Her story is found in the book of Luke.
Just like all of the women that I have been studying, there is so much to learn from her encounter with the Lord.
I will share the part of her story that spoke so much to me. If you have something to share about her story, I would love for you to leave it in my comments section. I love to learn from the views of other people. God speaks to each and every one of us in a different way; we all have our own story of what God has done in our lives.
Luke 7:36-39
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When 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."
Can you imagine the spectacle?......But she did not care. She had only one thing on her mind, and she was not going to let the judgmental, probing eyes of others stop her.
She dropped to his feet and wept. She knew that she was a sinner, a person unworthy of the forgiveness that only He could offer. But, she knew that He offered that forgiveness to her (yes, even her) anyway, and she wept at the reality of it. The reality of how dark her sin was against the light of His forgiveness simply overwhelmed her.
So many times in my own life, I have found myself there, sobbing at the feet of Jesus. Knowing that I am so unworthy of His love, but He loves me anyway. Even when others judge me, treat me harshly, or ignore me, He looks at me with love.
The thought that the Pharisee has about the woman, pointing out, "that she is a sinner," is so true of all of us today, at one time or another. We, as Christians, tend to put "degrees" on sin. We compare our sins to those of others. For example some people might say, "I may have cheated on my taxes a time or two, but I have never killed anyone!" That sort of "sin comparison" is very common among most of us, isn't it? It makes us somehow feel better about our own sins, if we focus on the "much worse" sins of others.
Jesus does not put "degrees" on our sins. He doesn't compare my sins to the sins of others. To Jesus, sin is sin. Period.
I love what Jesus says to the Pharisee, who must have been caught off guard that this Man knew what he was thinking.
Luke 7:40-47
Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
I want to love much everyday of my life, because I have definitely been forgiven much.
When I am at sitting at the feet of Jesus sobbing and asking for forgiveness, the only place I can look is up!
When I look up, I see Jesus looking at me with nothing but love and forgiveness in His eyes for me.
He says the same words to this "sinful" woman today, that He said to that "sinful" woman so long ago.
Luke 7:48,50
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Go in peace. Not go in guilt or regret, but go in peace.
1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Philippians 4:7
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Here is the scene of the "Sinful Woman" from the movie "Jesus of Nazareth."
As you watch it, put yourself in her place. Think about what you would say or do while sitting at the feet of Jesus.
"Your sins are forgiven; go in peace." Lord, thank You for those precious words.
They are the only light with the ability to shine through the darkness of my sins.
