October 20
Scripture focus: One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him." Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? Tell me." "Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most." "That's right," said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins." That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!" He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." Luke 7:36-50 The Message
Notice the harlot. It was customary in the time of Jesus for strangers to enter into the courtyard of any home where a host was entertaining a guest. They would come and sit on the edges of the event and listen to the conversation. It was under these circumstances that the harlot shows up and does for Jesus what Simon the Pharisee was unwilling to do. She kisses Jesus’ feet; she washes his feet; she provides him with perfume.
Why does she do this? Clearly, the Pharisee found fault with both her actions and Jesus’ failure to stop her. This woman was properly positioned to receive healing, transformation and creating of her true, God-created self – not because she was good, powerful, or respected in her community. This woman received healing because she positioned herself before Jesus – in humility, honesty, and faith.
The harlot became a woman who could love others not because she got her act together and then God gave her a big job but because she was willing to tell the truth about her end-of-the-rope existence. God blessed her, thereby equipping her with what she needed to work hard for him. Not because she feared punishment or desired his approval – but out of a sense of overwhelming gratitude for a God who saves people who get to the end of their rope and let go.
Notice that neither Simon the successful nor the woman of ill repute was shamed by Jesus. In the Luke 7 story, Jesus demonstrates love for both of them. He accepted both right where they were in their spiritual journey, and provided each a timely response to light the path they walked so that they could continue their travels.
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