If I could trade places with anyone in the Bible for a day, who would it be? King David? A man after God’s own heart? Solomon? Wise and rich? Mary? Blessed to be the mother of our Lord? Well? Who had the best life? Who was the happiest? I can hardly think of anyone in the Bible who didn’t have some amount of suffering that I would cringe to ask to experience. When I read any history and get the full picture of a life well lived, everyone seems to have their great joys and great trials in varying degrees.
Perhaps I would want to trade places with the “sinner” woman whom we know today as the one Jesus said would be remembered for anointing Him for His burial.
I read Luke 7 a couple of weeks ago and I cannot stop thinking about the woman in that passage. The one scornfully referred to as a “sinner” by the Pharisees. I think she must have been one of the happiest people in all of Scripture that day she was at the feet of Jesus.
So a Pharisee, Simon, wanted Jesus to eat with him, and Jesus did. And a woman of the city, a sinner, came weeping, wiped his feet with her hair, and kissed his feet and anointed them with ointment.
The Pharisee was indignant that this “sinner” was touching Jesus. He couldn’t believe that Jesus would allow this.
Jesus calmly told him a parable with the conclusion, “He who is forgiven much, loves much.” He forgave the woman and told her that her faith had saved her and sent her off in peace.
And I am thinking, “What is this woman thinking? What is her story?” Certainly plenty can be pieced together. Her less than amazing reputation in the community was clear. But she was so full of love for the Messiah. Obviously she had true faith. She knew who Jesus was. Even Jesus said she had faith.
She is a repentant sinner. And she didn’t appear to be disturbed by the scorn of the Pharisee. She was simply overwhelmed with love and thankfulness. She humbly did all she could think to do for Jesus.
Was it “appropriate” for this woman to even touch Jesus? And have her hair down and shamelessly use it as a towel? Clearly Jesus accepted her love offering, whether it was “appropriate” to the setting or not.
My guess is that this woman wasn’t of the upper class. I also suspect she didn’t come from a loving stable home situation. She certainly didn’t have a good reputation. But she did have love and peace and faith. Because, of course, love and peace and faith have nothing to do with wealth or status or background any earthly blessings. Her tears showed that she overflowed with joy. She was so delighted to be at Jesus' feet, she kissed them. And yet, her love was not a completely-emotional-in-the-moment one. She had planned ahead and brought precious ointment for him. She used all she had - possessions, her body, her heart - to pour out her love and joy for the object of her faith. She indeed had it all.
Some say this woman was Mary Magdalene, who came to the tomb of Jesus, while it was yet dark. “Where have they taken my Lord?” Again, such a possessive, loving and familiar way of addressing Him.
I love what Matthew Henry says about Mary Magdalene, “She came early, while it was yet dark, so early did she set out. Note, those who would seek Christ as to find Him must seek him early, that is Seek him solicitously, with such a care as even breaks the sleep up early for fear of missing him.”
Isn’t that a lovely way to put it? “For fear of missing Him.” Whether or not the woman that washed Jesus' feet was Mary Magdalene, the same spirit of devotion and love exists in both accounts.
And, to think - I don’t have to trade places with anyone to have what she has and it doesn’t have to be for just a day. I can come to Him with my thankfulness, love and tears. I, who have been loved by Him and set free, can bask in the ocean of His love. I can let the thunderously powerful waves of His love drown out the accusers as that woman did the Pharisees. No matter the status of my heath, relationships, possessions, I can come to Him and sit at His feet with an overflow of joy. I who thirst can come and drink without money or price. I can have the milk of the Word and the oil of joy!
November 18, 2020
Have you ever driven a car with an extremely heightened sense of awe and responsibility? Perhaps the first time you drove a car with your newborn in it? Or with someone else’s children? Or your grandchildren? How does the chauffeur of the Queen of England feel? How did those who charrioted kings around in ancient times feel?
Add heavy traffic and sleet to the equation! (Or, an army of horses and riders pursuing that chariottier?)
My New Testament reading this week has been in 2nd Corinthians, and some of the verses in it have been expanding my concept of Christ abiding in us.
Paul said, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels,” (2 Corinthians 4:6) The “treasure” to which he is referring is explained in the previous verse. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
So I am an “earthen vessel.” And in me is “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God.”
Then today I read, “For ye are the temple of the living God.”
Mysteriously and amazingly, Christ abides in me. I am a temple of God. I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.) And I have this “treasure” in my “earthen vessel.”
I am not just me. An aging person full of organs and blood and guts and whatever I had for breakfast. (Oatmeal, for the curious.) It is not hard to understand or remember that I am merely clay.
But I can barely begin to wrap my mind around what it means that the God of the Universe would, in some way, be housed in my frail frame; tabernacled. That my dear perfect Savior would abide in the brokenness of myself. That the Spirit dwells in my utterly imperfect person.
This is what it means that, “I am not my own” (1 Corinthians 6:19) It is not all about me. This is why Paul says to “Honor God with our bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:20) It is all about Him. And He is in me!
This earthen vessel is filled with Treasure. Treasure I do not deserve. Treasure that is an eternal gift.
And that should affect me every minute. Just as having a special passenger in my car affects my driving.
Just as I take special care in my driving when I carry with me special passengers, how much more special care ought to be taken by me to pursue honor and holiness in heart, speech and conduct (as beautifully put in our church’s Children's Catechism) as I carry about my earthen vessel because of Who dwells in my body.
And just as I would be so much more careful in driving in sleet and snow with my special cargo, I ought to be more attentive to avoiding temptation and sin for the sake of the Precious Treasure carried in my earthen vessel. (And how amazing that contained in me is the Power to resist temptation and the Producer of the fruit of holiness!)
And beyond the care that I ought to take, is the awe and thankfulness that I ought to feel at the Treasure in my earthen vessel. It is not necessary that I be young, skinny, beautiful, successful, strong, popular, rich or anything else the world counts as valuable treasure. No matter how old and weak my vessel becomes, it will still be filled with Priceless Treasure worth more than anything and everything on earth.
May God give us all joy and delight and awe today and every day, knowing precious Treasure abides in us!
June 6, 2021