Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 28)

That was not the end of it.  I thought maybe the woman would sneak away after washing Jesus’ feet with her perfume, but she didn’t.  Even if she had wanted to, I don’t think she would have been able to, because Simon the Pharisee (that’s whose house it was) started a bit of a discussion about her…

It started with a quiet grumble to himself.  Simon was not impressed that Jesus was letting this woman touch his feet.  He muttered to himself that, if Jesus really was a prophet, he would have known what sort of woman she was.

But it turned out that his private grumble was not quite so private after all - Jesus was aware of it, and he had something to tell Simon.  He wanted to tell him a story;

There were two men, both of whom were in debt to the same person.  One man owed a lot and one man owed a little, but neither of them were able to pay the money back.  So, the money lender decided to just cancel both of their debts.

That was the story but, of course, Jesus was not just telling it for the fun of it.  He had a question for Simon – which of the two men in the story would love the money lender more?

Simon got the answer right!   The one who had owed more money in the first place.

Jesus gestured towards the woman, who was still standing there, and carried on talking to Simon.  Basically, he pointed out everything that the woman had done for him, and compared it with what Simon had not done!

The woman had washed Jesus’ feet with her tears – Simon had not provided any water to wash dusty feet.

The woman had continually kissed Jesus’ feet – Simon had not greeted Jesus with a kiss.

The woman had poured perfume on Jesus’ feet – Simon had not anointed Jesus’ head with oil.

Basically, Jesus did a direct comparison, and it did not show Simon in a good light!  Simon did not respond, and Jesus carried on to say that, because the woman loved so much, her sins (and there were lots of them) were forgiven.   In contrast, people who have only been forgiven for a few things will only love a little.

Jesus told the woman that her sins had been forgiven.  The woman looked at him in amazement, but the other guests began to talk amongst themselves, asking who this man who forgives sins really is.

Jesus just spoke to the woman again; ‘Your faith has saved you, go in peace’

A gift tied with a bow

Jesus did know all about the woman.

He knew that she had a less-than-complimentary reputation.

And He welcomed her.

He welcomed her worship.

Maybe we sometimes feel as though we might not be welcome with Jesus.

If he really knew what we are like, he wouldn’t want to bother.

Or, He may have bothered with me yesterday, but that was before x/y/z. He won’t want to know me now.

What can we learn from the woman?

She was honest.

She came to Jesus exactly as she was.

No pretence. Just reality.

And Jesus welcomed her.

He’ll welcome you, too.

The woman may have felt that, compared to a lavish banquet, she hadn’t given much.

Yet Jesus delighted in what she gave.

He saw her heart.

Just as He sees yours.

Once again, we see that our heart-attitudes matter to Jesus.

Does your heart-attitude bring Him delight?

Jesus points out what Simon has not done for Him.

What about us?

Could Jesus point out things we have not done for Him?

Things that reflect who He is?

You were not compassionate, to yourself or others.

You were not helpful, to yourself or others.

You were not kind, to yourself or others.

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

The woman, who had arrived uninvited, unwelcome, ridiculed - all things that could bring a lack of peace - is encouraged by Jesus to ‘go in peace’.

What had changed absent-peace into absolute-peace?

She’d spent time with Jesus.

And that changed everything.

Maybe we, too, arrive at - or anticipate - situations in our lives feeling an absence of peace.

Let’s spend time with Jesus, our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

My peace I give you.

John 14:27

A peace-present from Jesus.

Absolute peace.

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for welcoming me just as I am.

Thank you for delighting in me.

May my life reflect Your Life in me.

Thank You for giving me absolute peace.

Help me remember, in absent peace times, to spend time with You.

Amen

Mary’s Memo Do things for Jesus

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