Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and 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.
39When 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."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[d] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then 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. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
The first thing I notice and have emphasized here is that Jesus is answering Simon's thoughts, not his statement! Simon is thinking these things - and Jesus answers him. Simon throws the prophet-thing up in Jesus' face in his thoughts - and, despite this sarcasm - Jesus teaches him with love. How often do we do this? If Jesus really loved me, he would..... If Jesus really knew my needs, he would....
This story highlights the fact that sinners need Jesus. It also highlights the fact that a debt that cannot be repaid is simply that - if it can't be repaid, the size or scope of the debt is irrelevant. It's kind of like me getting upset because I can't run a marathon in 2 and 1/2 hours. I couldn't run a marathon in 3 and 1/2 or most likely even 4 and 1/2 hours either, so what difference does it make?
We all sin and fall woefully short of salvation on our own. It doesn't matter how close to perfection we may be, or (heaven help us) we think we may be - we still don't make it without Jesus.
Thank you Jesus for erasing my huge debt and having mercy on my soul.
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