Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Love And The Lack Of It

The woman who anointed Jesus' feet proved how much she loved him.


Luke 7:39-50  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”

“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”

50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” 

Jesus was just anointed by a woman that poured expensive perfume on his feet, as the Pharisee points out to us the woman is a sinner! Eeewww! Jesus allowed a sinner to touch him!

We don't know the Pharisees' motive for having Jesus over for dinner but it isn't out of love for him. This Pharisee was about to learn a lesson about forgiveness. The Pharisee wasn't even friendly to Jesus, he didn't even concern himself with Jesus enough to offer him some water to wash up.

Jesus wasn't afraid to touch sinners, Jesus had touched this "sinner" woman her and now she wanted to reach out to Jesus and touch him, her motive was to bow down and worship the man that had released her from the sinful life that she was in bondage to. Her sincerity and intensity makes most of our worship experiences look very weak.

Psalm 103:12-13  He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

I need to keep my life and the mistakes that I have made in mind when I think that I have the right to look down on other people. Keeping my sin in perspective and remembering what I deserve should have an effect on the intensity of my worship and it should show up in my love for others.

I love you Lord for removing my sin and taking it upon yourself, I want to worship you as sincere as this woman did.

There seems to be two separate occasions where Jesus was anointed, you can compare them here.

You might like to read:
Give God The Glory  //  Worship As A Lifestyle  // Where Are You