Have you ever treated someone unjustly and later asked for forgiveness? How did you feel when the person accepted your apology? Did humbleness and gratitude prevail? Did the burden weighing on you disappear? This is just a glimpse into the mighty love and peace waiting for you when you approach your Savior. His forgiveness can change your life.
Enjoy this brief excerpt from Sharing Stories of Jesus with Children as well as my reflection and scripture reference.
Men are gathered around a table and a woman is tenderly holding Jesus’ foot as she anoints expensive perfume.
Smelling Sweet
Table is set
food is the best.
Many are present
Jesus prized guest.
Laughing and chatting
the room is a buzz,
a door flies open
there is a hush.
A woman enters
reputation well known.
Questionable behavior
not allowed in this home.
Her eyes meet Jesus
rushes to his side.
Tears fall on his feet
overwhelmed she cries,
Her hair is a towel
his feet are cleaned.
Her humble heart
to the Master is seen.
Expensive perfume
sprinkled and splashed.
Her love for the Lord
will always last.
Simon the Pharisee
aghast at the sight
yells at the woman
she is a fright.
Jesus forgives her
then turns to the host
“Her respect reveals
she loves me the most.”
If you enjoyed this poem click on the books link within this website for easy access to purchasing Sharing Stories of Jesus with Children. God Bless You.
Reflection:
Pre-COVID do you recall walking through the mall into the cosmetic department and a salesperson would spray the scent of a new woman or man’s cologne to entice you to make a purchase? With interest peaked, you would meander over to the glass counter where the most expensive fragrances were on display. Although tempting, these were reserved for special occasions as a gift and certainly not for impulse buying. You surely could not envision yourself breaking open the bottle and pouring it on the feet of a man you have never met! Yet this is exactly what happened in the home of Simon the Pharisee.
Simon the Pharisee had invited Jesus to dine not because he was hospitable but because he was investigating him. The dinner occurred outside so people passing by could stop in and instead of sitting upright at the table, the guests leaned on their elbows with their feet away from the table. It was because of this arrangement that the woman could enter and was able to reach Jesus’ feet for anointment. This woman was known for sexual immorality, but because she acknowledged her sin, asked and was given forgiveness, she wanted to show her gratitude to Jesus. She broke a bottle that cost a year’s wages and poured it upon his feet in humble fashion.
Without speaking, Jesus knew Simon was judging him for his allowance of this “sinner’s actions” and he concluded a prophet would not be associated with a person such as this. Jesus used this moment to teach Simon and others a lesson about forgiveness and told the woman, “Your faith has saved you-go in peace.”
Have you ever treated someone unjustly and later asked for forgiveness? How did you feel when the person accepted your apology? Did humbleness and gratitude prevail? Did the burden weighing on you disappear? This is just a glimpse into the mighty love and peace waiting for you when you approach your Savior. His forgiveness can change your life.
Jesus is a friend of sinners and that includes each one of us. He knows our thoughts and actions and yet He still wants a relationship with us. Christ’s sacrificial love, mercy and grace allow a pathway to heaven. You can begin this journey with a four-step process and perfection isn’t one of them.
1. Acknowledge your sin
2. Acknowledge Christ as your Savior
3. Ask for forgiveness
4. Be thankful and spread His love and truth to others
Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s house. He took his place at the table. 37 There was a woman in that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she came there with a special jar of perfume. 38 She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. And she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain lender. One owed him 500 silver coins. The other owed him 50 silver coins. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he let them go without paying. Which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who owed the most money.”
“You are right,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman. He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water to wash my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss. But this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You did not put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured this perfume on my feet. 47 So I tell you this. Her many sins have been forgiven. She has shown that she understands this by her great acts of love. But whoever has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to talk about this among themselves. They said, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
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