Surprised by Grace (36): Trust He forgives

It would be hard to be sure if she was surprised.

Initially it did look like she must be.
To be able to get into the banquet hall.
And to be able to get so close to the guest.

Her contemporaries called her “sinner”.
It was not so much a theological or moral category as if she sinned against a deity.
More like a sociological surrogate for “whore”.

Whilst one would argue that she was merely denigrated, the story was silent if she or others refuted.
Her action, silence, and weeping, gave credence to “sinner” could well fit her profession.

More surprise.
“Why would a socially recognised sinner be allowed to enter the dining hall of a Pharisee, and touched a guest?”
After all, “Pharisee” stands for “separation” from unclean matters!

The woman’s surprise grew.

This guest Jesus knew what she was doing!
Not only let her do it.
But he knew why!
Not only knew her acts.
Knew her intention!

Intention lies in a very private realm of everybody.
How could Jesus access her intentions?

Jesus told the host Simon the Pharisee:
“ . . . she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair . . . she has not stopped kissing my feet . . . she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil . . . .”  (Luke 7:44-46, NET)

It could indeed be argued that Jesus was engaging in a shaming exercise for Simon the host because Simon hadn’t done to Jesus what a host would have done to a guest.

Indeed it was possible.
But it could be that Jesus was speaking truth.

Most would give Jesus the benefit of doubt, having respected His deeds and teachings.

So Jesus did see through the woman’s actions all the way to her motives.
“. . . she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair . . . she has not stopped kissing my feet . . . she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil . . . .”  (Lk 7:44-46)

Jesus added,
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” (Lk 7:47)

Frans Francken the Younger: Le Repas chez Simon,1637 (Frans Francken the Younger, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

There was forgiveness that led to her actions which reflected the forgiveness she felt or believed.

Well fact is:
The woman was weeping.
Why? The story doesn’t spell out.
Perhaps she could be overwhelmed with guilt, or gratitude from forgiveness.
Not sure.

But her tears did wet His feet.
So she tried to wipe them dry, with her long hair, not having a towel presumably she hadn’t come to do such service.

So she wiped the best she could with her hair.
After all it was her tears that wetted Jesus’ feet.
And then she kissed them afterwards.

Clearly, Jesus saw differently.
He saw her motives.
He saw her gratitude.
Gratitude from forgiveness.
And Jesus said.

Silent, but grateful.
Weeping, but relieved.

But was she correct?
Or just her wishful thinking?

The surprise came, Jesus fully informing her:
“Your sins are forgiven.” (Lk 7:49)

And what did she do?
Her washing Jesus’ feet a good work that earned her forgiveness?

Well, Jesus made it clear:
“He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” (Lk 7:50)

Of course she was surprised.
Sins forgiven.
Go in peace.
Just because what she had harbored in her heart?
And even that Jesus saw in her heart?

Imagine anyone of us having Jesus just did an MRI on our hearts!
On top of that, He approved of the faith in our hearts!

Surprise has an usual effect.
It shuts mouths.
It mutes.

No wonder there was not even an utterance from the woman in this drama.
Only sobs and weeps.

But forgiveness and peace.
Faith was sufficient.

She probably wasn’t 100% sure.
Utter surprise.
By Grace.