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Listen to the words of a woman of the city. She cowers in shame, for all who pass by know how she makes her living. She watches from the sidelines, hoping always that someone will love her and care about her. When she finally encounters Jesus, she is transformed. Though still misunderstood by the religious leaders, she knows that people who are forgiven much sin are people who love very deeply.

A Woman Of The City

A Forgiving Word
Luke 7:36-50

As a woman of the city, I studied people. People intrigued me; the powerful and the powerless, the righteous and the sinful, the rich and the poor. I saw it all. I watched those who pursued power like a vicious predator and those who gave up power for the sake of love. I watched those who made themselves feel good by stepping on others and those who built others up because they knew what it was like to be stepped on. Watching people was an interesting way for me to pass the time, but there was one person who really captured my attention. It was Jesus.

There was something different about him. His words matched his actions. He talked a lot about loving others and he did it. He loved people and not just the people that were deserving of love. In fact, he went out of his way to love people others considered to be unlovable.

One day I heard him tell the story of a Good Samaritan, a man who stopped and helped a man who had been beaten and left for dead. Jesus told those listening that there were religious leaders who ignored the man's need and walked by. I remember thinking that Jesus was a Good Samaritan. I never saw him walk past anyone in need. He did not ignore the blind beggar nor did he walk by the lame leper. Jesus, like the Good Samaritan, did the loving thing. He always stopped with loving concern to help those in need.

I wanted to hear more of what he was saying so I followed the crowd to where Jesus was speaking. The crowd was huge. It was so huge that some people carrying a paralyzed man could not get close to Jesus, so they lowered him through the roof. When Jesus saw the faith of the man's friends he said, "Your sins are forgiven." Well, that got the Pharisees in an uproar. They started shouting, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" Jesus' response amazed me. He said, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgiven sins" -- he said to the man who was paralyzed -- "I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home." And he did! The man walked away.

Everyone was filled with awe and I was filled with hope. I was desperately hopeful that the words spoken to the paralyzed man were words that Jesus would speak to me as well. I needed to hear those words, "Your sins are forgiven," because I no longer believed that anyone could forgive me, especially God.

So, I continued to listen to Jesus any time I had the chance. I would often work my way to the front of the crowd hoping that Jesus would see the heavy burden of unforgiven sin which I carried as my constant companion.

Then one day, I watched Jesus interact with a woman caught in adultery. What was strange to me was that the Scribes and Pharisees that brought her before Jesus did not bring the man who was also caught in adultery. Where was he? Doesn't adultery take two? It seems that they were trying to trap Jesus when they said, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now, in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" Jesus did not respond for a long time as he was writing something in the sand.

Then he said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." While Jesus bent down and wrote in the sand the self-righteous accusers went away. But, I stayed close. I wanted to hear what he would say. I needed to hear how he responded to the accused woman. He looked at her with great gentleness and said, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again." Then he turned to me with the same gentle, loving look and nodded to me.

I knew in my heart that he had also said those words to me. Everyone that I met on the street gave me a look of condemnation, so I no longer believed that I could be forgiven. I was convinced that I was condemned until Jesus looked at me and nodded. Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery and Jesus did not condemn me, a woman of the city. Jesus had forgiven me. Like the woman caught in adultery, Jesus had given me a second chance, a new beginning.

I was so filled with gratitude for Jesus' loving forgiveness that I wanted to do something. I wanted him to know how grateful I was for the gift of a fresh start in life that he gave me. I was determined to do something for Jesus who had done so much for me. So, when I heard that Jesus was dining at the home of Simon, the Pharisee, I grabbed the most extravagant gift I had and headed toward the dinner party. With my alabaster flask of ointment in hand, I barged into Simon's house uninvited and unannounced.

I know it was an audacious act on my part; after all, I was an unwelcomed guest at the home of the self-appointed monitor of righteousness. What I did was unimaginable. Women did not intrude into the company of men, especially at dinner. However, I threw out all social niceties and etiquette because I was single minded. I had my mind on thanking Jesus.

As I reached Jesus I was overcome with emotion. Just as Jesus' forgiveness flowed freely, so did my tears. I sobbed at the feet of Jesus thinking of the shackles of guilt and shame I had worn for so long and the gift of freedom that Jesus had given me. The other guests just stared, wide-eyed with their mouths open. I did not care what they thought of me. The tears continued to flow; it was as if my tears were washing away all the pain that I had kept locked in my heart. It felt so good to let go, to know that I did not need to hold onto the bitterness and resentments that I held. The tears were of heartfelt gratitude, and for them I made no apology.

Kneeling at Jesus' feet, I wiped my tears with my hair and lavishly anointed his feet with ointment from the alabaster jar. I poured it out. I poured out all the ointment as a sign of my love and thankfulness. I poured out all that I had.

Simon and the other Pharisees began mumbling against me. They were insinuating that Jesus was wasting his time and energy on me, a sinner. They felt they deserved Jesus' attention and they knew that I certainly did not. Not only did Simon take some jabs at me, he poked a few at Jesus, too.

He said under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."

Jesus then said, "Simon, I have something to say to you. A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed 500 denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon was looking nervous and uncomfortable. Sheepishly he responded, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more."

Jesus had caught Simon flat-footed. "You suppose, Simon? You suppose?" Then Jesus turned to me, but spoke to Simon. "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she was wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

Simon seemed surprised. He expected that Jesus would condemn me, but he did not. Instead, Jesus pointed out to Simon two things. First, Simon was remiss in extending the basic courtesies as a host. He did not do what was always done when a guest entered one's home. Simon did not give Jesus the kiss of peace. He did not pour cool water on his feet. He did not place a drop of fragrant ointment on his head. But more importantly, Jesus pointed out to Simon his inability to comprehend the whole matter of forgiveness. Simon just did not get it, because Simon saw no need for forgiveness in his own life. Simon thought of himself as a righteous individual; all was well between him and God. So, he felt he had the right to judge me.

The hate I saw in the eyes of Simon was just the opposite of the look Jesus gave me when Jesus said to me, "Your faith has saved you." I was saved and everything had changed. I was no longer a victim to my own self-loathing. I no longer despised who I was. I no longer hated those who stood in judgment of me. I was loved. I was forgiven. I was transformed into a faithful follower of Jesus.

That is why I poured out all that I had. That is why I poured out the expensive, fragrant ointment. It was the most extravagant gift I had, but I could never give as much as I had been given. The lavish ointment mingled with my tears was only a small token in comparison to the gift Jesus had given me.

Are you like I had been, hungry for a loving forgiveness that brings a fresh start? Or are you like Simon, not seeing your need for the clean slate that forgiveness brings? It does not matter. It does not matter if you are like me or like Simon. Jesus wants to lavishly pour out God's extravagant love on you. Let Jesus anoint you with the gift of his love and forgiveness.