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Luke 7:44-48, Then he spoke to Simon about the woman still weeping at his feet.

“Don’t you see this woman kneeling here? She is doing for me what you didn’t bother to do. When I entered your home as your guest, you didn’t think about offering me water to wash the dust off my feet. Yet she came into your home and washed my feet with her many tears and then dried my feet with her hair. You didn’t even welcome me into your home with the customary kiss of greeting, but from the moment I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t take the time to anoint my head with fragrant oil, but she anointed my head and feet with the finest perfume.  She has been forgiven of all her many sins. This is why she has shown me such extravagant love. But those who assume they have very little to be forgiven will love me very little.”

 Then Jesus said to the woman at his feet, “All your sins are forgiven.”

Please take some time and read through this whole text.  There is a lot here!

Simon the Pharisee and the forgiven woman illustrate two different reactions to Jesus. Simon sees Jesus as merely another teacher not even worthy of common courtesy.

The woman, on the other hand, has a radical reaction to Jesus. She reacts with great sacrifice (pouring out the expensive perfume), and undignified affection (wiping his feet with her hair).  The woman’s reaction flows out of her profound recognition of Jesus forgiveness of her great debt. She is so very, very thankful.

Simon’s reaction comes from the fact that he does not believe he needs much forgiveness (i.e. he believes his debt is small).  And he believes that all he has, all he has done, comes from his own effort.  He’s good.  He’s self-reliant.  He might need God but only a little bit.

One of the greatest obstacles to being changed by God is not recognizing our own weaknesses, our own sins, and our own need for inner transformation.  But when we recognize how much God has done for us, when we truly understand how much God loves us, how he has forgiven us totally, how all we have comes from him, then and only then do we experience the kind of gratitude and thanksgiving that this woman is demonstrating. 

Pretend you were at the banquet, standing along the wall observing. What would your thoughts be about her behavior?  What you would want to say to this woman?

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, How amazingly grateful we are for the way you have loved us expansively and forgiven us fully.  Forgive me for the times I am too self-reliant and not grateful for your incredible sacrifice.  More of you and less of me, Amen.