Redemptive Vulnerability

"Her tears spoke a language that her words never could."

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

- St. Luke 7:37-50 -

Have you ever been at a place of longing where you know only Jesus can fill? Nowhere to go, nowhere to run except to the feet of the King. It didn’t matter what other persons had to say because you knew your need was greater than the disapproval of other persons. A place of SURRENDER.

This is exactly how the woman in Luke 7 vs 36 – 50 felt. She was at a place where she had come to her widths end with everything. She gave everything to Jesus. She laid it at Jesus’ feet and wept. She poured it all out. She poured out the perfume she had, kissed His feet and wiped the tears off His feet with her hair. She was many words including Desperate, Thirsty, Hungry and Broken but most importantly she was in need of a Savior!

Of course, she was a sinner (just like all of us) as the passage made sure to highlight BUT she was vulnerable before God. Her tears spoke a language that her words never could. The pain, hurt and heartache she felt was extremely undeniable, however, Jesus saw her need and He didn’t brush her aside. The Savior had compassion on her. As the Psalmist rightly puts it in Psalms 34 vs 18, which tell us that the Lord is close to the broken hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Just like this woman we too are in need of a Savior. Many times, we feel as though we are alone and we can never be redeemed. Just know that, you are not alone! You are never too far gone that God can’t reach you. Come to Him. Surrender everything. Don’t be afraid to cry, it’s a language that He alone can understand. He will redeem you just like He did with this woman. He will change your life just like He did hers, mine and many others. He’ll embrace you. He will quench your thirst and fill your belly as He tells us in Matthew 5 vs 6, that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, they shall be filled. He will give you an abundant life (Isaiah 55). He will indeed say, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”