Mark 14:8 “She did what she could. She came beforehand to anoint My body for the burial.”
Love, it can take many forms. The ways people express love is often interpreted by the position of the heart. A person’s intent reveals whether a heart is filled with evil intentions or good intentions. The position of a person’s heart is how God judges people, and only He knows a person’s true intent.
When Jesus was nearing the time of His death a moment happened that reverberated throughout history….the sincere expression of love by a woman who had been castigated in society and scorned for her unchastity was apparent for all to see.
As she broke the flask, there left no doubt as to the cost of the anointing perfume. The sacrifice was drawn from years of toil by which the world had taken from her, with no concern for what was left.
The woman had anointed Jesus with perfume before His death which demonstrated the value of grace. The fragrance of God makes those who are scorned by the world, a sweet aroma of love expressed by those who believe.
Luke 7:39 “Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
The image presented at the moment was of certain officials who thought they were justified by the law, full of themselves and basking in their position. Suddenly, there appeared one who was lowly, entering in quietly and unassuming, carrying the regrets of a past which brought so much dishonor, shunned by society and embraced in secret, the weight of her past was a burden that had been lifted by the giver of all Life.
This is Love
Costly, the perfume she used to anoint Jesus was more than a simple act of service, it was a culmination of knowing where life was truly found.
When a sinner comes to the knowledge of who they really are and decides they have had enough, a heart change occurs which leads to a breaking from the past. Releasing a hope placed in the world, now replaced with a hope in the One who is truly secure.
This process of changing course is not an easy one to embrace. It took great courage for that woman to walk into a room with the self-righteous. She must have known she would receive the glaring looks of disdain. She must have felt the penetrating eyes of rebuke as if she couldn’t feel any lower, and yet she still chose Jesus over all she knew her act would elicit.
Luke 7:44-47 “Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Jesus’ Response
When Jesus saw the strength of humility and the courage of that woman, He must have smiled. It was to those for whom He came and she had received the Kingdom of God with grace. The pharisees missed it, all they could see was a sinner. The superficial filth of a world focused on pride and position causes them to miss the beauty of godliness exhibited in a vessel whom God loved and created.
Just like Jesus always did, He related a parable to them….
Parables were given as a test of character, they were revelations of wisdom or the lack thereof. To those who could see, the parable came alive and a glimpse into the divine inspired hope. To those who were spiritually blind, the parable left the fool confused, with more questions unanswered than before.
The indictment was their lack of love.
Luke 7:48 “Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The act of love exhibited by that woman was a revelation. Her repentant heart had come to the realization she was indeed a sinner. She had undoubtedly heard this description many times past but justified her actions because of her needs. She had to make a living, her husband had abandoned her and she had no choice but to use the facets of her body that could earn her income. The excuses for sinning are many, and many attempt to justify the means because they see no other end.
…….She found another means.
She realized that by honoring the Lord first in her life, she had found the life she had desired all along. Sinning just brought hopelessness, despair, and ultimately shame. No doubt many told her they loved her, but the love was a hollow expectation of taking her dignity and leaving nothing behind.
What does God require?
God simply asks of us to give Him everything.
Everything our life entails.
- Our past
- Our hurts
- Our strengths
- Our weaknesses
- Our present
- Our future
- Our hope
…..He asks for it all.
It means making yourself vulnerable. It might mean enduring the scorn of those around you. It could entail a complete change in career, relationships, and possibly where you live.
We learn to protect ourselves and when we get hurt, we tend to close ourselves off to the world. Once we seal our hearts, we think we are protecting ourselves from ever being hurt again, but this is a fallacy. All separation does is seals in the pain. Then, as more abuse occurs, as the enemy of our souls brings more accusation, the pain just grows and grows until it seems the only plausible way out is death. This is what the enemy wants you to think.
Luke 7:50 “Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Do you want peace from your past?
Do you want to know the peace of God today?
Come to Jesus….break the flask of your past onto His feet and the fragrance of your worship will turn into an anointing of His grace.
You will finally know the peace you have always sought. He is good. He wants to forgive—-He is just waiting for you to come.
U.T. 