Recently, I heard the testimony of a man that was lost in drugs, crime, and awful relationships for years. When God finally brought him to the point in his life when he was really ready to submit to God, He forgave him, cleansed him, and freed him from everything that had kept him in bondage. That man is now sold out for Jesus and so passionate about telling anyone willing to listen about the saving grace of Jesus. It was a very inspiring story and reminds me of the account of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil and tears in Luke 7:36-50. After you read through that passage, consider my thoughts about that event:

  • The Pharisee hosting the dinner thought to himself: “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” But not only did Jesus know what kind of woman that was, He also knew what this Pharisee was thinking! We always underestimate Jesus.
  • In the story that Jesus told the Pharisee, the creditor forgave both debts; 500 silver coins and 50 coins. The creditor could have just forgiven each of them 50 coins, that would have been more “fair”. This is probably how the Pharisee thought. He probably knew he needed forgiveness for some small things, and he thought that woman only deserved that same, small, amount of forgiveness. But Jesus never puts a limit on His mercy and forgiveness towards us; it is always full and complete. Do you put limits on Jesus’ forgiveness to yourself or others?
  • The woman’s act of love was costly to her. Being a woman of ill repute in that society, she was likely poor. The jar of perfumed oil she anointed Jesus with would have been outrageously expensive to her. And she also gave of her very self, using her tears and her hair. “… her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much.”
  • Implicit in this exchange is the need for humility. The Pharisee clearly thought he was better than the woman, but went away unforgiven. In contrast, the woman was crying and kneeling at Jesus’ feet, kissing them, all during a dinner in a prestigious man’s house. She surely knew she would be looked down on and ridiculed, but she came anyway. We need to come to Jesus in true humility too. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
  • “Your faith has saved you.” This woman wouldn’t have come into this dinner and done what she did unless she truly believed that Jesus had the power to forgive her and would forgive her. Do we ever sell Jesus short on either of those 2 fronts?

I was impressed and encouraged by the man whose testimony I heard, because even though he had done so many bad things, he came to Jesus in complete humility, believed that Jesus would completely forgive him, and let Him completely transform him. This is similar to the Colossians’ experience: “Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you … so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” Colossians 1:5-6

Clearly he who is forgiven much, loves much. What about me? What about you? Jesus is waiting for each person to come to Him in humility and faith. And when you do that, He will completely cleanse you, and that will transform your life.