When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
–Luke 7:36-50 (TNIV)
We can relate to the woman in this story, can’t we? How many times in our lives have we looked at ourselves in desperation and wondered if we were beyond help and hope? Clearly this woman had done the same and decided to take a huge risk and come to Jesus. In doing so she could have opened herself up to terrible criticism and embarrassment (or worse). But apparently she had seen or heard of Jesus and she instinctively knew he could help her. This required great courage, trust, and humility on her part. Courage to overcome the fear of possible public humiliation or condemnation, trust that Jesus loved her enough to heal her, and humility that led her to understand she could not fix herself.
As Luke tells us, her trust was not disappointed. Jesus told her that her faith saved her and reminded the self-righteous there with them at table that she had found reconciliation with God as evidenced by her great love. That is always the effect of mercy and forgiveness on those who are humble in heart and spirit, who know they are desperately broken and in need of help beyond their ability to supply–great love. Folks like the woman in this story know that they have received a great gift that they do not deserve and express their gratitude by passing the love they received on to others.
Do you have evidence of God’s love and mercy for you in your life?