There are three women that Jesus had an interaction with while he walked this earth that just floor me. Ive been in awe of their hearts since I’ve read these stories for myself. I love that none of them have a book in the Bible named after them, in fact, none of their names were given at all. When I read their stories I am continually challenged by their humility, hunger, bravery, faith, trust, and love. Their encounters with Jesus reveal the heart of Papa so beautifully and inspire me to go deeper. I thought of putting all of their stories in one blog but they are too profound …so this will be a three part blog
“Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman”
When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “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.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven- as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50
She was not invited. That in and out of itself is amazing. She didn’t need an invitation … all she needed to know was that Jesus was there…that is pure hunger. Even better, it was a Pharisee’s home, someone who condemned her because of her sin …didn’t matter- She desired Jesus. I added the title of the section because its beautiful: “Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman”….come the way you are and love on the King.
She didn’t even hesitate, didn’t bother with introductions or greetings, didn’t ask permission, didn’t apologize for ‘intruding’. She knew who he was and didn’t care about embarrassing herself – love compelled her.
It says, “she stood behind him at his feet weeping”….didnt even bother to present her face before him…I think she just came in and flung herself at his feet and it just so happened his back was to the door – didn’t matter…she couldn’t help herself…what a hunger!
Tears of hunger, of longing and desire were used to clean the Son of God’s feet…how raw…how bold.
Ive heard it said before that this perfume was the one intended for her future husband as a wedding gift- whoever he may have been. By her pouring out this perfume on Jesus it was an outward expression of her love in saying that to love him she was willing to forsake all other lovers. I.love.this. She spent it all on him and didn’t hold back.
I love that she used her hair to wipe his feet…thats all she had, she didn’t bother to grab a towel or cloth before coming, it wasn’t important to her …she was willing to use her own hair. I can see her kneeling behind him having to lower her face even further to the ground in order to dry his feet…she had to hold them in her hands.
She got even lower just so she could kiss his feet. She had to literally be bowing in order to reach them…there couldn’t have been any pride in this moment or she wouldn’t have done it. She inspires me to be a woman with my face so low to the ground that I can kiss the feet of my King…To be a woman so sold-out for Papa that id forsake all other lovers just to pour my love on his feet …her future husband was her hope in life back then…and she gave it up to place her hope in the one that is hope.
I love that she most likely knew her reputation and didn’t let it stop her…she probably heard the Pharisee’s comment and yet didn’t stop kissing Jesus’s feet.
It says that Jesus turned toward the woman as he spoke to Simon and starts off with, “Do you see this woman?” …I can see him turn around in his chair to face her as she repositioned herself to continue kissing his feet…he must have only been able to see the top of her head, his eyes adoring the site and expression before him. She blessed Jesus more through her ‘intrusion’ then the man who had invited him in. There was faith to believe Jesus wouldn’t kick her away in disgust, faith that he would see her as anything more than the sinful woman she was marked as, faith that his love could extend to her.
She never even said anything. I can’t picture any worship more beautiful than this moment.
I love that Jesus never stopped her, he knew her heart and exactly what this moment meant and turned around to face her just to receive it more…he welcomed her worship. He welcomed her hunger and extravagant love. I love that he doesnt even pay attention to the other guests and just speaks directly to her…he gave all of his attention to her. I can’t even imagine the glory overflow of this woman.
So undone for the King. Presenting a love so intense that her face would be pressed before the ground in order to lavish it upon him. What amount of surrender does it take to willingly and repeatedly kiss someones feet? Im challenged to know…to press myself as low to the ground as possible just to worship at his feet.
Who does this?
Her story has me completely bewildered … every time I read it I hang on to each word and examine her actions so closely …what had she heard about Jesus thus far that provoked her to this measure of extravagance? She didn’t come for healing, she didn’t even come for forgiveness or expect anything from him- thats not what this moment was about, thats not why she came. Wow…what an incredible woman…she didn’t want anything. Her only desire was to attempt to give him what he was worthy of through any and all means within her capabilities – to lay herself down (literally) in order to elevate the King of Kings.
I could go on and on in amazement … This is a woman I admire deeply and who I am challenged to become more like.
