Seeing For Ourselves

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. Luke 7:37, NIV

THERE ARE MANY days I would be terrified if my thoughts were on display for all to see. Can you imagine? I judge others, have prideful thoughts, and can be opinionated.

Though my thoughts aren’t flashing on billboards, I know Jesus sees them. It’s a wonder I am not smote on the spot. But His grace abounds even in my mind.

We see a similar scenario play out in the book of Luke. A Pharisee named Simon had invited Jesus to have dinner with him. As Jesus reclined at the table, a woman walked in—the kind of woman people talked about because she didn’t look like them, didn’t dress like them, and didn’t act like them. She was carrying a jar full of very expensive perfume, worth a year’s wages, and then did the strangest thing: She wept at the feet of Jesus, wiping her tears with her hair, kissing his feet, and pouring the expensive perfume all over them. Meanwhile, Simon looked at this tender moment with disgust. The text tells us 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.

Luke 7:39-40, NIV

If we stop here in the story, we have a cliff-hanger. What is Jesus going to tell Simon? How he is so very wrong? How he better mind his own business? How He sees and knows the darkest parts of Simon’s heart?

No. God’s grace goes before Him. After all, Jesus rarely shines a direct light on our darkness. Instead, He gently casts a light into the room, letting us see it for ourselves. And Jesus does this with Simon by telling him a story:

“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.

Luke 7:41-43, NIV

I am so thankful grace takes the lead as Jesus exposes Simon’s thoughts. Jesus didn’t rain down fire and brimstone on him. He rained down loving-kindness and patience.

But let’s not forget about the woman in this story. A sinner crying over Jesus’ feet because of His love and forgiveness in her life. She has been fully forgiven, and she is fully aware. The Pharisees surrounding her are judging her outward affection toward Jesus, but Jesus is praising her inner humility.

Who are you in this story? I’d like to say I’m the woman weeping over Jesus’ feet, but I know I am just like Simon. I judge. I condemn. I put myself above others.

I want to be the woman. She is well aware of her sin, and she unashamedly praises God for His deep well of forgiveness.

Wherever we stand in this story, may we have the grace to take our thoughts and hearts to our King and watch His grace abound.

GRACE REFLECTION: Whom do you identify with in the story? Why?