Nougat 25

You know, we sometimes pay lip service to folks about their capacity and deep inside, we carry doubts. I guess it’s really a kind of hypocrisy, but we don’t even see it that way, since it’s normalized around us. But what when the shoe is on the other foot? Not so comfortable. What if such attitude is directed towards our Triune God? Consider if you will, today’s Holy Nougat

“When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t Assume

While we may be looking at the Pharisee, it may do us good to see whether we were/are guilty of faulty assumptions. I remember years ago learning ‘Don’t Assume, for to assume makes an ass of you and me.’ I don’t like looking stupid, so I don’t like when others take me for a fool. Yet sometimes I am guilty of wrong assumptions, hence making myself an ass in the process.

Yet, in one sense, that is what the Pharisee did.

He looked at the facts at his immediate disposal and, coloured by a bit of prejudice and condescension (my words, not in the nougat), he arrived at a verdict. And we note, the verdict is on Jesus’ legitimacy, not the woman.

So what are the Facts?

(What I’m proposing is located in the text prior to our nougat)

1. Jesus was invited to dinner by a high-ranking religious official – no reason has been revealed about the why of the invitation

2. While Jesus is at the house, a known sinful woman gate crashes. She carried a jar of the most expensive perfume.

3. Her motives are immediately clear: she begins to anoint (dab perfume on) Jesus using her whole self. Nothing is said about whether her actions are considered indecent

4. The woman is not forcibly removed from the premises, nor is she reprimanded.

5. Jesus is not visibly dismayed nor upset about the woman’s actions

You see, even as we respond to what happens in Luke’s retelling, we may find ourselves making assumptions. But before we do, let’s ask ourselves what don’t the facts reveal. The ‘facts’ as presented don’t necessarily place Jesus in a positive light. Yet, we are still not sure

– Why the religious leader, of a known opposing spirituality to Jesus, invited Jesus to his home for a meal?

– How did the gate-crasher get in – or was it not wholly accidental that she was let in? Or were there any hopes for Jesus to chastise her?

– Was it normal for women to be in men’s space in such an intimate manner? What were the consequences?

So, how did the Pharisee get from the woman’s actions to mentally condemnation of Jesus? In so doing, did he not run the risk of missing answers? When we assume, do we miss out on positive opportunities, and do we also condemn Jesus needlessly in the process?

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ