Luke 7:36-50
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
THE SEVENTH THING:
THE Anointing VS THE METHOD
Jesus said “Let her alone: She hath wrought a good work. There are times when we as leaders and ministers stop something that God allows. We must learn to be very sensitive to a move of God, that we are not used to, because that’s the move that God’s blessing.
The disciples wanted this woman out; she was a nuisance, but Jesus rebuked them. There are times when we allow things that God is not permitting,and things that God wants we disallow.
The Anointing is sacred, not the method.” This woman would have missed a great opportunity had she never had that encounter with Jesus,through the direction of the anointing. Jesus said to his disciples : LET HER ALONE,SHE HATH WROUGHT A GOOD WORK; We must be careful of people that will prevent you from a God encounter.Jesus called it a good work and not only that look what he said below.
Luke 7 v 48; AND HE SAID TO HER“Thy sins be forgiven.”
There is no greater gift than the forgiveness of sins and this truth we will only understand fully when we get to heaven.
THE EIGHT THING:
TOTAL SURRENDER AND COMMITMENT;
The alabaster box was also precious. It was like onyx marble full of rainbow colours. It could have been sold for money too; it was from Egypt.Ancient alabastrons found today can actually be purchased through shops who deal in ancient treasures. Believe it or not some of boxes can sell for as much as $3000.I believe she broke the seal of it,once the seal is broken you have lost the level of STRENGH it came with. This woman wanted nothing left over of her sacrifice of giving; she gave all,and in return and she got the greatest gift anyone could receive.. She got this gift from Jesus himself.
Luke 7 v 48; AND HE SAID TO HER“Thy sins be forgiven.”
When Jesus made that statement, it was the main accusation at Jesus’ trial – they said that he was blaspheming as only God could forgive sins – what they didn’t know was that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.
CHAPTER THREE:
Luke 7:36-50
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
THE NINTH THING:
HUMILITY AND RESPECT:
Luke 7 v 38 says;
“She stood at his feet behind him; weeping and begun to wash his feet with tears.She was so ashamed of herself that she stood behind him weeping,she didnt want to look in the face of pure love. SHE HAD THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR JESUS.Simon and the disciples had lost respect for Jesus but not the alabaster box women.
Treating a guest well was one of the most important responsibilities within the Old Testament culture. Fulfilling the responsibility increased one’s respect in the community, a guest badly treated didn't go down we'll.
(see 1 Sam. 25:1-17).
LUKE 7 v 44;
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
There is a scripture that we as christians will do well if we heed to it.
LAMENTATIONS 4 v 16;
THE ANGER OF THE LORD HATH DIVIDED THEM; HE WILL NO MORE REGARD THEM (the question why wont he regard them;the answer)THEY RESPECTED NOT THE PERSONS OF THE PRIESTS,THEY FAVOURED NOT THE ELDERS.
JESUS IS ACTUALLY TELLING SIMON AND THE DISCIPLES IN MODERN DAY ENGLISH YOU NEVER RESPECTED ME THE WAY THIS WOMEN DID. In this modern day world young people are disrespecting their elders at a alarming rate.Submission to authority is not measure by,whether your leader is right or wrong.David submitted to Saul even when Saul wanted to kill him.Only God has the right to remove spiritual authority.David knew this and respected it.
To wash someone’s feet from the front isn't easy, but from behind him it is difficult. This woman did this. She came from behind to get to Jesus feet (because they were sitting at table, at meat ). Now to accept an invitation for dinner from somebody that had an incurable, contagious disease, like leprosy, you’ve got to have faith.
The bible says;“ Perfect Love Casteth out all Fear”
The Tenth Thing:
The Christ Response
No women in the Bible got her forgiveness this way. This woman chose the unusual response to get her forgiveness. She created a new avenue to get her forgiveness. In case you have doubts, verse 48 says (notice this is Jesus not a disciple),saying; “Thy sins are forgiven"She got spiritual prosperity.
The disciples wanted this woman out of the gathering. She was a sinner woman. This woman was spoiling their reputation.That's the way Simon the pharisee thought.
I will never forget a story of a preacher who used to minister to people who were down trodden and neglected by society. Someone advised him that mixing with these kind of folks would make him lose his reputation. His answer was simple. “ I had no reputation before I met Jesus”. It is Jesus who made me and Jesus alone.
But God forbid; “May I never forget when I boast so that I must boast in the cross of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14
THE ELEVENTH THING:
Outwardly dishevelled – Inwardly rearranged.
Luke 7 v 45;“Hath not ceased to kiss my feet and wipe them with the hair’s of her head.”
We must never lose our first love for Jesus, that’s why we are reminded in; Revelations 2 v 4;
“Thou has left thy first love.”(Not lost) Lost means you cannot find it ;but left means you know where it is,but you ignoring it for now. This women's love for Jesus was very intense. That’s why the disciples got Jealous of her,her love was greater than theirs.Jesus said she loves more because she was forgiven more.To kiss someone on the hand and cheek is something; but to kiss someone’s feet, that’s extreme humility. With animals walking the same road as Jesus,his feet must have been pretty dirty and smelly,this woman didn't care.
“Hath not ceased to kiss my feet.”The continous adoration of the son of God.I once preached a message entitled;Great things happened at the feet of Jesus and indeed great things did happen at the feet of Jesus. A woman’s hair is her glory, most women would never walk out of the door if their hair is not right. This woman didn’t care,she wiped his feet with the hairs of her head,she gave Jesus the glory of her hair.The disciples had become familiar with Jesus. This woman cherished every moment with Jesus it was precious; it was like she knew that this was her last chance to interact with him. The disciples became familiar with Jesus. Maybe Simon the Pharisee brought Jesus to see if he were a real prophet. Because culture in those day’s demanded a visitors feet to be washed when entering a home. He never did it nor did Jesus disciples. After being saved for over 30 Years, I found out one of the greatest sins we as Christians must guard against, is the sin of familiarity,the closer you are to your leader,the greater the chance of contracting the DESEASE. The disciples became familiar with Jesus thinking he is their buddie. We must always fear him in love. The spirit of familiarity has somehow disguised itself in Christian circles as being innocent when it is not. It is responsible for many break ups in Godly relationship.
(refer to my book the spirit of the older brother)
Chapter Four
The Twelfth thing:
The Alabaster Fragrance Lingers on:
I LEFT THE BEST ONE FOR LAST
The fragrance that Jesus left at Calvery will last for eternity.
This woman must be preached. By me writing this book and inspiring people to preach about this woman, I am following Jesus command that this woman must be preached.There is an old saying that one cannot spill perfume without getting some on oneself. Mary had recklessly poured out the precious ointment upon the Person of Jesus, soothing it into His flesh with her hands, spilling it on her clothes,into her long hair,on her own skin . Wherever she went, whenever she moved, whenever she brushed against someone, that same lovely fragrance filled the air.It was all over mary and it was all over Jesus.
Jesus took His disciples to the garden of Gethsemane,then He left some at one place and took three a little further and then he went on a little further by Himself and fell flat on His face and prayed, three times.
“Father if it is possible remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will but thy will be done”.
He came back to see His three generals, Peter, James and John and found them sleeping. They were sleeping in Jesus’ greatest trial : the agony of Gethsemane. His sweat became drops of blood. He prayed three times this agonizing prayer and the only thing that Jesus had in the Garden of Gethsemane was the smell of spikenard from the alabaster box which was all over His clothes, body and feet. What a powerful truth.
Many years ago when I used to visit my fiancée, now my wife; I used to wear a certain fragrance when i visited her,one day she told me, “Kim, the next day when we used to clean our lounge,we could smell where you sat because the fragrance of the perfume or the aroma was still lingering on.There was a perfume in ancient times that was so powerful,when it was prepared you could smell it 12 miles away.The fragrance that Christ left at CALVERY can be smelled the world over.
The bible states that she poured it on his head therefore it was on His body and feet. Even on the cross when all forsook Him, but not the fragrance,spikenard,from the Alabaster Box it never left him,it was still on His head,body and feet which they pierced and it reminder him that he has to die for a sinful world.The perfume of Mary's love gift was there through all His trials, beatings, mocking, crucifixion and burial, reminding Him that he must die for a sinful world. Imagine,even when He cried in those final hours, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"even then, that fragrance of Spikenard,rose in His nostrils over the stench of blood, sweat and death.The bible doesnt say this but I have a vivid imagination,and i think it is worth mentioning that when the disciples came into that empty tomb guess what hit them first not the smell of death,but the smell of spikenard. THE FIRST BREATH JESUS DREW INTO HIS NOSTRILS AFTER HE WAS RESURRECTED ON THE THIRD DAY WAS THE SMELL OF SPIKENARD.
The truths in this real life story are so inexhaustible “please Holy Spirit, continue to reveal more and more to the church in Jesus’ name,as we obey your command,that this women must be preached.
John Chapter 20 verse 10: Then the disciples went away again unto their own home;
V 11; but Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping and she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre
The disciples went home discouraged but Mary [the Alabaster Box Mary] waited patiently.
John 20 v 14;and when she had thus said,she turned herself back,and saw Jesus standing,and knew not that it was Jesus.
But God chose Mary to reveal His resurrected Son to first. And Jesus instructed her to tell His disciples and she broke the news to his disciples: That He is risen! Amen.And when we as a church start to preach Jesus again he will arise in our lives and our churches. This may surprise you but Jesus is hardly preached in our sermons today.There was a pastor who was complaining and struggling to find something to preach about,when his dear wife screamed from the kitchen, Preach Jesus, Preach Jesus, Preach Jesus.
AND HOW TRUE THAT STATEMENT IS AMEN.
This woman chose the unusual response and came away with spiritual prosperity. “They sins be forgiven thee” not from a man and neither from a missionary nor from a preacher.There is nothing wrong with that, but it came from Jesus Christ Himself. In other words from God Himself, because the bible says God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.
It was through a woman that God chose to bring His Son into the world.
It was through a woman that He chose to crush the head of the serpent
It was through a women that he chose to anoint His Son for Burial.
It was through a woman that He chose to reveal His resurrected Son to first.
This is me speaking, Kim.
Can the lady that will usher in one of the greatest anointing the church will ever see before the coming of OUR LORD AND SAVOUR JESUS CHRIST, stand up. Amen.
