I was flipping through my scriptures today and came across Luke:47 where there is a story about Jesus that I love. He was invited to eat at a Pharisee's house. A woman, who was a sinner, heard he was there and came to meet him. She brought an alabaster box of ointment. Then she proceeded to wash his feet with her tears and hair then anoint them.
The Pharisee wasn't too happy with it. He must have thought the woman dirty and beneath him, for he said, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known the manner of woman this is that touched him; for she is a sinner."
The Savior's response was beautiful. He said, When I came to your house, you didn't offer me water or a kiss, you didn't offer to anoint my head with oil- but this woman came here and anointed my feet.
Then he said, ...Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.
Then in verse 50 the Savior said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee. Go in peace."
I love formulas. A + B = C. Here the Savior teaches us that Faith + Love = Forgiveness.
With courage she came to the Pharisee's house to see the Savior. Obviously they knew each other and the Pharisee wasn't fond of her. She didn't care that she wasn't invited (the Pharisee didn't seem the type to invite her kind to his home, vs. 39.) She paid no attention to what the men in the room thought of her as she knelt at the Savior's feet and wept.
Her love for Jesus and faith in Him outweighed her fear of men.
Her love for Jesus brought her to His feet, to tears and to forgiveness and peace.
She loved Him much; and because of that she was forgiven much.
Given the chance, I would kneel at His feet and do the same. That will probably not happen in my lifetime. But, I can still follow this woman's example still.
I can make my love for the Savior stronger than my fear of men. I can live boldly. (My husband calls it being "conspicuously LDS.") I can sacrifice my time and my possessions for Him. I can follow where He leads. I can go where He goes. I can weep when I kneel down to pray. I can love Him much.
I am a sinner, like the woman in this story, but there is hope. As I have faith and love Him much, I can be forgiven much. And then I can find peace.
The Pharisee wasn't too happy with it. He must have thought the woman dirty and beneath him, for he said, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known the manner of woman this is that touched him; for she is a sinner."
The Savior's response was beautiful. He said, When I came to your house, you didn't offer me water or a kiss, you didn't offer to anoint my head with oil- but this woman came here and anointed my feet.
Then he said, ...Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.
Then in verse 50 the Savior said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee. Go in peace."
I love formulas. A + B = C. Here the Savior teaches us that Faith + Love = Forgiveness.
With courage she came to the Pharisee's house to see the Savior. Obviously they knew each other and the Pharisee wasn't fond of her. She didn't care that she wasn't invited (the Pharisee didn't seem the type to invite her kind to his home, vs. 39.) She paid no attention to what the men in the room thought of her as she knelt at the Savior's feet and wept.
Her love for Jesus and faith in Him outweighed her fear of men.
Her love for Jesus brought her to His feet, to tears and to forgiveness and peace.
She loved Him much; and because of that she was forgiven much.
Given the chance, I would kneel at His feet and do the same. That will probably not happen in my lifetime. But, I can still follow this woman's example still.
I can make my love for the Savior stronger than my fear of men. I can live boldly. (My husband calls it being "conspicuously LDS.") I can sacrifice my time and my possessions for Him. I can follow where He leads. I can go where He goes. I can weep when I kneel down to pray. I can love Him much.
I am a sinner, like the woman in this story, but there is hope. As I have faith and love Him much, I can be forgiven much. And then I can find peace.
Well written Michelle!
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