Self-righteousness meets radical grace
A beautiful, uncomfortable, and often misunderstood story, found in Luke chapter 7 of Pharisee named Simon, inviting Jesus to have dinner at his home. Jesus accepts the invitation and as he settles in at the table an unnamed woman, labeled only as a sinner, arrives with an alabaster jar of the finest perfume. Standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, then kisses his feet as she anoints them with nard.
I travel to the Himalayas in Northern India yearly and this perfume she broke open was pure nard, a perennial herb that is harvested there. The cost was nearly a year’s wages and the jar itself, made of semi-transparent gemstones must have been very special to her. In this culture her actions were shocking! Her unbound hair was unacceptable in public, as was touching a man who was not her family or husband. As she wept, with grief and gratitude, she poured her perfume onto his feet. Just picture the sight. A room that was to be alive with debate became silent, everyone shocked by what they were witnessing. The Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is, that she is a sinner.” This highly educated holy man is judging both the woman and Jesus, and who of us, thinking we’re better than, more educated, more religious than another, hasn’t also judged unfairly?
Jesus then goes on to tell him a story about a two people who owed money to the same lender. One owed 500 denarii (over a year’s wages) the other 50 denarii (about two months wages) Neither could pay back the lender so in an act of grace he forgives both debts. Jesus asks Simon which debtor will love the lender more? Simon answers, the one with the larger debt. Jesus tells him he’s correct. The Bible story continues with Jesus turning toward the woman saying to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house, and you didn’t give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
This act of worship ranks as one of the most beautiful and meaningful statements of faith in all of Scripture. She risked her reputation, some might say, what little was left, to anoint Jesus. She knew what the Pharisees do to woman labeled sinners, but that didn’t keep her from putting all her chips on the table. She used her most precious possession to make her profession of faith and Jesus accepted this gift and then contrasts Simon’s lack of hospitality with her extravagant love. He makes it clear that her actions are evidence of her forgiven state, not a means to earn forgiveness. Isn’t it ironic, yet appropriate, that the perfume she may have used in her life as a sinful woman would become the token of her profession of faith. She emptied out every drop onto the feet of Jesus. What’s your most precious possession? Could you empty it all out, have that little talk with Jesus, tell Him all about your troubles? It is said we are as sick as our secrets and this woman was willing to walk out of the dark shadow of sin and into the light of the world.
There comes a moment in all our lives when we need to come clean. A moment when we need to unveil the secret shame of sin and fall full weight on the grace of God. This is that moment for this woman. She reminds us that no matter what we have done or how far we have fallen, God sees us, loves us and offer grace. This woman answered the Lord’s call for faith while the self-righteous Pharisee was unable to see his need of it. Do you want to turn your shame into joy, fear into love and brokenness into beauty? What would happen if you decided to love extravagantly as this woman did? My guess is there would be a revival on earth and a good bit of dancing and rejoicing in the presence of the angels in Heaven over one repentant heart!
Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson, Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Pastoral Associate at Campbell Chapel A.M.E. in Bluffton, SC
