Hope you had a great weekend. If you haven't gone Blueberry picking I suggest you give it a try. So fun and easy to do. This is the time to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather and fruits that are in season. I praise God for all He has given us. So, let's continue to talk about worship. Do we pour our worship out on Jesus like a sweet perfume?
Since all four gospels share various accounts of a woman releasing a jar of perfume over Jesus, it must be pretty important. These accounts give us insights from different people’s perspectives including a Pharisee named Simon and Jesus’s own disciples.
Let’s set the stage for Luke’s account: Simon, a powerful religious leader, invited Jesus (the new teacher in town) to come and eat with him at his house. It would be quite an honor to receive an invitation such as this. Invitation accepted.
Jesus reclined at the table and dined with religious folks, mixing and mingling with them. Suddenly, they were interrupted by a woman – an uninvited guest who approached Jesus. She was weeping, and she broke a jar of perfume over Him.
Simon was appalled at what the woman was doing, and he thought to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” (Luke 7:39 NLT)
Verse 40 of Luke chapter 7 says, “Then Jesus answered his thoughts. ‘Simon,’ he said to the Pharisee, ‘I have something to say to you.’” Simon responded, “Go ahead, Teacher.” (Side-note here, Jesus answers our thoughts.)
Jesus responded to Simon’s judgmental attitude with a parable: There was a man who lent 50 pieces of silver to one man and 500 pieces of silver to another. Neither man could pay him back, so he forgave their debts. Which of the men loved him more?
Simon answered correctly: “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” (Luke 7:43 NLT)
Then Jesus scolded Simon for being such a poor host. Simon didn’t give Jesus water to wash his hands/feet, he didn’t greet Him with a kiss on the cheek, and he didn’t offer Him oil for His head.
These were all customs that were very important in the Jewish culture, but Simon failed at them all. The “sinful woman” put Simon to shame. She bathed Jesus, kissed him and anointed Him with a costly gift.
Since all four gospels share various accounts of a woman releasing a jar of perfume over Jesus, it must be pretty important. These accounts give us insights from different people’s perspectives including a Pharisee named Simon and Jesus’s own disciples.
Let’s set the stage for Luke’s account: Simon, a powerful religious leader, invited Jesus (the new teacher in town) to come and eat with him at his house. It would be quite an honor to receive an invitation such as this. Invitation accepted.
Jesus reclined at the table and dined with religious folks, mixing and mingling with them. Suddenly, they were interrupted by a woman – an uninvited guest who approached Jesus. She was weeping, and she broke a jar of perfume over Him.
Simon was appalled at what the woman was doing, and he thought to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” (Luke 7:39 NLT)
Verse 40 of Luke chapter 7 says, “Then Jesus answered his thoughts. ‘Simon,’ he said to the Pharisee, ‘I have something to say to you.’” Simon responded, “Go ahead, Teacher.” (Side-note here, Jesus answers our thoughts.)
Jesus responded to Simon’s judgmental attitude with a parable: There was a man who lent 50 pieces of silver to one man and 500 pieces of silver to another. Neither man could pay him back, so he forgave their debts. Which of the men loved him more?
Simon answered correctly: “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” (Luke 7:43 NLT)
Then Jesus scolded Simon for being such a poor host. Simon didn’t give Jesus water to wash his hands/feet, he didn’t greet Him with a kiss on the cheek, and he didn’t offer Him oil for His head.
These were all customs that were very important in the Jewish culture, but Simon failed at them all. The “sinful woman” put Simon to shame. She bathed Jesus, kissed him and anointed Him with a costly gift.
When we love someone it is easy to pour out all we are and have on that person. But, when feelings wain it is sometimes hard to find the strength to keep pouring. We find ourselves empty and lacking the strength to pour out anything to anyone.
ACTION STEP: For just a moment imagine yourself the woman who poured her oil out on Jesus. How does it feel to touch Him with that deep, love and gratefulness? What prompts you to be grateful enough to pour out your praise? Think about how good Jesus has been to you. Now, think about what He has done for you. Really see all that Jesus has in store for your future--and even your today.
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