Hi
How do you respond to the deeper story behind today’s Holy Nougat? What will you do?
“Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” Luke 7:38 NLT
When I picture myself at the dinner; I can see myself being scandalized by the woman’s actions. Kissing Jesus’ feet! perfuming them! Using her (not necessarily long) hair to wipe his feet! Strictly outrageous!!!!
And then, I hear the rest of the story and at that very same dinner; my outrage changes to shame – no; not quite shame. More like the response to a well-earned reprimand. I jumped to conclusions again … sigh
That fast-tracks me back to the present; and I think of the times I’ve been misunderstood and demonized. In TWO words – Not Fun. I stay in that space for a while, revisiting the pain, humiliation, anger … impotence to prove my innocence. I remember my resolve; and so I travel to another space
The Real Life times when I jumped to conclusions about others; men, women and children; imputing on them a judgement without hearing their stories. Hmm Who do I think I am? Judge – erm I’m not God! Jury – jury’s out until eternity!
But God is in. And if ‘she’ is guilty; so am I
Yup
I gratefully return to the room; and she is almost done with her strange ritual. And now; now I’m … ash- … fasc- … uncom- yes; that’s the word, uncomfortable in their presence. For I see the love for Jesus poured out sacrificially by and on his feet WOW!
Now I marvel at her bravado – even if I finally got to the space where I genuinely give my all to Jesus; would I be willing to lose everything; including my reputation; for Christ by demonstrating my love so publicly? Knowing the cost? Could I? Would I? Can I? Will I?
Love so amazing; so divine
Demands my soul, my life – my all
My all? – yes Lord; my all!
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
