“And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”
–Luke 7:38
Definitions
Bold: showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.
I was asked to speak to a group of inmates in Maun, Botswana. I was asked to bring life and purpose to a group of desperate, hurting, hopeless men. What would I speak on? I knew I was powerless to change their status with the state. I could not lower their sentencing or get them out of their situation, and somehow I knew that was not what God wanted me to do anyways. He didn’t want to change their situation, their circumstances, he wanted to change their lives!
As I was searching for what to preach on, he subtly brought me to Luke 7, the story of the woman who poured not only her oil and tears on the feet of Jesus, but her whole life. She was desperate, but not for a way out. She was desperate for Jesus. She had her eyes set on Him. She didn’t care what it took to get to Him, she was willing to do anything. She had some real audacity. This is what He desired from these men: hearts completely broken, yet bold enough to step into His presence.
Come to Him Just as You Are
Jesus was the special guest at this religious leader’s home. This may even have been during a Jewish feast festival as it is common to invite certain special people in the community. They would usually leave the door open in order to show off their prestige by who was inside. Many homeless beggars would crowd around the open door in hopes of receiving scraps of leftover food. They were not allowed inside, but just right outside, so as only to peer in.
Then comes this woman! This sinful, detestable outcast comes walking right in. Uninvited. Unwanted. She was well known in the city as being a sinner (how humiliating to have the whole city know your every sin). When others are trying to get leftover scraps she has her eyes set on something else. She walks boldly, unabated by the scolding eyes of the religious leaders and guests. Right up to not just anyone, but the honored, special guest: Jesus!
When we come to Jesus He desires us to come just as we are. He is not waiting for us to have things ordered and put together. We also don’t have to hide in his presence. He sees us just as we are, naked and exposed yet we don’t have to be ashamed as we are laid before Him. For he desires us just as we are. We are not called to stay there in our sin but that doesn’t mean that we can’t come as we are. He calls us higher, to more. Always more!
Lay Everything at His Feet
This woman walked with purpose not arrogance. She came with one mindset, to lay everything at the feet of the one she loved. She didn’t withhold anything. She was willing to pour her entire life before Him, no matter the cost. This ointment that she poured on him was costly, but that is exactly why she brought it. He was worth it. She had been forgiven.
And what is her response? How does she react to the grace and forgiveness she received? She lavishly flooded Jesus with all she had. She didn’t keep anything from Him, but rather laid all before His feet. Her material possessions she poured on Him, she released all her emotions on Him by bitterly weeping on his feet, and she prostrated her body, bowing down, wiping the tears with her hair and kissing his feet. This was her reaction to the love of Jesus, an overflow of joy.
The emotions in that room between Jesus and this woman must have been crazy. The woman was fully aware of who she was and what she had done; she knew where she stood. At the same time was fully aware of who Jesus was and what He had done. She knew that He was the Messiah. That He had the power to forgive and save. And He chose her. He was God, He was worth everything!
In light of this…How are you going to approach Christ? What are you going to bring to His feet?
