One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee named Simon, when a woman “who had lived a sinful life” heard that He was there and she had to go see him. What were her sins? Had to be pretty bad. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus to his home saw that she came in and was in shock! She came in with an alabaster box. She stood behind weeping and she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured this perfume all over them. Remember, she was a “sinful” woman, yet she came in “weeping”. This shows she had some sort of humility and remorse for what she had done. What was going on in her life. She brought in a special anointing.
Now lets talk about that jar of perfume. It was not just perfume. Ya know, like that $10 knock offs you get at Walmart. I did a quick google search and todays most expensive perfume is a custom perfume collection by Morreale Paris, Le Monde Sur Mesure (5,000ml) that holds the coveted position of the world’s most expensive perfume. Each bottle is made of 18K gold, encrusted with jewels, and sells for a staggering $1.5 million. Now it holds this position because of the bottle. Now this perfume was expensive because of the perfume itself! This was perfume worth a years wages! It was estimated to be worth around $40,000-$50,000 in today’s currency. She brought it to bless him! She “knew” who He was. She knew He was royalty. She knew He was worthy. She knew HE was the Savior. Shumbled herself and probably brought in everything she had and just washed his feet as she wept. She laid it all at his feet.
When the Pharisee who invited him saw this, He said to himself, ‘If Jesus “really” were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him!’ Did you catch that…He said it to “himself.” Meaning, Either he mumbled under his breathe or he thought it. Either way, he said it to himself. He said so Jesus could not hear him. BUT THEN, Jesus answered him. He called him out for thinking such a thing. Remember, this was a teacher. A man people looked to for advice. A man people sought out for guidance. Yet that is what he was. “Just” a man.
Jesus “answered” him. I love this part. Although Simon said nothing to Jesus, He answered him. “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Oh you know it was about t get good! When Jesus himself looks at you and declares He has something to tell you! He starts to tell him a story about a moneylender who lent money to two men. One man owed him 500 denarii (one denarii coin was about a days wages back then.) The other man owed him 50 denarii. Neither of these men could pay him back, so the moneylender canceled both of their debts. So he then asks Simon, “Which of these men did he love more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled?” Jesus answered, “You have judged correctly.”
He then turned to the woman, looking at her. Can you imagine Jesus looking at you in that moment if you were that woman. The grace and mercy she had to be feeling when she heard these following words. He then turned to Simon and asked him, “Do you see this woman?” I came into you house and 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 — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven...Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
But you see, Simon the Pharisee had it all wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know who she was, it’s that He “did know!” Jesus sees far past our sins and faults, he sees our future and potential! That day, Jesus forgave her sins, redeemed, restored, and redirected her. He saw her worth!
This story is confirmation of what we have always been told. Jesus came to save sinners. He loves everyone. No one is beyond the reach of His grace.
Always remember what God saved you from! Jesus isn’t looking at your past but at your future. The crowd saw this woman as an outcast. Unredeemable. But Jesus saw her potential. He saw redemption. He saw a future worth saving!
He sees you as the jewel that you are. Rejoice today knowing that the savior who came as the miracle of a virgin birth and gave it all for you, his life… sees you as Worthy!
All her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love.” 𝐿𝑢𝑘𝑒 7:47
❤️ Nonnie