Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. News about Jesus had widely spread in the region of Galilee. The preaching and the miracles he performed. Simon one of the Pharisee’s invited Jesus to his house to dine with him. While at Simon’s house, a woman with an alabaster box heard that Jesus was at the Pharisee’s house and resolved to meet him. She came in and knelt behind him at his feet weeping. Washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair and anointed them with the perfume.
What manner of service was this? The woman, not paying attention to the people who were present went and knelt at Jesus’s feet. She was much aware of the customs of the Jews and therefore knew that Jesus was a righteous man. The woman was well known in the region because of her wickedness. She knew people would mock and ridicule her but her focus was precisely on the Saviour. But what drove her to do this activity in the presence of these well-known people? This woman was in distress because of her sins. Her lifestyle had drained her. She desired to desist her sinful life and longed for a transformation. She had heard testimonies of the people that Jesus saved and was determined to get them too.
Washing of the feet was a custom in Jewish culture. Guests were given water to wash their feet and the host anointed their heads with oil. This woman had decided to offer Jesus what she had. She did what seemed fit for her at the moment. Washing Jesus’s feet with her tears signified deep sorrow for her sins. Wiping them with her hair depicted her love and anointing his feet showed her adoration. Jesus was touched by her action and forgave her sins.
The pharisee wondered at the actions of the woman. Jesus gave a parable of two debtors. One debtor owed the creditor five hundred denarii and the other fifty. Because they had nothing to pay him with, he forgave them both. He asked between the two debtors who would love the creditor the more? Simon replied, “the one with the higher debt.” Jesus said, “To whom much is forgiven, he loveth much.” She who had many sins has been forgiven.
To whom much is forgiven: Jesus and his disciples sailed to the country of Gadarenes when he came upon a demon-possessed man. He was bound in chains and fetters and abode in tombs. He would cut off the chains and retreat to the wilderness. Jesus cast out the demons and the man was delivered. Seeing what Jesus had done for him, he published the news about Jesus all over the region. He witnessed what Christ did for him, restoring him and wanted to be his follower like the disciples but Jesus charged him to be his ambassador in his home town.
Many of us have experienced Christ’s love and forgiveness in many ways but what are we doing about it? Jesus commissioned the demon-possessed man to be his ambassador at his home place which he did tremendously and the whole city knew and reverenced God. I can imagine the many years that this man had wasted when the devil tormented him and the great grief he had caused his family. But his response showed his love for God.
To whom much is forgiven: Saul was a persecutor. He caused plenty of havoc to the church. He bound believers and imprisoned them. On one of his ventures, he asked for a go-ahead from the high priests to go to the synagogues at Damascus to search for believers so as to bind them and transfer them to Jerusalem. He also sought to annihilate the disciples. Steadfast on his plan, he encountered Jesus on his way to Damascus. After being converted, his name was changed to Paul. Paul preached the gospel and turned a whole city to Christ. He preached with so much vigor and signs, as well as miracles, accompanied the word. Many believed and were saved. Paul God’s chosen vessel committed to his call whole-heatedly to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel.
The savior came to save the lost. Jesus Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14.
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee. He went into a small village where he found ten lepers who pleaded for His mercy. Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they left they were completely healed. One leper came back to Jesus bowed down to him and thanked him. Jesus was dismayed by the action of the other nine and restored his health. Only that one Samaritan recognized God’s grace and glorified him. He did this as a sign of his love for Jesus and as a result, was restored. The other nine lepers did not acknowledge God’s mercies, therefore, they didn’t appreciate the gift.
Why are you too cold for the things of God? What has Christ done for you? What activities are you involved in that portray your love for God? The faith of the woman with the alabaster box led her to anoint Jesus’s feet. She knew how great her sins were and responded to her redemption. We as believers also have to look back and remember what we used to do before we meet Christ and encountered salvation, as a consequence respond to that. Jesus told his disciples the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Christ finished his work on the cross. We are now expected to pick up and follow after him.
Take responsibility in the area that Christ has assigned you. Just like Christ was zealous for his work, we are expected to learn from him. To whom much is forgiven, he loveth much. John 3:17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
#preciouskblogs
Preciousblogs 