We tend to look at the Bible as “stories” and not as history, as we should. Maybe if we changed our perspective of what we are reading, we would have a greater understanding of what it is Holy Spirit is showing us at any particular moment, since the Bible IS the living Word of God. Maybe if we personalized it a bit more, we would allow it to minister to us, as Holy Spirit desires it to do. Maybe it would bring us more to a place of being able to receive a Rhema Word from God. This morning, I got to thinking about the woman who worshiped Jesus by anointing His feet with expensive oil and wiping it dry with her hair. Take a look at Luke 7: 36-50 (read it in your Bible). Let’s look at it with the perspective the Bible wants us to look at it – as a real day in the life of Jesus and these people. I picture the scene taking place as something similar to this (and this is my interpretation of how it *might* have been) :
His Words, they were healing to her very soul. Ever since she first heard Him speak, she felt as though He was speaking directly to her, even though He spoke to a crowd of people. He was talking to her. Never had she experienced such a joy – it flooded her very soul and she felt as though it was bubbling up inside of her, this joy, this love, this peace – threatening to spill over. She needed desperately to show Him that she heard Him. SHE HEARD HIM RIGHT TO HER VERY SOUL. That even though she didn’t KNOW Him, she felt such a tremendous amount of love and gratitude, she had to find a way to get to Him and show Him that she heard Him, that without touching her, He HAD touched her – made a difference unlike anyone else that had ever been in her life. There was no other explanation except the fact that THIS had to be the Savior, the Messiah. No doubt in her mind, or in her heart. THIS was the One.
The need to let Him know she heard Him was overwhelming. It was more than anything she had ever experienced, but no matter what anyone else would think, she had to see Him. She simply was filled with an overwhelming desire to give back and she was going to make sure He knew it. Come what may.
She had heard that He was going to be having dinner at one of the Pharisee’s houses. Without even thinking, she grabbed the most expensive possession she owned, an alabaster flask of ointment. It was ALL she had, it was her best – it seemed so small in comparison to all His teachings and Words meant to her, but it was the best she had. It would have to do. Holding her breath, not even knowing how she would get before Him, she just knew she had to. She had to show Him she heard Him, she had to show Him that He was touching a part of her she didn’t even know existed. His Words were healing, His Words were life. His Words were MORE soothing than the flowing of ANY perfumed oil. But it was all she had.
Somehow she was able to get into the house and surprisingly get to a point where she was able stand behind Him. She felt the judgmental eyes of those at the table, looking at her with displeasure and disgust, but she didn’t focus on them, she focused on Him, clutching the alabaster flask of ointment tightly, and intent upon what she came to do. It was as though she didn’t even have to think about what she was doing, she just did it. She was compelled by what she needed to do. She fell to her knees before Him, body trembling as tears of gratitude flowed down her face and spilled down upon His feet. All that she knew was that she stood before the Lover of her soul and she wanted to love Him back. She fell to her knees and kissed His very feet. When she thought about all His teachings had told her about forgiveness, her tears flowed, her sins were many and the shame she felt at the thought of them almost undid her – But for Jesus… But for His healing teachings… The more she thought about her sins, the more the tears flowed freely and without even having to think about it, she covered His feet with kisses of gratitude, her tears wetting his ankles and the top of his feet. No one had ever spoken words of forgiveness and love like what she had heard Him teach. She hungered for more. His Words were soothing to her soul, gentler and more fragrant than the most fragrant of balms, soothing her very soul. Her gift could not compare to what He gave through hearing His Words. They brought her life, they brought her joy, they brought her peace, they brought her love. She had no cloth to wipe her tears dry off of His feet, so she opened the clasp which was holding back her hair long hair and used her hair to wipe the tears that fell on his feet, away. It wasn’t much – but it was all she had, it was the best she could give. Then opening up the alabaster jar, she poured the content of it on his feet, the scent rose and filled the room. She was oblivious to the gasps coming from around the table, intent upon her task. She raised tear filled eyes up to Him.
Smiling at her with love, Jesus took His hands and gently and cupped her face.
“Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Her smile blossomed, like a flower opening up to the warmth of the sun. Kissing His feet one more time, she rose, her eyes never leaving His face, her eyes filled with love and gratitude. She rose to her feet and walked out the way she had come, looking once over her shoulder to connect eyes with Him once more. She was born anew. She was Free! The burdens of her sins had fallen at His Words. She felt light! She felt like she could skip! Her worries and cares were gone! Oh, the peace! It truly passed ALL understanding! What He had given her – a purpose, to follow Him ALL the days of her life.
HOW ARE YOU LOVING THE ONE WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS.
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?
HOW ARE YOU LOVING A GOD THAT LEFT THE GLORIES OF HEAVEN, CAME DOWN IN THE FORM OF MAN T0 SHOW YOU HOW PERSONAL HE IS?
HE WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY, LIVED A SIN-LESS LIFE, DIED ON THE CROSS FOR SINS HE HAD NOT EVEN COMMITTED – YOUR SINS AND MINE, TO SHOW HIS LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND LOVE FOR YOU
HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, AND EVEN RIGHT NOW IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT-HAND OF THE FATHER, INTERCEEDING ON YOUR BEHALF. AND SOME DAY SOON – HE WILL RETURN AGAIN TO CLAIM THOSE OF US WHO HE HAS CALLED – THE REMNANT – TO BE WITH HIM.
HOW ARE YOU LOVING HIM? WHAT IS POURING OUT FROM YOU?
God has given His ALL to show His love. As the sinful woman poured out her alabaster oil over His feet, Jesus poured out His precious blood on the cross to cover Your sins (and mine). Are YOU giving Him ALL YOU have? Are You giving Him YOUR best? Are YOU showing Him YOUR gratitude? All He requests is that You accept Him for Who He is – He IS the Son of God, the second part of the Trinity, Who came so that you (and I) could be redeemed and enter into a right relationship with God the Father (the first part of the Trinity ) through His blood. He asks that you make a decision of making Him Lord over YOUR life – allow Him to reign. Accept Him INTO your heart and then make way for Holy Spirit (the third member of the Trinity) to reside in you, for He is the Comforter, He is the Guide, He is the Teacher and He will guide you in the way you should go. Jesus gave HIS best, what will YOU give?
We could ALL learn well from the woman with the alabaster jar. Let us love Him as she did. You can’t “out love God.” Psalm 34:8 tells us:
“Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD.”
Because He is – there is NOTHING sweeter, more fulfilling and satisfying than belonging to Him. Knowing and appreciating that God TRULY loves you, in such a very personal way. It IS personal, but you have to MAKE it personal for YOU. If you determine to meet God, right here, right now, I promise you – He WILL meet you. He says it in His Word. He is NOT a God that He would lie. He truly will.
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