The Woman They Judged

"He will never pay attention to me," she said as she looked at her reflection that morning. With tears streaming down her face, her mind played through the last years of her life. There had been so many men, so many wrong choices, and no one left who even knew her for who she really was inside. She was tired of this empty life. "Surely there must be something more," she thought.

She sighed and began to groom her hair. For just a moment, she thought of what it would be like to wear it down like the respected women in town. Still, she knew she had been "marked". She knew what they expected of her and she began to put the braids in.

Hours later, she still sat in her bedroom fretting over what she should do today. She had heard the Messiah was coming to town. He was to eat at the neighbor's house down the road. Could He be her only hope? Could He free her from these chains that life had entangled her in? Well, if He couldn't then no one could. Yet, how would she ever get in to see Him? The host of the home would never allow it. Jesus probably wouldn't even speak to her.

Jesus. That name brought her such hope. She had heard He ate with the sinners. She had heard how he loved the poor and blessed the little children. Maybe, maybe just maybe, He would help her start over. Well, maybe not. But, it was something to hope for.

Hope. It had been so long since she had even fathomed the possibility of hope. Hope was for the women who go to church every week. Hope was for the fathers who stayed faithful to their wives. Hope was for someone else. Hope had never been for her....until today. Today, she had just a glimmer of hope.

Her eyes began searching the room around her. If this Jesus could help her, she would be willing to give him anything. Suddenly, her eyes landed on the alabaster jar on the dressing table. Maybe she could offer it to Him. She knew that this was her security. It had taken her a long time to save up enough money to purchase that perfume. It was worth enough to pay her rent for the next year. Without it, if she didn't have any money coming in---how would she make it? Still, it would be worth it. She had faith that if she could just get to see Jesus, then He would take care of the rest.

With a little hope, a great deal of faith, and that alabaster box, she set out to visit her neighbor's home where Jesus was going to have dinner.  As she saw Him, she began weeping. It was true. This was the man who could make her clean again. She just knew it. She truly believed He was who He said He was.

She fell to the ground, her tears falling on the feet of Jesus. In His presence, she felt whole again. She completely forgot about what everyone around her thought. The legalism of the day didn't even apply to her in this moment. She began undoing her braids so she could dry His feet with her hair. In her mess of kisses, tears, and perfume, Jesus saw her for who she really was. He was the first man to do so in quite some time. With little effort, He saw right into her heart and instantly He forgave her for all her sins.

He loved her the moment He saw her. He understood why she was there. He saw the heart of repentance, and He hurt for all the pain she had endured in her life. He was angry for all the judgment she had received, and He accepted her as His own.

She loved Him the moment she saw Him. She understood why He had came. She offered Him a heart of repentance, and she hurt for all the pain she knew He would soon endure. She was angry for all the judgment He would receive, and she accepted Him as her Saviour.

And, just like thunder in the middle of a beautiful night, the voice of a Pharisee interrupted the moment. His words dripped of the judgment they had both just rebuked, and yet nothing stopped him from saying it. "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." (said the sinner)

"Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."  Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  (Luke 7:44-50 NIV)

By faith she was saved, and she went in peace. When we have nothing else in this life, we have faith. Without faith, we have nothing. With it, we have everything we will ever need.

With a little hope and a great deal of faith, take a walk and go see Jesus today. He already knows everything about you and He has been waiting for you.