What Jesus did #22: he mixed with those at the margins

What kind of people do you invite into your home?

Before we look at today’s passage, I’d like us to consider this question.

Actually, in today’s world, I’m guessing the answer for many is ‘very few’ and always ‘the right kind’. Inviting people into your home is not the norm these days. Family, of course, and maybe friends occasionally when you’ve just decorated or have a whole day free to spend cleaning before they come. That’s one of the things that puts people off inviting others round, isn’t it? They scared of feeling judged on the tidiness and cleanliness of their home.

And so our homes become very private places. Our sanctuary from the world. When we shut the front door, we shut out the world. We don’t intend to let anyone. Let alone anyone who might have muddy boots or a lingering odour or fleas. Or anyone of questionable character who might be a bad influence on our kids or might be seen by the neighbours entering our home.

Our home is a clean, safe place and to keep it that way, we need to keep others out.

I’m guessing the Pharisee in our story today felt that way. He was very big on rules around clean and unclean, big on all the rules, in fact. He believed that outward appearance and behaviour were all tied up with how spiritual you were, and so these things were vitally important to him. He would invite people over, because that was the Jewish way. Hospitality was a key part of the Jewish faith. But he would have tight control over the guest list. Only certain people were good enough to enter his home.

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”  Luke 7:36-39

What on earth is Jesus playing at? He must know what kind of woman she is. Everyone in town does. She’s a slut, an easy lay, that’s what everyone says. I wouldn’t know from experience of course. I’m better than that. I wouldn’t let her anywhere near me. That’s why I can’t understand Jesus right now. He’s letting her touch her. Who knows where those hands have been? He must know everyone will be talking right now. Where did she get that perfume from anyway? One of her rich boyfriends, I expect. There’s only one way women like her can afford expensive perfume like that. How can he let someone with such a bad reputation near him? He’ll be the talk of the town.

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”    Luke 7:40-50

Jesus isn’t interested in someone’s standing in society. He’s not bothered by the gossip.

He’s interested in the heart: the outpouring of love and gratitude that knows how much has been forgiven, that recognises who Jesus is and what he has done.

The ones that respond to this love the most are the ones who are in most need of this love.

The ones who are most grateful for this forgiveness are the ones who have the most to be forgiven.

This woman appreciates Jesus for all that he stands for because she has been on the receiving end of the judgement and criticism of the religious leaders up to now. Here is someone who sees her as more than what she does. Someone who is prepared to allow her to love him and cry over him and touch him, with no sexual motive between them at all.

Simon the Pharisee has allowed Jesus into his home, but he has not really welcomed him as he should. He has not given him water for his feet or a kiss or oil to anoint his head. And yet this humble woman has come to sit at Jesus’ feet and worship him for who he is. She recognises her place, whereas this Pharisee believes he’s the one doing Jesus the favour.

In our society, we can fall into the trap of looking for affirmation in all the wrong places. We want to be in with the in crowd. We distance ourselves from those on the margins. And yet the margins are often the places where Jesus’ love and mercy are most evident. There’s a genuine love here, an authenticity you don’t find with the pretentious lot. All the bullshit has been stripped away. It’s not about keeping up appearances any more. It’s about being accepted for who you are, warts and all. Admitting that you’ve screwed up. Knowing that you need this love and forgiveness that only Jesus can bring.

If we don’t feel we can see Jesus at work in our world today,

then maybe we’re looking in the wrong places.