36-39 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.”

40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Oh? Tell me.”
______

Okay, just the fact that a Pharisee invited Jesus, the religious rebel to Pharisees and other church leaders, over for dinner is already amazing and spurs us to imagine this scene. A noted Pharisee, because of his wealth and importance in the community, probably has many servants who are ordered to put together a lavish meal, pulling out all the best china.

Indeed, Jesus has become very popular as a traveling Teacher with his message of love, mercy and grace. Jesus has performed many miracles of healing. So, this may have been an invite of pulling Jesus into his home for yet another debate or a miracle show. We doubt it was a dinner of “let’s get to know each other over a bite to eat and from a small group Bible study” kind of relationship builder. It was probably more of a probe to get at the truth of who this man, Jesus, was and what He was going to do next. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” may have been the motivator of this Pharisee. Mm, or maybe he really wanted to know Jesus?

In the middle of pass the matza, the town harlot comes in, interrupts the elegant dinner, falls humbly to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, while breaking open a bottle of expensive perfume at Jesus feet. The act is so shocking that others in the room seem to be paralyzed, not knowing what to do, so no one does anything. They just watch..in horror.

While in this humble position on the floor, crouched down, keeping her head down with her eyes on Jesus feet, she pours out which may have been her life savings. She does not have the courage to look at His face for fear of reprimand by this One she loves and has probably watched heal, love and show mercy to so many others. Maybe, just maybe He would show her some mercy in this desperate act to get close to Him. Imagine her then letting down her hair, another revolting act in the presence of the religious, and using her raining tears along with those thick strands of hair tumbling down from her head and neck to wash and dry the dusty, well traveled feet of the Son of God!

Jesus knows what the Pharisee is thinking and tells him a story. (This reminds me of the time Nathan the prophet told David, the adulterer, a story to get him to understand the gravity of his sin.)
____________
41-42 “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?”

43-47 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”
____________

That “ah-ha” becomes a teachable moment to the Pharisee and all gathered at the scene! And maybe, for us?
____________

“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.”

48 Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”

49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”

50 He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
______________

The risky faith of coming to a place this woman knew she was not invited becomes a woman welcomed with unconditional love, forgiveness, with compassionate mercy and grace. Jesus did not see a harlot, He saw a lost person who needed what He had to offer…a new life of Peace, set free from all guilt. He forgave her sins. He had the power and authority to do it then. He still does it for us now.

Be set free from all the past sin and the resulting guilt and accept Jesus’ redemptive salvation. Look to Jesus, not the world for acceptance, unconditional love and grace. Only Jesus knows us well and can satisfy our deepest needs. He made us.

Back to the Pharisee. He invited Jesus into his home, his own turf to have the home advantage, but did not welcome Jesus into his heart. He command and coordinated all the details for a great meal, but did not respect Jesus enough to order the servants to wash his feet and see to the simple physical needs to freshen up from the journey which was the custom of the day. A good host still does that for someone they invite to their home. We first show them where our clean and prepared bathrooms are, right? To meet our guest physical needs is a welcoming sign of respect, affection and acceptance.

There are so many thoughts in this passage, so many lessons for us as individuals and as a church together who truly wants to help someone else in their journey to find and follow Jesus. Jesus saves but He uses our hands and feet and everything else He has provided to prepare an environment for lost and alone feeling people to find Him. It’s simple, really. First, tell them where the bathrooms are! Then bring them to your table of goodness with freshly prepared food served with graciousness. It is not expense of the food, but the loving attitude as it is served.

Dear Heavenly Father,
May we take these ah-ah moments and many others to heart. We repent of those times when we failed to see others as you see them. We repent of not opening our home enough to those who need help to find You. Open our eyes to see more. Break our hearts of those situations that break yours and then show us how to serve more graciously. We are enormously grateful for the forgiveness of our sins. By Your power, transform us to live our gratefulness out loud!
In Jesus Name, Amen