Bristol, Virginia rbreem@gmail.com

Love Lesson from the Unlovely

 In Luke 7 we are introduced to a woman who was known as “a sinner.” The consensus was that she was a prostitute. We meet her as she enters the house of a Pharisee named Simon. She knew Jesus was there and was determined to worship him.

Now, I want us to pause and think about what this woman has done so far. She was a known prostitute entering the house of a religious leader. The woman was considered unclean. It took an incredible amount of courage for her to enter the house. But as we will see, this woman gets even more bold in her worship.

“And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.” (Luke 7:37-38)

Notice first that she wouldn’t even face Jesus. She “stood at His feet behind Him.” The woman was at such a low place in life that she could only muster standing behind him. But yet this act no doubt took all of her strength to do. Next, we see that she brought an alabaster flask with very expensive fragrant oil and washed his feet with her tears. What boldness! Yes, the perfume was costly. But her act could have been much more costly! How would Jesus respond? Would he demand in disgust that she leave immediately? Would the religious leaders cast her out? But her strong love for Jesus could not be contained. She was ready to risk it all. Where did this intense, unafraid love come from anyway?

Jesus gives us the answer. Simon, the Pharisee, observing the acts of the woman, began to doubt Jesus as a prophet. Surely – he thought – Jesus should know the type of woman that had her hands all over him. Jesus took Simeon aside and asked him a question.

There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” (vv. 41-42) The man rightly answered the one who had been forgiven more.

Now we find one of the most beautiful portions of scripture. “And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” (vv. 43-48)

See it: “Then He turned to the woman…” When she began to worship Him the woman couldn’t even face Jesus. Now HE turned to the woman – making eye contact I am imagining – and told Simon about why she loved much.

Friends, this prostitute has taught us much about loving Jesus. The next time you encounter someone who displays extravagant love for Jesus it is most likely because they have been forgiven much. Try not to judge them as Simon and others did. Instead, perhaps ask that same love would burn in your heart. Be free to worship Jesus. Sometimes it will be unconventional, messy, and not understood. But I can tell you this: it will not go unnoticed by Jesus.

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