It's Me Again God 2

19. Another Alabaster Jar

It's me again God,

It's interesting how the world seems to put people into categories. They are often labeled according to race, wealth, education, the type of job they have, the place they live and their overall success. These labels tend to divide but there is another label we all have in common —right from birth, we are a 'sinner'! I am so thankful that I am a sinner who is saved but I know that this world is filled with sinners still needing to know the Saviour!

Last week I looked at the extravagant love shown by a woman who anointed Jesus' head with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. This week I want to take a close look at the only other recorded instance when Jesus was anointed by a woman —this time a woman who had been labeled as one 'who led a sinful life':

"When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 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."
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:36-38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sorrow over my sins has often brought me to tears —so too, tears flow just being in the presence of Jesus as I worship Him, knowing I am forgiven. In this story, the woman's tears are plentiful, perhaps a mixture of sorrow and joy, and they fall right onto Jesus' feet, washing them.  It was the custom for guests to have their feet washed on arrival at a home but as I read on, it is evident that for some reason this was overlooked on this occasion.

The woman dries Jesus' feet with her hair which seems like a very personal and loving gesture then she pours perfume on them.  As I read in the other story, the woman poured the fragrant oil on Jesus' head which was more the 'done' thing at that time. Here, the contents of the alabaster jar are poured on Jesus' feet! Again I see such extravagant love displayed but how was it received?

"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.""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Here the Pharisee is labelling the woman and questioning whether Jesus was even a prophet! He didn't seem to realise who Jesus was but the woman clearly knew! It's possible that the woman's sinful life may have been well known to the Pharisees because she could have been a prostitute. Her very presence in this home perhaps showed great courage and determination but maybe it also demonstrated her confidence in coming to her Saviour —the One who knew everything about her but still loved her deeply!

Thank You for loving me so deeply that You gave up Your life for me, suffering the agonies of the cross so I could be labelled 'forgiven'! Thank You that it doesn't matter how great my sins seem in the eyes of the world, You forgive them all! The world might put labels on me but the only one I care about is the one that you have placed on me: FORGIVEN!

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is so wonderful to know that because of Jesus, I am forgiven and You see me as completely pure! There is more to this story and I will continue reading tomorrow but for now I just want to sit at Your feet and worship You and thank You for Your great, saving, love for me!

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.