Luke 7:38-39 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. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
“No one understands like Jesus.” The old hymn came flooding through my mind and heart as I read today’s verse.
In the presence of a Holy God; those tears, having been damned up for years, came flooding out of this harlot. Were they tears of joy or tears of sorrow? Yes to both. Her sin was ever before her. She had lived with the name calling. The men and women knew who and what this woman was. Here’s what matters:
JESUS KNEW!
He understood. He forgave her, loved her and allowed her to baptize his feet with her salty flow. He accepted her worship! His grace increased with her devotion, grace that was greater than all her sin.
When she let down her hair, there was probably a gasp in the room; because that was not allowed in public. What did she have to lose? Already an outcast; her purpose was innocent, to use her long locks to dry the feet of her Savior. Then she began to do the unthinkable…
She kissed the Lord’s feet.
Next, she poured out the entire content of an alabaster box; filled with expensive perfume, twice on the head of Jesus and once on His feet. All of this being done by: “that kind of woman.”
Simon said in verse 39: ” If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is- that she is a sinner.”
Of course Jesus knew. He created her with and on purpose for such a time as this.
Jesus knows our every thought!
He responded to Simon’s thoughts with a parable. The parable of the money lender and two people who owed him. He forgave both but he asked Simon which one loved Jesus more? Of course Simon replied, “the one who was in debt the most.”
Jesus told Simon in verses 44-46: “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.”
In verse 47 Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much. He who forgives little, loves little.”
Oh God may we go and do likewise. Forgive much. Love much!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You alone know the hearts and minds of the people You created. I thank You for understanding me, forgiving me, loving me unconditionally. I worship You in Spirit and in Truth! In Jesus Name. Amen
