It was
almost Passover celebration time, again, and Jesus was invited to have a meal
in a home in Bethany, a city a few miles from Jerusalem. As was the custom, men
reclined around a table eating and talking about things that men talk about. Most
likely women with their heads covered were quietly moving in and out of the
room seeing to the needs of the supper table, when she walked in.
She was
branded “immoral” and “sinful.” The fact that her head was uncovered was confirmed her profession. Her long, wavy, dark hair was loose. No matter.
Loose is how she was described by others. She couldn’t change that. No one
cared to find out how she came by this “bad name” in the community. And, if
they did, it was surely in a rumor-filled gossip session around the local
marketplace. Lowest of the low. Avert your eyes. Don’t even look at her
…this…this whore.
As soon as
her presence is known, conversation trails off. Sentences aren’t completed as
all in house realize who this woman is. She knows she is not welcomed here and
quickly searches the room. Finding Him, their eyes lock and she moves quietly
to His side of the table to kneel at His feet. With a whimper barely audible,
she leans over and grabs Jesus’ feet kissing them and wetting them with a
stream of tears she’s held back for years.
All of the
twisted anger and the ugly thoughts of herself and the deep brokenness are
being poured out from the bottom of her soul. Eyes blurred she reaches for
something to wipe his feet soiled with road dust and animal muck. Usually
loosened for the intimacy of the bedroom, she reaches for her loose hair. This
act causes murmurs around the table. “If He’s really a prophet, He would know
what kind of woman this is touching Him.”
Having
everything and nothing to lose, she opens the jar she brought and pours the
expensive perfume, first, onto His feet wiped clean and kisses them. Then, she
rises and spills the remaining perfume as grateful affection in worship upon
His head. The fragrance is filling the room and wafting on the air to the rest
of the house. Not one person is clueless as to the source.
Greedy
hearts of men are revealed as the expensive offering is dismissed as a waste. If
she heard these words intended to describe their disgust with her, she didn’t
let on. She continues pouring out, wiping and kissing allowing the emotional
wounds serrated by use and abuse to soften and heal with each expression of
intimacy. As far as she is concerned, she and Jesus are the only two people in
the room.
With the
tenderness of the scene subsiding, Jesus finally speaks. He addresses common courtesies, providing a washbasin for visitors’ feet and oil to
moisturize their parched faces from the hot sun, neglected to be offered to
Him as a guest in this man’s home. Also, He reminds the man of the traditional
greeting, a kiss on the cheek, was forgotten. To the others around the table,
He rebukes because of their judgmental attitudes.
At last,
Jesus turns to the woman of Bethany whose loose tresses hang tousled with
drying tears and the scent of her fragrant offering. He accepts her costly adoration
and proclaims, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
In His
omniscience, Jesus knows what the men were thinking. He knows what
she had been, yet, sees her as equal and deserving of the same perfect grace. In
His eyes, she is perfect and whole and valuable.
You may have experienced the use and abuse of others.
Mistakenly you may view yourself as through their eyes. Instead of a genuine
smile, you see a soulless mask you’ve hidden behind for years.
Thoughts
like soiled, not good enough, stupid, ugly, fat, skinny, not wanted, scarred,
not loved have clouded your eyes that should sparkle with vitality, but
reflect emptiness and brokenness.
In the
presence of Jesus, we may be acutely aware of our past, our sins, our
shortcomings. But, He does not see us this way.
“He is close to the broken hearted
and rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18
“He came to seek and save the lost.”
Luke 19:10
“If you openly declare that Jesus is
Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved.” Romans 10:9
“…you are made holy, by Jesus’ act
just as He did for all people
who call on His name.” 1 Corinthians 1:2
“Anyone who belongs to Jesus, has
become a new person. The old life is gone.
Everything is made new.” 2
Corinthians 5:17
“How
beautiful you are, my love.” Song of Solomon 1:15
Jesus loves you and wants you to know it.
"God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only son, Jesus, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
