A Reputation to Protect
Luke 7: 36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak." 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44 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 bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48 Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
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I imagine that Simon the Pharisee’s house was one where respectable and learned members of society were frequent dinner guests. They probably gathered in his home for a good meal and stimulating theological discussion. Conversation might well have centered on the Law and the Prophets, a Holy God and the importance of clean living.
God forbid that anyone of ill-repute would come to his table! People probably looked up to Simon and, as can be reasonably expected, he had a reputation to protect, and an example to set. And he wasn’t about to sully his reputation. Certainly, Simon would know better than to encourage the attention of a “sinful woman.” That would just look terrible, lower his standing, and probably ruin his reputation just by association.
That makes sense, doesn’t it?
Not as a follower of Christ.
Jesus’ reputation had spread far and wide by the time we reach this chapter in Luke’s Gospel. People have marveled at His teaching, and crowds have followed Him everywhere, many having been healed miraculously.
Apparently, His reputation as one who loves and forgives sinners has spread, too. How else can we account for the woman’s shocking boldness? Perhaps she was in the crowd when He taught His disciples to “Be compassionate as your Father in Heaven is compassionate.” (Luke 6:36) Perhaps she heard about how He touched and healed lepers, who were not supposed to be touched. Perhaps she was around when He talked about God’s upside-down hierarchy in the beatitudes. Whatever it is, when she hears that Jesus is close by, she goes to Him determinedly and gratefully, expecting someone who will not shun her.
She is not disappointed.
Let’s be clear here. Jesus does not commend her sin. But, He graciously and unconditionally receives the sinner. He forgives her. He commends her faith. It takes bold faith for Her to come to Him. But because of His reputation, she knew where to go. And when she gets to Jesus, she shows Him her gratitude unreservedly and unashamedly.
She comes prepared with alabaster oil. She weeps. She pours the perfume on His feet and wipes them with her hair! She doesn’t say a word to Him, but her actions speak louder than words to Jesus. And, in Simon the reputable law keeper’s home, Jesus commends her faith and actions -- only underlining the reputation that precedes Him. He is someone who will not turn away sinners. It says a lot about Jesus Christ. It should say a lot to His followers.
What does someone like me, who professes to follow Christ, do with that? First, I know that as a sinner myself I can approach Jesus Christ with boldness, knowing that He will forgive my sins. My life depends on that. This remarkable story is a wonderful testimony to that fact. Now, as a forgiven follower of Jesus Christ, I must be His witness. Which means that I have to have the same reputation that He did.
The Bible tells us that sinners have an advocate in Jesus Christ. We, who profess to follow Him, must testify to that fact. Our words and our actions must develop a reputation that reflects the true character of Christ. To be faithful witnesses for our Lord, we can do no less than unconditionally love, forgive and show compassion as He did,
...having received it ourselves.
To do anything other than that is to sully Christ’s reputation.
------------------------------
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the way in which you love and forgive sinners like myself. I want to be your faithful witness. Help me love, forgive and be compassionate just like you are, so that more and more people will come to you.
In the Jesus Christ, my Lord’s name, I pray.
Amen.
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak." 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44 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 bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48 Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
---------------------------------------------
I imagine that Simon the Pharisee’s house was one where respectable and learned members of society were frequent dinner guests. They probably gathered in his home for a good meal and stimulating theological discussion. Conversation might well have centered on the Law and the Prophets, a Holy God and the importance of clean living.
God forbid that anyone of ill-repute would come to his table! People probably looked up to Simon and, as can be reasonably expected, he had a reputation to protect, and an example to set. And he wasn’t about to sully his reputation. Certainly, Simon would know better than to encourage the attention of a “sinful woman.” That would just look terrible, lower his standing, and probably ruin his reputation just by association.
That makes sense, doesn’t it?
Not as a follower of Christ.
Jesus’ reputation had spread far and wide by the time we reach this chapter in Luke’s Gospel. People have marveled at His teaching, and crowds have followed Him everywhere, many having been healed miraculously.
Apparently, His reputation as one who loves and forgives sinners has spread, too. How else can we account for the woman’s shocking boldness? Perhaps she was in the crowd when He taught His disciples to “Be compassionate as your Father in Heaven is compassionate.” (Luke 6:36) Perhaps she heard about how He touched and healed lepers, who were not supposed to be touched. Perhaps she was around when He talked about God’s upside-down hierarchy in the beatitudes. Whatever it is, when she hears that Jesus is close by, she goes to Him determinedly and gratefully, expecting someone who will not shun her.
She is not disappointed.
Let’s be clear here. Jesus does not commend her sin. But, He graciously and unconditionally receives the sinner. He forgives her. He commends her faith. It takes bold faith for Her to come to Him. But because of His reputation, she knew where to go. And when she gets to Jesus, she shows Him her gratitude unreservedly and unashamedly.
She comes prepared with alabaster oil. She weeps. She pours the perfume on His feet and wipes them with her hair! She doesn’t say a word to Him, but her actions speak louder than words to Jesus. And, in Simon the reputable law keeper’s home, Jesus commends her faith and actions -- only underlining the reputation that precedes Him. He is someone who will not turn away sinners. It says a lot about Jesus Christ. It should say a lot to His followers.
What does someone like me, who professes to follow Christ, do with that? First, I know that as a sinner myself I can approach Jesus Christ with boldness, knowing that He will forgive my sins. My life depends on that. This remarkable story is a wonderful testimony to that fact. Now, as a forgiven follower of Jesus Christ, I must be His witness. Which means that I have to have the same reputation that He did.
The Bible tells us that sinners have an advocate in Jesus Christ. We, who profess to follow Him, must testify to that fact. Our words and our actions must develop a reputation that reflects the true character of Christ. To be faithful witnesses for our Lord, we can do no less than unconditionally love, forgive and show compassion as He did,
...having received it ourselves.
To do anything other than that is to sully Christ’s reputation.
------------------------------
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the way in which you love and forgive sinners like myself. I want to be your faithful witness. Help me love, forgive and be compassionate just like you are, so that more and more people will come to you.
In the Jesus Christ, my Lord’s name, I pray.
Amen.
posted by Ruth at 8:27 AM
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