Do You See This Woman?

Continuing our summer series, Ordinary People, Extraordinary God, we come to Luke 7 and a dinner at Simon the Pharisee's house, where an uninvited woman known around town as a sinner crashes the party to weep at Jesus' feet. The host sees a sinner. Jesus sees something completely different, and asks the question that turns the whole room: "Do you see this woman?" The one forgiven much loves much. Four things this woman does: Come to Jesus — convinced her past disqualifies her, she comes anyway, and Jesus welcomes her. Bow to Jesus — while Simon recruits the room to shame her, she kneels low; shame recruits the room to make a verdict stick, but Jesus recruits it to change the verdict on the person. Worship Jesus — she pours out her best at his feet: tears of repentance, kisses of affection, costly perfume of sacrifice. Confess Jesus as Lord — "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." It is not her tears but her faith that saves her. This isn't just a pardon; it's a new outfit — Jesus covers us with his own righteousness.