7/25/13:

TFTD: “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39

For a little context, this passage comes to us in the middle of the story in Luke 7 where Jesus is invited over for a meal with a Pharisee named Simon. A woman, who “is a sinner” comes in and goes to Jesus, starts crying on His feet, wipes the tears off with her hair and then anoints His feet with perfume. This is where our passage comes in. Simon the Pharisee is talking to himself and is judging this woman for all of the things she has done. He is judging Jesus because He isn’t doing anything about it. I find myself enthralled in this story. First of all because of the historical context that is being displayed here in the attitude of the Pharisee, but also because I see myself in both the Pharisee’s and woman’s place.

            Too often we are like the Pharisee. Looking at others and thinking about what they have done or who they are hanging out with and judging them for it. Putting ourselves on a pedestal above them because we are a Christian or because we are a better person then they are. But aren’t we that woman. Aren’t we the ones who are broken and sinful? This woman who came in probably wasn’t the cleanest. It’s very likely that she is a prostitute, and who knows what other kinds of sins she had, but Jesus didn’t kick His feet around and tell her to stop crying and leave. He saw this as a teaching moment. He looks over to Simon and asks him a question. Who is going to be more appreciative of a debt that is wiped away, someone who owes a lot or a little? And being the smart guy Simon is he of course answers “a lot”. Then He (Jesus) looks to the woman and says “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Wham!! A slap in the face to Simon. Jesus just made it clear that this woman is going to appreciate her forgiveness and salvation way more because Simon was too uppity to think he was anywhere near that sinful. Too often we need that slap in the face. We get stuck in this Pharicycle. Yes I made that word up but hear me out. We get stuck in the idea of being so much better than others that we forget that we are no better than that woman and take our forgiveness for granted. Then we come across someone who is much worse off than us, realize they are forgiven and get a giant slap in the face. Jesus came for everyone. Not just to forgive the little, but to forgive the unforgivable. To be friends with sinners. To be friends with you and me. Jesus is a friend of mine!

“While dining with sinners, Jesus was dreaming  of their becoming saints.” – Ike Reighard