I searched the world
But it couldn’t fill me
Man’s empty praise
And treasures that fade
Are never enough

Then You came along
And put me back together
And every desire
Is now satisfied
Here in Your love

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

I’m not afraid
To show You my weakness
My failures and flaws
Lord, You’ve seen ’em all
And You still call me friend

‘Cause the God of the mountain
Is the God of the valley
There’s not a place
Your mercy and grace
Won’t find me again

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

(Graves into Gardens)

Luke 7, The Message

Anointing His Feet

^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.”

^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’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.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The harlot was a woman “of the village” known by her reputation.  She was an outcast, unworthy of greeting, and certainly not welcomed in the home of this pious Pharisee, a religious leader. This caused quite a stir in the household when she entered Simon’s home seeking a rescue.  With mournful tears, she headed straight for Jesus and dramatically fell to his feet, ready to anoint Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume.  She was determined to honor Jesus with all she had to give, including her shame. 

The woman provided a welcome that the Pharisee did not.  She welcomed Jesus into her heart that had been used and abused most of her life.  She asked for nothing but He gave her everything she needed and more—forgiveness instead of judgement, with grace to replace the shame she and others had heaped upon her.  This is Kingdom come.  This is how God works in our lives!  Jesus forgives.  Jesus was her advocate to unbelievers still in judgement of her and to God, the Father who loved her dearly!  Oh, Jesus, there is no one better than You!

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You’re the only one who can

You turn graves into garden
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You’re the only one who can
You’re the only one who can

The Pharisee was schooled in hospitality by Jesus!  “You didn’t welcome or greet me, you didn’t wash my feet” as was the custom in that day for sandalled feet walking on dusty roads to be rinse off by a servant before entering a home.  “You provided nothing…the woman seeking forgiveness provided all she had.” –Jesus   Wow.  Let that sink in—take all the time you need.

Because Jesus is relentless in love, mercy, and grace, He tells a story to explain what forgiveness means to those seeking it.  But did the story soften the heart of Simon, the Pharisee?  No, Simon was more focused on legitimacy of this man who forgave the woman, affirmed her faith, and set her free while removing her shame.  “Who is He to forgive sins?”  He is Jesus, that’s who.   

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You’re the only one who can …

(Graves into Gardens by Christopher Joel Brown / Steven Furtick / Tiffany Hudson / Brandon Lake)

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your pursuit of us. Thank you for complete forgiveness that removes sin as far as the east is from the west. Thank you for taking away the shame of our past sins, setting us free to love others like you love us!  Yes, there is no one like you!  There is nothing better than you and your ways of doing life!

Cleanse our hearts, transform our minds to Kingdom thinking, refresh our souls with your new mercies for today and restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us with power!  I believe.  I trust you with everything because you are everything to me!

In Jesus Name, Amen