---------------------------------------------------------------
Perfuming
Jesus With Your Praise
Justine Huffman
“Behold, a
woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at
table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment …” (Luke 7:37 )
Luke begins this little story with the striking phrase, “Behold, a woman…”
There is a call to “Behold!
Take notice of this!” followed by a remarkably vague description of, “a woman.”
I’m not even going to tell you her name.
A Nameless
Woman
“I, Luke” — the careful, technical historian who details geographic
locations or political titles just to remind you how real all this history is —
will not mention this woman by name.
All
you need to know is that she was well-known in her own community as a sinner.
Oh,
and you need to know that she somehow shoved her way into a private dinner just
to bring her most treasured possession to Jesus, and then give Him a foot-bath
with it!
Her
Sacrificial Gift
We
are told to take note of this unnamed woman who approaches Jesus, in someone
else’s house, with what is probably her life’s savings (it has been estimated
that a stone jar full of perfume would be equal to about 20 months’ wages).
Pay
attention! Not to the august, socially-climbing, well-respected religious
leaders who had Jesus over for dinner but to the nameless prostitute who is
humiliating herself by coming in uninvited to wash Jesus’ feet with her tears,
her hair, and her life-savings.
This
is not an everyday currency that this woman is bringing to Jesus.
Although
Luke won’t tell us her name, he does specify the precious gift she brings
Jesus.
He
does this so we can appreciate this event which was like cleaning the mud off
Jesus’ feet with $5,000 bills (what, you didn’t know $5,000 bills existed? They
do. They have James Madison, the fourth president on them).
That’s
the point really — this is not an everyday currency that this woman is bringing
to Jesus.
You
didn’t go to the grocery store in Jesus’ day to buy bread and milk, and then
pay with an alabaster box full of precious perfume! This was a commodity, a
treasure, perhaps even an heirloom.
Her
Forgiven Sins
Behold
this woman! Her name isn’t important, but what Jesus says to her and about her
is.
Simon, religious leader, and theologian, not only doubts
the woman but Jesus. He thinks to himself, “If
Jesus were a prophet, he’d know this woman is a sinner.”
Jesus,
reading his thoughts and proving He is a prophet, explains to Simon in essence:
Jesus does know this woman is a sinner; the problem is that Simon doesn’t know
that Simon is a sinner!
This
woman’s grief over sin and love for Jesus is evidence that her sins have been
forgiven.
Simon’s
disregard for both her and Jesus is evidence of his hardheartedness and
self-righteousness. Her overflowing love is a result of her experience and
apprehension of grace.
Jesus
then turns His attention directly to this sinful, repenting woman, and assures
her that her sins have indeed been forgiven. Through her faith in Jesus, she
has been saved.
What
about us today? Which person describes our affections, pursuits, or delights?
A
very religious or morally upright person can be stone cold in the presence of
Jesus because down deep they don’t think they’re really that bad a person after
all.
But
the one who has experienced grace, who has been forgiven much and is
overflowing with love for Jesus, is ready to worship Him shamelessly and
publicly.
May
we behold this woman and learn an invaluable lesson from her very valuable gift
to Jesus.
Those
who have been forgiven much, love much.
Are
you perfuming Jesus with your praise?
Meet Justin
I am a Christian, husband, father, pastor, and author—and
thankful to God for each.
I am a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary, have
pastored in the States for over 15 years, and have traveled to every continent
except Antarctica — because, as my youngest son has observed, penguins don’t
need the gospel. My wife Chau and I have four children: Edmond (from Russia),
Ransom and Avery (from Vietnam), and Eva (from Arkansas).
I have contributed articles to For the Church, Servants of
Grace, Gospel-Centered
Discipleship, Fathom
Magazine, Dead Men,
and Third Millennium. My writing has been featured on The Gospel Coalition,
Challies.com, ThomRainer.com, and Christianity.com, among others. I authored Grow: the Command
to Every Expanding Joy, and my most
recent book Adorned: How to
Grow a Biblically Beautiful Church was
released in October 2018. I also authored Daily Devotion,which
is now a top-rated iTunes/Android app with over
half a million downloads.
My passion is to help people see the relevance and
sufficiency of God’s Word for daily living. If you see the need for that in
your life then — please linger here awhile, look around, enjoy the resources,
and share them with others. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
No comments:
Post a Comment