"And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." [Lk 7:37-38]
On a certain day, “one of the Pharisees, [whose name was Simon], desired [Jesus] that He would eat with him,” and so Jesus “went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to meat.” [Lk 7:36] It was here that a certain woman, “which was a sinner,” came, “when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house.” [Lk 7:37] She, though unnamed, lives on forever, having been recorded in God’s word. Her worship and love toward Christ, which we shall read of, is made eternal, having been written of The Holy Spirit, whose words are “living and abiding for ever.” [1 Pe 1:23] Even though this woman was a sinner, she had the boldness few righteous men have; for she entered into a place where she was not welcomed to seek out Jesus and when there, in the Pharisee’s house, she poured out her worship upon Him unabashedly.
The account tells us that the woman “brough an alabaster box of ointment,” which was very expensive, and began to weep, washing Jesus’ “feet with [her] tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” [Lk 7:38] This was something, Jesus points out, which the Pharisee did not do nor even consider. Jesus says,
“And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” [Lk 7:44-47]
Notice three things here. One, that Jesus “turned to the woman” and not to Simon; and two, that the woman’s sins, “which [were] many,” were forgiven but Simons’ apparently were not; and three, that the woman, though a sinner and looked down upon and though poorer than Simon no doubt, “loved much,” but Simon did not show any love at all toward Jesus.
What a marvelous account of love and worship; this woman, a sinner much like us, in spite of the perhaps dirty looks and dirty thoughts of those around, came unannounced before Christ, and with much tears began to pour out perhaps all the wealth she had upon His feet, as the room became engulfed with the precious odor, a sweet smelling sacrifice to God. Much like Jesus poured out His life for us, having “given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling fragrance,” [Eph 5:2] so too this woman. And after all was said and done, Jesus said to her, “…Thy sins are forgiven….Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” [Lk 7:48; 50]
Let us think carefully about the ointment; for it was very fragrant and very expensive (as we learn from other accounts of this ointment being used). And notice in particular how afterward the woman and Jesus would have smelled the same. Through the act of worship, the scent of the ointment filled the room, covering Christ and covering her. Just as the priests in olden times went into the holy place and came out bearing the fragrance of God from the holy incense, so too the woman entered into the very presence of God, Jesus Christ, and left with a beautiful fragrance upon her. The same is true of those who, like the woman, enter Jesus’ presence to pour out worship upon Him. And those who act as the woman did will no doubt receive the same encouragement, “thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
Truly what this woman did is an encouragement and admonition to us all, speaking of the importance of love and forgiveness and humility; but I think what is most staggering is not this woman’s love, but the one whom she loved. This account, though it reveals to us an example of genuine worship, reveals to us also our Savior’s love. The worship of this woman shows us the value of Jesus; it shows us how marvelous He must be to provoke such an act, how grand His value and character and glory must be, which would stir up such an act of boldness and love. It reminds us that though she paid a high price to pour out precious perfume, yet we are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot,” [1 Pe 1:19] which is of far greater value.
Do we see a great act of faith or of love? Do we revel in the valorous acts of those men of old whom we call our heroes? Yes, we may; but if we study the great walls of Zion, as it were, if we “mark…well her bulwarks,” then let us be careful not to conclude that men are great; no, but that, as the Psalm says, “this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.” [Psa 48:12-14] Yes, let us conclude that though the faith or worship of men and women touched by God’s grace hold much beauty, yet the beauty of Christ is far greater still. For God has “provided some better thing for us;” that is, the faith of Christ; so then let us, “look away from all else to gaze upon Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [Heb 11:40-12:2]
If this woman’s act of worship recorded in Luke seems valiant or courageous or sweet; then well, for so it is. But let us reach further to the real conclusion: that the God she poured out love on is so worthy as to provoke such an act; and that the God she worshipped, Jesus Christ, is our God even today, and that He is still worthy, even doubly worthy, of such an act today.
Click here to see other posts in Daily Meditations on The Glory of Jesus, Vol I