Skip to main content

It is Personal


               She had no right to be there.  After all, this gathering was for the religious and the elite of the town and she was neither of those things.  In fact, “sinner” was the word that most people used when describing her.
                Not only was she out of place at Simon the Pharisee’s house, but she also made a spectacle of herself. First, she went to the place where Jesus was seated, fell down behind him and began crying so loudly that everyone could hear her. 
Then, unbelievably, she touched Jesus!  Women of that day did not even hold their husband’s hand in public, yet she fell on Jesus and poured expensive perfume on him! 
Lastly, she did the unthinkable!  She wiped his feet with her hair.  Jewish women never let their hair down in public!  It was customary for a woman to bind her hair up on her wedding day and only her husband would see it down again.  At the time, this was the height of immodesty (Luke 7:36-38)
As he watched these things take place, Simon, the good and righteous Bible teacher, began to think that he may have been wrong about Jesus. “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!” (verse 39).  Most scholars believe that “sinner”, as it is used here, is just a nice way of saying “prostitute”.  Obviously, Simon had no respect for this woman and he was quickly losing respect for Jesus.
It is quite a contrast.  On one side of the table, the intelligent, well thought of Bible scholar, Simon, visits with Jesus, but he is aloof and very judgmental.  On the other side of the table, an unnamed and unappreciated woman pours her heart out in thanksgiving to the point of public embarrassment.
Why do these two people react so differently?
To one, Jesus is interesting.  To the other, he is essential!
Simon thought he was good on his own and that he really did not need Jesus.  The woman knew exactly how much she needed God’s forgiveness, so Jesus’ message created a huge response in her (verses 41-50). 
It is one thing to know about Jesus. It is another thing to know Jesus himself.
Faith becomes real and effective when the gospel story becomes my story.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

 What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly.  https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s    
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: A Path Worth Following

  Jehoram was a terrible king.  He reigned in Judah around the year 850 B.C. and he did not care about God or his people.  His first act as king was to assassinate his six brothers so that no one could challenge his authority.  He was brutal and selfish.   Therefore, when the Bible sums up his life, it says, “Jehoram… passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David” (2 Chronicles 21:20).  Did you catch that?  “To no one’s regret!”  What a terrible phrase for your tombstone. On the other hand, consider a lady named Tabitha.  She lived in the city of Joppa in the first century A.D. and we are told, “… she was always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36).  She became sick and died.  This caused the community so much grief that they called Peter, who was in the nearby town of Lydda, to come and help them.  When Peter arrived, a crowd gathered, bringing all the robes and other clothing that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This.... Which Way Are You Leaning?

   When Ben Patterson agreed to join three friends climbing Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park, he did not realize what he was signing up for.  Early in the day, it became clear that he was completely unprepared for the task.  In an effort to keep up with his more experienced friends, Ben took a shortcut.  It did not occur to him that there might be a reason the others had not selected this route, but he soon found out why.  Ben became stuck on the glacier.  He could not move up, down or sideways and one wrong move would send him sliding down a forty-five-degree slope to the valley floor miles below.   That is when one of his friends came to the rescue. His buddy leaned over the edge and carved some footholds in the ice.  He told Ben to step to the first foothold and immediately swing his other foot to the second, then his buddy would pull him to safety.  Lastly, his friend gave him one more piece of advice....
Post a Comment
Read more