Good Morning!
I have to tell you that I was part of one intense prayer session already this morning. Wow! I look forward to seeing what comes out of it. God was certainly present. He surely heard us.
Anyway, I’m going to discuss my third, well, forth, bible personality I want to meet in heaven. The more I think about this, the more characters that keep coming to mind. Why isn’t King Jehoshaphat in my top three? He certainly could be. He’s one I regularly refer to. How about Andrew? He’s the first evangelist and the one who first told Peter about Jesus. Or how about the two dudes on the road to Emmaus? What tale do you suppose they would tell? You get my point. So, without further ado, let’s discuss the woman who loved much.
Luke 7:36-50 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I supposed, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
What a powerful scene this was! The thing that is striking to me is that he told all this to the Pharisee while she was right there. Jesus had a conversation about her in front of her. How cool would it be to hear Jesus praising you like that to others! How do you suppose she felt about that? Obviously, she was overwhelmed with Jesus, but to hear him talk about her like that? Wow!
I guess my whole point of this exercise is to share with you how fascinating it is to hear about other people’s encounters with Jesus. I find it absolutely captivating when people really dig deep into their stories. Every one of us who is saved has an incredible story. Yes, some have bigger train wrecks that they walked away from, but every one of us has a train wreck survival story. That’s a fact. The most mild conversion is no less of a miracle that the most radical. Parting the Red Sea in no more effort to God than is, well, anything. Every story about Jesus is priceless.
Do you agree with that? Do you feel this about your story? Do you share it? You should, if you don’t. We all should share ours more and more. These are precious memories that people long to hear. They are balm to our souls. Besides, we benefit ourselves by sharing. God gives us peace and joy that money simply cannot buy.
Oh, I would also want to know her name. I’ll bet it’s Melissa.
Father, thank you for the bible and all the wonderful, wonderful stories it contains. My spirit soars when reading how you so freely change people’s lives. It’s all so simple. And pure. Encourage all of us to make a difference in this world by sharing our stories. Amen.
Copyright © 2017 Scott Powers