A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus Feet

Editor’s Note: This article was originally a character essay assignment for the Gospels class at Florida Free BIBLE MISSIONARY & WORK Training Center.

A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus’ Feet – Luke 7:36-50

I am a sinner. It matters not how or why I came to live this life I chose; the simple fact remains: I am a sinner. It is not my place to walk in the light of day; no, my deeds belong to the dark of night. It is a painful, lonely life I have chosen. People call me “vile,” the worst of sinners. They do not know how their words sting, each one cutting deep into my very soul. Some of the same men that speak so vehemently against me publicly find their way to my bed at night. What can I say against them? I am as they say. I am a dog, but I need to eat! I am desperate! How can I escape? I am numb, I am broken, what other choice do I have? Can I ever be loved? Can I ever be forgiven? Forgiven, that is a word a long for…

I imagine this unnamed woman so hurt and broken from a life of sin, but it was not her lifestyle that made her a sinner. She was in reality no worse than Simon the Pharisee whose home she entered to meet her Saviour. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned…” and Romans 6:23 tells us that for our sin, we deserve death. Praise God for his matchless grace! I stated earlier that the woman’s lifestyle did not make her a sinner; no, we know that she was born in sin and her lifestyle was a result of the wickedness of her heart. We find that she had the correct response when she was faced with the darkness of her life and the glory of her Saviour, Jesus. Her lifestyle made her a seeker. All who come to the Lord in this manner are met with compassion, love, and forgiveness. As Jesus Himself said in Mark 2:17, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

I imagine her wondering as she heard people speaking of this Man called Jesus: “Could He really be the Messiah? Could He be the Deliverer I have been longing for? Not from the Romans, but the Man who can save me from my sin…from myself?” She would have followed Jesus, probably from afar, from a shadow maybe, too ashamed to be seen by Him. She would have witnessed His miracles, she would have heard Him speak about the Kingdom, about repentance and reconciliation with God. My imagination runs wild as I picture Him turning toward her fixing his gaze directly into her eyes, into her soul. “His eyes, so full of compassion…” She would have been frozen! Ashamed of her sinful ways, she would have wanted to look away, but yet… such kindness; kindness as she had never known poured from His eyes.

Why or how she came to be at Simon’s house that day, I do not know. It surely must have taken courage, but her heart was changed and she wanted to bring a gift for her Lord. As she entered the house, she saw Him. She began to weep as she thought of all the things she had done. “I am different now,” she reminded herself. The once painted face was now streaked with tears. The once braided hair she now used as a rag to wipe His feet. She came in humility, and she was met with forgiveness and new life. The Bible does not tell us what became of this woman. Perhaps she became one of the women mentioned in the eighth chapter of Luke that traveled with Jesus and the Twelve. One thing I do know: the weight that must have been lifted from her, the joy she must have felt in her heart as Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Luke 7:48,50), I have felt that. I know what it is like to love much because I have been forgiven much. Think about it, haven’t we all?

Shannon Elsasser

Synthesis V

12 December 2009