Go in peace and serve the Lord

Jesus was invited to the home of a very prominent citizen, a Pharisee named Simon.  This man’s prominence, though, was outdone by his large ego, and his self-righteous opinion of himself.  These attributes became apparent by his actions, or his inactions in this case.

When Jesus entered his home, the usual customs of hospitality that one would receive were not afforded to Jesus.  Simon did not give him wash water for his feet, he did not give him the welcome kiss to his home, and he did not anoint his head with oil.  But why would he, he was a very important man and Jesus, to him, was just a cur sitting under his table.

During dinner, an uninvited woman came into the room where Jesus sat. Carrying a very expensive box of fragrant ointment, she began to wash and anoint his feet and then wipe them with her hair!

Did Jesus take offense when this red-light-district woman came into his “personal space”? No, he was moved with compassion for her and the degrading circumstances she experienced with her “job”.

Meanwhile, pious Simon disgustedly muttered to himself that Jesus should have known better than to entertain this sin soaked woman. Did the woman, a mere cur who sits under the tables of the powerful men in her city, care what he thought?  Did she concern herself that she was not clean, outside nor inside, before approaching Jesus with her offering?

No, she recognized that Jesus was the man who could change her from a cur and into the beautiful woman God intended her to be.  She knew she did not have to be beautiful before He made her Beautiful.  If she had thought she needed to be presentable before kneeling at Jesus feet, she may never have done what she did for him.

Her example is the answer to the question asked by people who feel they need to be cleaned up before they can ask God for forgiveness.  Like her, all of us are invited to bring ourselves with the bulk and baggage collected over the years, untie the bundles, and let them fall at his feet.  Then we can kneel before him and wet his feet with our tears of regret and sorrow.

Then we can all hear Jesus say to us, “Your sins are many and they are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

Go in peace and serve the Lord.