SINFUL BUT COURAGEOUS

• DAY 230
• FEAR FILE: THE SINFUL WOMAN THAT ANOINTED JESUS
• SCRIPTURES: LUKE 7:36-39, 48-50

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.” Then He [Jesus] said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

I remember feeling like if I showed up in church I will be judged. I was a choir member who dared to spend the weekend at a man’s house. Yes, I failed God and wanted to return but, there was one little problem. Someone found out and told everyone. Church back then was a tough place for a fallen saint. the looks will kill you. So staying away was just the best option if you wanted to maintain sanity. Thank God for my pastor, he was gracious enough to come looking for me while I stayed away from the church. Because of him, I found the courage to ignore the whispers and obey God’s instruction to not forsake the gathering of the brethren. But I know many people who are too afraid to show up because of what people will say.

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees were like my church people; they were judgmental people who were more focused on upholding the laws of Moses than actually loving the people of God. They were very intentional about counting errors than leading people by example and teaching them the ways of God. They twisted the laws of God and put heavy burdens on people. I can imagine how embarrassed a sinner would feel coming into their midst. But this sinful woman whom John 11 Identified as Mary, the sister of Lazarus came in their midst boldly when she heard that Jesus was in town eating in the house of a Pharisee.

Judged

Sure enough, she was judged. When she fell and touched Jesus she was despised. As she cried she was considered to be faking it. As she wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair she was judged. And at the scent of the oil, she so graciously poured on Jesus, the congregation rejected her. But she didn’t stop or let what they were saying affect her. She needed a new life and she was there to get it. She wanted to be seen as something other than sinful and only the messiah can give her what she sought.

A couple of us would have waited for Jesus outside or not shown up at all. Many people quit Christianity because they will be judged by the people around Jesus, not considering that Jesus will not judge them. I understand their thought because finding the courage to associate with Jesus before people who know you as sinful is not as easy. That’s why this woman is a woman of courage.

Jesus Welcomes All

Maybe the people you are avoiding are not a group of Pharisees or believers, maybe it is your colleagues before whom you lied, schemed your way to the top, and behaved sinfully. Now, you want to match your words with your actions and you feel like if you do so, you will be judged. Don’t let anything keep you from your devotion and worship of Jesus. Jesus welcomes sinners even if people don’t.

This woman’s faith saved her and yours will too. Keep showing up, keep living right, and let the Pharisees talk. The next time we meet this Mary, Jesus is at her house and she is at His feet listening to the word. By the time we meet her at the tomb of her brother, she had grown in faith to believe that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. As long as your heart is to repent and to change and to go to God, do not allow the crowd of believers to deter you from seeking salvation from your master.

Maybe you’re not the sinful woman but the pharisee. Now you know better. Hopefully, you will extend grace and not judgment.

Shalom.