Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”
“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Powerful stuff huh? This woman, with many sins, was completely forgiven in a blink of an eye. She was unashamed to fall on her face and worship Jesus. She knew she had sinned many times but this did not stop her from seeking out the forgiveness of Jesus. So what is stopping us? Why are we not daily falling on our face and worshiping Jesus and asking for forgiveness? We have no excuse!! If this woman, with many sins, is willing to fall on her face and worship Jesus in front of a Pharisee, we have no excuse to not do the same thing…daily.
In this story the woman did not only worship Jesus, she also served Him. This portion of being a Christian is often overlooked or not given enough attention. Jesus doesn’t just call us to worship and praise him. He calls us to serve those around us. We should be serving our churches, community, co-workers, spouses, family, everything! This is worship and praise in action! This glorified the Lord! When you begin to serve those around you, you will become a testimony for them. You just never know what life you may change/save by being a living testimony and serving those around you.
This week RLM would like to challenge you to find time daily to worship God. Don’t be afraid to fall on your face and worship Him. Also find time this week to serve God as well as those around you. It can be something small or something larger. Regardless, we are called by the Lord to serve those around us. I dare you to be a living testimony in someone’s life and not see a change in your own life!
Prayer: Dear God, I pray that everyone this week remember you and remember what it truly means to be a Christian. I pray they will find time this week to worship you and glorify you in both prayer and actions. In Your name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment