[Journey with Jesus – Day 11]
Jesus was a maverick, if you ask me, liked to do things differently and stir things up, not least because of the dubious company he seemed to keep. He hung out with all the wrong people – prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors – he scraped the bottom of the barrel of society, spending time with them – even eating with them, going to their houses of all things! We Pharisees believe that he should have had more regard for ritual purity, that he should have made sure he was spending time with the right kind of people. But, you couldn’t ignore the fact Jesus had really made waves in Galilee. The people loved him and he was gaining a reputation as a healer and teacher. And, they say that you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer, so, while Jesus wasn’t exactly an enemy, me and my Pharisee friends thought it would be a good idea to get a closer look at him. So, I had him round for dinner at my house. All went well, at first, fairly uneventful, until there was a commotion behind us as we reclined at the table. A woman appeared out of nowhere, and stood behind Jesus weeping. She must have heard he was there. She then wet his feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair – kissed them – and poured perfume on them, from an alabaster jar she’d had with her. I was horrified. This was not the sort of behaviour we expected at dinner tables. And we all knew what kind of woman she was. She had a reputation as a sinful, loose woman. Surely Jesus would have known this – he should have done – he was a prophet, after all! It was all very embarrassing. How could Jesus allow such a sinful woman anywhere near him? I wasn’t aware of having expressed any feelings out loud, but perhaps I gave myself away, because Jesus seemed to read my thoughts.
“Simon,” he said, “I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” I replied.
“Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five thousand pounds, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker cancelled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”
I answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”
“You’re right,” Jesus replied. Then he turned to the woman, who was now sort of skulking in the corner, embarrassed by all the attention she was receiving.
“Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you didn’t give me any water to wash my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet from the moment I came in. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. I tell you that her many sins are forgiven, so she showed great love. But the person who is forgiven only a little will love only a little.”
Well, I didn’t know what to make of all this. He seemed to be getting at me rather, questioning my hospitality – pretty cheeky, if you ask me. But it got worse!
Jesus spoke to the woman directly. She reluctantly met his gaze. She looked fearful, ashamed, even, but then this look turned to astonishment and gratitude, when he said the next thing … “I forgive your sins.”
I was flabbergasted, I was certainly not alone in this; we all thought the same – who does he think he is? What right does he think he have to go around forgiving sins? Only God can do that!
Jesus ignored us, typically, and spoke again to the woman. “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Well, I won’t be forgetting that particular dinner party for a while. Not sure I’ll invite Jesus round again. He’s too much trouble by far!
Halwill Publishing 