showing hospitality, ”was.h.i.+ng the feet of the saints” (1 Timothy 5:10).

The fact that foot was.h.i.+ng was a task reserved for the lowest servant in the household makes Jesus' act of was.h.i.+ng the disciples' feet (John 13) all the more poignant. His simple act shocked them and showed them in the clearest way possible how to be a servant leader. Was.h.i.+ng. Touching feet fouled by dust and grime. Kneeling before those who by rights should kneel before him!

Not always so easy, is it? Those unpleasant, humble tasks that require little expertise and gain little notice. Scrubbing the kitchen floor at church. Was.h.i.+ng the greasy hair of an elderly man who cannot do it for himself. Folding laundry. Tending sick children. What menial ch.o.r.e is on your list of things to do today? It's not the task itself that's important, it's what's in your heart while doing it. Will you accomplish it with thoughts that you were meant to do greater things? Or with a simple love for the one you serve?

Wednesday HER LEGACY IN SCRIPTURE.

Read Luke 7:36 - 50.

1. What did it cost this woman to do what she did?

2. What would need to happen for you to be this open in expressing your love for Jesus?

3. What do you think the woman was thinking while Jesus talked to Simon (verses 40 - 47)? What about when he talked to her (verses 48 - 50)?

4. How would you respond if a prost.i.tute entered your church or home Bible study and made a display like this?

5. In what ways can you be understanding and loving toward those whose lives have been shattered by sin, like this woman? Toward those whose lives are characterized by judging others, like the Pharisee? Who needs forgiveness more?

6. Take some time to think about the debt Jesus has cancelled for you. Think of specific sins for which he has forgiven you. How can you express your grat.i.tude?

Thursday HER PROMISE.

Let's be honest. Many of us would respond to this sinful woman just as the Pharisee did. It's so easy to look more with judgment than love at people whose lives have been devastated by sin. But Jesus looked at her and at Simon and saw the same thing: their need for forgiveness. And he gave it freely. We don't know what Simon's response to Jesus was, but the woman's response is evident in her tears and kisses.

This story isn't included in Scripture just so we can see the forgiveness given to one sinful woman; it's included so we can know that no matter how sinful, how broken, how entrenched in error we might be, forgiveness is available if only we seek it in faith-he's promised.

Promises in Scripture For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

-Psalm 25:11 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

-Psalm 65:3 Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

-Acts 10:43 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of G.o.d's grace that he lavished on us.

-Ephesians 1:7 - 8 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

- Colossians 1:13 - 14 Friday HER LEGACY OF PRAYER.

Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven -for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.

-Luke 7:47 Reflect On: Luke 7:36-50.

Praise G.o.d: For the power of forgiveness in your own life.

Offer Thanks: That G.o.d is still ready to forgive you, no matter how frequently or how seriously you have sinned.

Confess: Any self-righteousness that has crept into your life.

Ask G.o.d: To protect you against pride, to enable you to see your sins and believe in his desire and power to forgive you.

Lift Your Heart How long has it been since tears of repentance have washed your soul? Do you find it easier to linger over others' failings than your own? Harsh att.i.tudes toward the notorious sins of others - even the sins of unprincipled politicians or insensitive husbands-will only dry up your love for G.o.d.