Encounters with Jesus - Pt 8

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.” (Luke 7:44-50 ESV).

One of my favorite encounters with Jesus comes from our reading today. It has been called “Simon and the Sinful Woman.” It is a story of two people with entirely different reputations. These are two people with violently conflicting moral standards; two people of diverse social status; but, two people interacting with Jesus in one encounter. Both of them had met Jesus before; and, both were sinners needing a Savior. Unfortunately one, Simon, did not realize he was a sinner. He did not realize that this teacher he had invited to dinner was the Savior of the world. He did not realize that this man, to whom he did not show common courtesy, could see through his external righteousness right into the poverty of his heart. The other, an unnamed woman, knew that she was a sinner. She didn't hide it; she couldn't hide it. Deep in her heart she had struggled with the guilt and the shame of it. The fear of God's judgment was constantly in her thoughts. There was nothing she could do about it, until she listened to Jesus. It had happened some time before. Hearing Jesus speak of repentance and faith, hearing him offer the way of forgiveness into the kingdom of God, her guilt and shame and fear had been lifted, and now her heart was filled with incredible peace and overflowing with love and gratitude towards this man who had set her free from her deep guilt. The cold and formal atmosphere of Simon's dinner party was shattered when this uninvited woman came in and tearfully and extravagantly expressed her grateful love. She knew, and Jesus knew, that her many sins had been forgiven. Highly offended by her behavior, Simon questioned the integrity of Jesus. But Jesus did know who she was. He knew the repentance and renewal that had taken place. He had seen her standing listening on the edge of a crowd. He had seen her heart's response. In this pointed story Jesus explained the difference between Simon and the woman: she loves much because she knows she has been forgiven much. Simon loves little because, with little conception of his sinfulness, he also has little perception of forgiveness, and, therefore, little love. This story calls me to my own repentance. Does it call to you? Have you become more like Simon or the woman?