Friday, September 25, 2009
Luke 7:37-38 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
A FORGIVEN SINNER THANKS HER SAVIOR
Finding the Pharisee's house, she entered in. And finding where Jesus was reclining, she stood at His feet. It was there at the feet of her Savior that the magnitude of the forgiveness she had been given, rushed over her. And the tears began to flow.
Had she intended to wash the Master's feet with her tears? We don't know. But when those tears fell, she washed. And wiping away those tears with her own hair, she prepared His feet for the perfume, that she had brought as a thank offering.
Did Jesus look into her heart to see if she had faith? He didn't need to. She was showing her faith by her actions. And that faith is what pleased Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God . . ." (NIV)
It was not just her courage in entering a Pharisee's house that made Jesus happy.
It was not just her tears of joyful thanksgiving that pleased Him.
It was not her humble use of her own hair to dry his tear wetted feet that was so remarkable to Jesus.
It wasn't the kisses on His toes.
It wasn't the perfume on His feet.
All of these things were important to Jesus, not because tears and kisses somehow pay for sins. All of these outward tokens of her love were pleasing to Jesus because they were signs of her inward trust in Him. In saying these words, Jesus was announcing to her, and the rest of those present, what was already true: "Then He said to her, 'Your sins have been forgiven.'"
"And He said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'" (Luke 7:48, 50 NASB)
