In Luke 7, a woman crashes a Pharisee's party.
The Pharisee had invited Jesus to dinner. In that place, at that time, it was customary for the host to offer a bowl of water and a towel to wash his guest's feet, and perhaps some perfumed oil for freshening up.
But the Pharisee offered nothing. Jesus sat at his table, unwelcome and unwashed. Overlooked and ignored.
Except by the party crasher, an "immoral woman" who slipped in and sat at Jesus' feet, unnoticed until, weeping, she washed them with her tears, wiped them dry with her hair, and anointed his feet with costly perfume.
And the Pharisee derided Jesus for allowing such a sinner to touch him, to even come near.
What was Jesus' response? A story of course.
“A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”Which begs the question....
“I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt," the Pharisee replied.
Being a sinner and having had a large debt canceled ... day after day after sinful day ... how does this immoral woman show love like that immoral woman did?
I am not in the presence of Jesus, unwelcome and unwashed, overlooked and ignored, at the Pharisee's table.
Or am I?
The answer is in another story of course.
I was hungry and you fed me,Do I love him that much? Do I have the courage to crash the party? To sit at the feet of the unwelcome and unwashed, the overlooked and ignored? Do you?
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'
'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?'
'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'
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How can you open your eyes to the overlook and ignored? How can you wash their feet?
Look at you! All fancy and now, I know why you've been gone. . .working out those arms (love the profile pic). Always good to read your words, friend.
ReplyDeleteA very challenging post. It is quite telling who I would place myself with on any given day. When I'm feeling smug and self righteous, I would be one who would look down on her and her gift. When I truly catch a glimpse of the reality of what He has done for me, in me, through me, I wouldn't want to be anywhere but on the floor at His feet. I should always be there. Always. Thank you, dear Kim, for your precious gift of sharing your heart. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Anne. Thank you for sharing your heart.
ReplyDeleteHey, you've changed up your look -- I like it! But your questions are just as challenging as ever...
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