Vol. 18 No. 11 | March 14, 2016
The gospel of Luke (Luke 14:36-50), NIV) includes the story of a woman who breaks through the walls of tradition, religious custom and social propriety in order to see Jesus. Jesus was invited to the house of one of Pharisees for a meal. Keep in mind the Pharisees were at various times a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought during the time of Jesus; they were constantly suspicious of Jesus and searching for ways to destroy His reputation and eventually to destroy Him.
As the story of Jesus unfolds and the conflicts between Jesus’ teaching and that of the Pharisees continues the gap between the two continues to widen, making the fact that Jesus actually went even more amazing. A woman who interrupt the meal becomes the subject of discussion and how she is described gives the story a personal meaning that we cannot afford to miss.
In the beginning of the story Luke labels her as: “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.” (37) “A woman in that town who had lived a sinful life.” She brought a jar of perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feel. She wet his feet with her tears, then wiped his feet with her hair.
The custom of the day was for a host to provide a servant to wash the feet of the guest. (You can see another story where this same practice was neglected in John 13. Jesus also used that opportunity for more teaching.) This Pharisee had failed to provide for this during this meal with Jesus. The woman learned that Jesus would be there so she came, obviously with the intent of caring for Jesus.
The Pharisee objects (40) to himself, he thinks.
But Jesus, knows his thoughts and, as the invited guests says, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” First, Jesus tells a story about debt and asks for a response to His question. Jesus then affirms is answer and follows up with another descriptive paragraph about the woman. The woman “in that town who lived a sinful life.” But the language used to describe changes.
In verse 47 Jesus says, “her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.” Or as some translate it, “She has loved much.”
In this one encounter this woman has been transformed from “A woman in that town who lived a sinful life” to “her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.” And, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (50)
No doubt Simon was stunned, disappointed, embarrassed, and angered. No doubt this woman was relieved, elated, set free and filled with joy.
The amazing power of this story (and many stories Jesus told throughout His ministry) is that the message of the story was for the Pharisee, the woman, and you and me.
We come to Jesus as “A woman in our town who lived a sinful life” or “A man in our town who lived a sinful life.” Because of our “great love” for Him, and His great love for us, we leave as one whose “many sins have been forgiven” and we “go in peace.”
This woman was not invited to the dinner by the Pharisee, but she was invited by Jesus, as are we all, to come to Him for forgiveness. The Pharisee received the same invitation from Jesus. The invitation has been offered. What will you do with it?
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.