How Can I Express My Love? -

She was definitely not invited.

But, when she found out Jesus was eating at Simon’s, a Pharisee’s house, the woman with the Alabaster box was compelled to go to Him. Scholars believe Jesus was lying down while eating, with his face facing the table and with His feet behind Him. This was the customary way of eating at special gatherings during ancient biblical times.

When the woman approached Jesus, she stood behind him and wept. Her tears slid from her eyes and landed upon His feet. The woman took the time to wash Jesus’s feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. She then kissed His feet and anointed them with the oil she kept in her Alabaster box.

When Simon witnessed the woman’s actions, he thought to HImself, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39, NKJV) As a Pharisee, Simon believed he was an expert on God’s law and knew what was required. He felt that, when Jesus allowed the sinful woman to touch Him, He lacked spiritual discernment in His interpretation of the law.

Jesus, who knows people’s thoughts, decided to share a parable with Simon about a creditor who forgave two debtors. One debtor owed five hundred denarii and the other one owed fifty. When the creditor realized that neither debtor could pay, he forgave them both of their debts. (Luke 7:41-42)

Jesus asked Simon, “Which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:42)

Simon answered, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” (Luke 7:43)

Jesus told Simon that He judged rightly and then instructed him to look at the woman.

Jesus explained, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” .” (Luke 7:44-47)

What is the message Jesus was conveying to Simon that we can learn from?

Because Jesus had forgiven the woman of her many sins, her love grew deeper for Him. She expressed her love through her actions. Her love for Jesus did not cause Him to forgive her. None of us can earn forgiveness. Jesus forgave her first (possibly some time before the special gathering) and her increasing love was a direct response to what Jesus had already done for her.

When we genuinely become aware of how much God has forgiven us, our love for Him should increase. Consider this – the measures of forgiveness God grants us exceeds the value of the world’s most expensive diamond, the Cullinan, which is valued up to two billion dollars. In other words, God’s unconditional love and forgiveness towards us is immeasurable.

As we realize the wrongs we have done against God, the more we should express our love to Jesus through praise, worship, giving, etc. We will then understand why the woman with the Alabaster box, who was an uninvited guest at the special gathering, had to get to Jesus to express her love towards her Savior.

What will you do to express your love to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?