Scene One: After hours at the bar …
“Well, Sarge, if you ever have time, there’s always room here for another screw-up.” (Loosely quoted from a recent CSI New York as the rookie was letting the seasoned veteran know that there was a welcome place for him at the bar if ever he did want the company.)
Scene Two: Dinner at the religious person’s house …
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a [screw-up].”
Here is my question …
- Do we always have room for another screw-up in our churches?
Or … - Does the local tavern do acceptance and welcome of sinners better than the church?
Maybe someone argues that we should not be so accepting of people who have made such a mess of their lives, but we would not be in very good company.
And most importantly, we would not be in Jesus’ company.
- Luke 7:36–39 (NIV84)
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “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.”
A couple of things here involving tears, muttering to ourselves, love and the forgiveness of sins.
The tears of a sinful woman …
This woman was a screw-up, no doubt about it, she had lived a sinful life. But now sobs of repentance spoke of her changed heart. She sought out Jesus and though uninvited, she endured the humiliation of entering this hostile territory of the religious leader and presented herself to him.
- And she cried. She bawled. She howled. So many tears that she could wash a Person’s feet with this river of sorrow.
- And Jesus forgave.
- And she was filled with his love. Saved. And blessed with the peace of God. The breath of God, the breath of Jesus as he spoke the words, “Go in peace.”
- And the church elder got mad.
The mutterings of a righteous man …
This was inconceivable and unacceptable to the Pharisee. Right in front of him, right in his house, Jesus had accepted and welcomed this woman; he had embraced her outpouring of tears and kisses; he had received her extravagant gift. He didn’t once condemn her and point out the mess she had made of her life.
But this man didn’t speak to Jesus …
He didn’t bring honest questions or express his doubts and perplexity. He didn’t ask because he wasn’t interested.
He instead muttered …
Under his breath he accused the Forgiver of sins of allowing a sinner to (gasp) touch him.
Does anyone else see the irony?
The Father sent Jesus to seek and save the lost, the foolish, the screw-ups. And this man – a key representative of the Father in the eyes of the church and the community – from his little small, bitter world could only mutter under his breath. The Son of God was sitting at his dinner table but instead of bowing, he belittled.
Blindness and darkness …
The religion in which he had invested his life had blinded him. He couldn’t see the woman for who she was. Don’t miss this as you read the following.
- Luke 7:44–50 (NIV84)
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “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. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
The beauty and audacity of it all …
This screw-up, this woman who had led a sinful life found the love and forgiveness of Jesus Son of God, right in front of the guy who couldn’t do anything but mutter to himself.
Jesus turned to the woman as he probed the darkness of Simon’s heart and said, “Do you see this woman?”
“Do you see this woman?”
And that was the whole key.
Simon only saw a sinner that he wouldn’t dare to even let touch him.
Jesus saw a woman ready for the salvation of God, once lost but now found, no longer a sinner but a picture of redemption.
So now let’s take a moment and stare at the picture. Look at the world around you as our loving God would.
Our coworkers, the people at the gas station, our neighbors …
Do you see this woman?
