Tears of Joy

When you are feeling a little down or blue, what helps to make you feel better? Can you think of a time in your life when someone else really stepped in to help, support, comfort, or be present for you? There are many accounts in the Bible that speak to this subject, and they are helpful for us in shaping our care for other people. But, what about the times we don’t show the compassion that Jesus teaches us?

There is an interesting account in the Bible (Luke 7:36-50) of a time one of the religious rulers invited Jesus to have dinner with him and Jesus went. There was a woman in town that had a bad reputation. The Bible doesn’t give us details, but she is described by others as a “sinful woman” (v37). She hears about Jesus’ visit to the leader’s home and manages to get into the party. Let’s stop there for a minute and speculate about what happens next. Maybe:

• She maintains a low profile, hoping to not be noticed, and is able to make off with food and drink unnoticed.
• She gets kicked out because “her kind of people aren’t welcome there.”
• She calls Jesus a hypocrite for hanging out with judgmental people like this religious leader.

Those are all possible answers but that is not what happened. The Bible says she brought with her a jar of perfume. She approached Jesus, weeping, kneeled at his feet, washed his feet with her tears, dried his feet with her hair, kissed them and poured the perfume on his feet. (v38)

I’m thinking no one expected that to happen! Some might have thought it was a caring moment (which it was!) but the religious leader used it as an opportunity to discredit Jesus. The leader’s response was, “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.”
What do you think is going on in the minds of the leader? The woman? Jesus? The other guests?

Jesus responds to the leader, “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. (vv 44-46)

Jesus commends the woman for her great love and compassion and adds, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (v50) Notice Jesus did not say she was saved because of her act of love; he said it was because of her faith. Her act of love was an outward expression of her faith in God and the gift Jesus gave her through his death and resurrection. Jesus wanted to assure her that her sins were forgiven, she is loved, and accepted. Her actions are a great example for us all.

It isn’t unusual for us to sometimes jump into judgement toward others. We are all sinful people and have our own issues. But Jesus died for you and I too. That’s our loving, compassionate God. You can read the entire account at Luke 7:36-50.

Closing Prayer:  Dear Father in heaven, we do not choose the length of time we live on this planet. We know that You have a purpose and mission for us while we are here. May we approach each day with zeal, passion, joy, and love for You and for the people whose lives cross over with ours. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, may we conduct our lives in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ, and may we strive together in one faith, one hope, one baptism, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Adapted from Philippians 1:21-27