the well-meaning, polite Pharisee that he is, invites Jesus for dinner so that he can begin to get to the bottom of who this“ Son of Man” is and what his objectives are. He’ s curious. Maybe you are, too. You’ ve heard about Jesus, you’ ve looked on from afar, and you’ re here this morning to see if maybe just maybe, Jesus is who you’ ve been searching for all your life. Lean in like Simon …
But before Simon can really ask his curious questions and get to know Jesus, the dinner is interrupted. The smell of the meal is suddenly overpowered by the strong scent of perfume and the sound of conversation gets drowned out by the sound of sobbing. A woman is laying at the feet of Jesus. Not just any woman either. This is the town harlot. Her body is trembling with each sob. Her hands shake as she realizes she’ s covering Jesus’ feet with her tears. Being an uninvited and some might say, unwelcome guest in the home of a Pharisee, she has no towel or napkin. She grabs the only thing available – her hair. Impulsively she kisses Jesus’ tears-soaked feet, and not knowing what else to do she pours her perfume out on them.
This perfume is special to her. It’ s in an alabaster jar, so it’ s valuable. It could’ ve been a family heirloom … It could’ ve been given to her to remind her of home. It could’ ve meant to be a safe scent that brought her back to her best memories, but now it seems to have turned into something else. Something seems to have happened in her life, in her past, and to survive, she turned to whatever way she could to
make money. She did what she felt like she had to do. She gave herself over to be used like a tool, and she probably used that alabaster gift as a tool of her trade. That perfume that had once reminded her of home now just smelled like her worst mistakes and greatest compromises.
Can you see her? Maybe you can because you are her. I don’ t know your story, but maybe you’ ve grown up in a loving town, and home, and you have memories that are fille with laughter and joy. But the past doesn’ t match your present because somewhere between back then and right now, you began to believe a lie that you had to earn your way in this world. And to do that, you compromised your very soul to scratch and claw towards some semblance of life, and all that journey has brought are tears. Can you see her?
Simon sees her. The nature of his home allowed for people to wander in and listen. He liked that. He liked having people come into his courtyard and listen to his wise counsel about God and the Law. But what this woman has done, well, it’ s too far. For Simon, this woman stepped out of line. She’ s violated the unspoken boundary of this dinner. I’ m sure Simon thinks to himself,“ Of course, this woman … she knows a thing or two about crossing boundaries. And this Jesus, surely he’ s not a man of God because a man of God wouldn’ t let this harlot touch him.” Simon looks at her, and I’ m sure the law of Moses flashes in his mind,“ You shall not commit adultery.” His judgemental eyes are filled with anger at not only what this woman is doing, but what this
I’ ve never been part of a perfect church. But, the good that has come to me in church over the years far outweighs any imperfections!
Everybody needs a Christ-centered support group. Everybody needs to be part of a community of faith. Everybody needs a family where the bond is not just blood, but the Spirit.
We invite you to visit PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH in Tremont, MS. 900 Providence Road!
If you’ re worried about what to wear, our dress code is“ Wear what you have.” Sundays: Bible Study at 10AM • Worship and the Word at 11AM Wednesdays: Prayer Meeting and Bible Study at 6PM Hope to see you Sunday! Paul Stupka, Pastor • 662-763-7171
20