Friday, August 27, 2010

What Woman in the Bible do You Identify With?


Luke 7:37-50     And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee
And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.
And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
I have always felt a special connection to that sinful woman. Some people have grown up in church with believing parents and have led pretty clean lives. This woman had not. I think that sometimes the only way that God can penetrate a sinner's heart is to let that person make a total mess of things. Most people really don't think that they are that bad. Others know that they are in trouble. Maybe a sinful past is a blessing, of sorts:
Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard [it], he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 15:7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Of course removing the blindness of our state, no matter how relatively sinful it may be, is a gift in itself.

So who do you identify with?


5 comments:

  1. I can certainly relate to this mystery woman in Scripture with a jaded past. I grew up in a non Christian home in the 50-60's when all vestiges of morality succumbed "liberation".

    Praise God for reaching down to me, a poor wretched sinner!

    Blessings sister!

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  2. I can relate to this woman, having been raised as a Christian in a Christian home. Even with a relatively "clean" past, I'm still filthy before God. But it's easy to deceive ourselves into thinking we're not so bad because we haven't done any "bad" sins.

    "Of course removing the blindness of our state, no matter how relatively sinful it may be, is a gift in itself."

    Amen to this statement. I would never have been aware of the horribleness of my sin or brought to repentance but for God's divine intervention.

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  3. Thanks for the input ladies:) I can't wait to be at His feet for real!

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  4. Two ends of the spectrum, Deborah because of her prophesying and her warfare, and the woman at the well, because, "He told me everything I ever did"....and he loved me anyway

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  5. Thanks Elizabeth,

    I never thought of Deborah- one tough lady!:)

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Your comments are always welcome..