The Life and Ministry of Jesus
Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” Luke 7:36–39
As the notorious woman remained bent over the Lord’s feet, the murmurs gave way to an embarrassing silence. Her damp, quivering hands clasped a small, thin-necked alabaster vial of concentrated perfume with which she obviously intended to anoint Jesus’ feet. She was there because of gratitude.
Jesus’ words had gone to her heart, and she had turned to him and so found forgiveness. Her joy, coupled with the sorrow of seeing Jesus so disgracefully treated by Simon, thrust her forward to do him honor—disregarding the rejection that was sure to come her way. 1
Personal Encouragement
What would it be like to surrendered everything at the feet of Jesus? Will you do it?
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10
Pleasing Jesus means forsaking the caustic opinions of the crowd.
A Prayer
Lord, thank You for helping me to lay it all down before You as an act of love and worship before my Lord and King.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1998). Luke: that you may know the truth. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
