The last event in Luke 7 always makes me want to weep. It begins with verse 36 and ends at verse 50, and is the account of a Pharisee, Jesus, and a woman who had lived a sinful life.
Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee. Common courtesy was to provide water so that visitors could wash the dust of the road from their feet and to greet an honored guest with a kiss. This Pharisee did neither, but a woman snuck into the room with an alabaster jar of perfume. She came to Jesus and washed His feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, kissed them and then poured the expensive perfume upon them. The Pharisee recognized her as a “sinful woman” and wondered why Jesus would even allow such to touch Him.
A sinful woman. What would it have been like to know that everyone knew your sins and that you bore a label that forever linked you with them?
A desperate woman. A woman desperate enough to give her the courage to enter the presence of men who knew all about her and scorned her for her life.
A woman of repentance and faith. Jesus saw beyond the label. He saw the actions of her faith – seeking Him out, weeping in repentance, showing her thankfulness for His acceptance and love.
A forgiven woman. “Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ … Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” [Luke 7:48-50]
What a wonderful Savior.
