The Well Known Stranger

Luke 7:36–50 ESV

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And 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, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Reflection

Simon the Pharisee

His affluence gave him access to Jesus,

not because Jesus was impressed, but because other men stepped out of the way

I guess you could say, his prominence gave him preference, but his pride gave place to prejudice.

That happens to people. To secure their prominence they protect it by limiting the way to others.

It’s called a

scarcity mindset: not enough to go around

pride and prejudice give way to elitism

The “well known” stranger

Wouldn’t normally have access to God

She was ‘sinful’ - but that didn’t seem to stop those she was ‘sinful’ with…

She was a woman

The people she was sinful with were quite likely the ones who ‘judged her’

Now she hears of Jesus going to a certain Pharisees house

She now had access… how?

How did she have such access into Simon the Pharisee’s house?

The Bible doesn’t name her, but Simon thinks, if Jesus KNEW what “sort of woman” she was...

How did Simon know… she’s a stranger to us, but known well enough by him. She could not have been a complete stranger to this Pharisee.

Perhaps she was his mistress, his sister, or his daughter.

No matter her past, no matter her story, what was once perhaps an access to sin with a person who kept her from God, was now access to God himself!

He was concerned about appearance.

She was concerned about her soul!

Jesus was a pretty well liked guy at that time, even if some were trying to take his life. I can’t help but think Simon invited Jesus over for personal gain.

This poor woman gave up every last bit of dignity she may have had, and possibly her last worldly wealth, and poured it out at Jesus feet.

Jesus contrasts her actions with the Pharisees in-actions; her love with his apathy.

She washed His feet with tears, but the Pharisee didn’t even offer water for Jesus to wash His own feet.

Perhaps there is a Messianic allusion to be gleaned from the Word, the logos, appearing

Genesis 18:1–5 ESV

1 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

The LORD appeared! A “theophany”

We were made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15

In Jesus the fullness of deity dwells bodily Colossians 2:9

I think its reasonable to hold to the belief that Theophanies are Jesus walking around talking to people in the Old Testament before being born physically in the flesh.

“Abraham got me water to wash my feet. Who did you say you were again?”

She kissed His feet. Simon didn’t even greet him with a kiss. I feel another lesson in “Messianics” coming on...

(Ok, technically that would be Biblical Christology)

Psalm 2 ESV

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Having washed his feet with her tears and kissing them,

She anointed His feet with perfume or ointment.

Jesus told the Pharisee, “You did not anoint my head with oil”

In the Old Testament, these three were anointed: Prophets, Priests, and Kings.

Jesus came as “Anointed One.”

In Hebrew that’s pronounced “Messiah.”

In Greek, it’s “Christ.”

Psalm 23:5–6 ESV

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Simon the Pharisee failed to fully receive Jesus as a brother, a teacher, and most especially the Messiah.

The woman received him as Prophet, Priest, King, Savior, Lord, Messiah, Deliverer, Redeemer,Forgiver,Provider, Healer, Burden Bearer, Advocate, Comforter, Friend, Peace, Hope, Joy, and, for the first time in her life, Love.

I won’t assume that she was not a victim of human trafficking, coerced in some way to sell herself for her or her family’s survival and unable to escape for fear of death.

But now she is set free. More important than what man may do, she is righteous before God.

Simon the Pharisee? We don’t know… perhaps he came to believe in Jesus.

The people were astonished that Jesus would dare to forgive sins.

Clearly they did not believe.

That word translated as forgive literally means to leave, set free, let go, divorce!

Those sins are gone and no longer have weight upon her or power against her.

Whether you have sinned much or ‘sinned little,’ YOU have access to Jesus right now.

Fall at His feet. Fall in love with Him. Anoint Him with praise, thanksgiving, and a life of devotion.

The invitation is open. You have access always because He came, He died, He resurrected and ascended to God the Father.

You have access to God the Father by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ!

Let your past be undone and your future in the Son!