In this passage, Jesus was invited to the house of a
Pharisee for dinner. We are not told the occasion but what we are told is that
the host was Simon. Usually a guest-of-honor would be treated with respect.
However, in this feast Jesus was not accorded the common courtesies. In fact
the whole event was laced with a tint of animosity. Normally
the host would place his hand on the guest’s shoulder and offer a kiss of peace.
Jesus did not get one. By practice, the sandals of the guest would be removed
and his feet washed, when he entered the house to recline at the table. This would
remove the dust gathered during His journey. In this case, the feet of Jesus were
not cleansed as it should. Furthermore, the guest would also be anointed with a
touch of olive oil. But Simon didn’t show Jesus such kindness. He cold-heartedly
treated Jesus with a heartless-unfeeling attitude. And everyone at the table could sense it.
With a bit of imagination, we can see Jesus reclining
at the low table, with the left elbow supporting His head, and eating with His
right hand. His unwashed feet would be extended away from the table. At such
feast, the door was usually opened, and those town folks who were not invited
could wander in to observe and hear the conversation taking place at the feast.
We can expect to see a host of people watching what was going on. They could tell
that Simon did not accord Jesus the right courtesy from His unwashed feet. But
Jesus would be perfectly comfortable, though the conversation would be quite awkward
for Simon. The host certainly would avoid question like “How was your journey
here?” What could one say to a guest whom he had just insulted?
While everyone was intensely expecting a lively exchange,
that no one noticed a lone lady appearing on the scene and stood behind the feet
of Jesus. Luke said that she was a sinful woman from the town. Most people
reading this passage would interpret this woman to be a prostitute from the town.
Never mind what she was but she brought with her an alabaster jar of perfume.
As she stood behind Jesus’ feet, she was weeping and the tears dropped on to
the Master’s feet. And she kept on wiping them with her hair, kissed them and
poured the perfume she brought on them. When the onlookers saw that, there must
be perfect silence. Here was a lady, deeply expressing her unrestrained gratitude
to the Master. We are not told when, but she must have been touched by Jesus at
some gathering. She must have felt forgiven and deeply moved. So this was a
good opportunity to express her gratitude, for she probably couldn’t bear to
see her Lord being dishonored, at a feast where He was invited as the guest-of-honor.
What a gracious
Lord this Jesus is! He was not put off by this woman’s audacious act. He was
not here to judge her. He did not condemn her for He could see what had
prompted her act. In fact Jesus freely accepted her act of love, and freed her
from all her sin and shame, as she came to Him in faith and repentance. Up to
now, everyone was shocked into silence. No one addressed that woman. But it won’t
be long before Simon the host would sanctimoniously judge the Lord. He mused to
himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of
person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” We
will see Jesus’ response to the woman, as well as Simon in our next discussion.
What we must
say as we stop here is this: This wonderful Jesus is still the same. Over time and through the years,
He never change. His love still remains. As He forgave that woman, His hands
are also extended toward us, offering His forgiveness and love. There remain one appropriate response from us,
to draw near to Him in deep expression of gratitude and devotion. Let our love
for Him be unrestrained!
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