The Messiah’s Secret – The Woman with the Alabaster Flask
Reading the Gospel in parts with the reading being mimed, acted out at the same time.
We recalled that Jesus had been invited to join Simon and his friends for a meal at his house. Jesus was reclining at the table when a lady, described as a woman of the city a sinner, a prostitute, carrying a flask of ointment came in and interrupted their meal.
She had heard that Jesus was at Simon’s house having a meal there, so she planned her visit. it would appear to be unannounced as Luke used the word, “And behold, a woman of the city . . .
From the reading we read that this lady was under a strong conviction of her need to get right with God. Prior to this, some hours before, she may have listened to the message from Jesus or from a disciple, “Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” And this led her to come to Jesus in faith and repentance, as her contrition, her contrite, broken heart for her sin, would indicate.
She had brought with her an alabaster flask of ointment and stood behind Jesus weeping, as he sat reclined at the table, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
Some Christian theologians suggest that she would have used similar perfumes in her trade as a woman of the city. This then was an anointing of the feet that carried a symbol of her trade, prostitution, and bore it on the cross.
Jesus forgave her sin.
Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but to redeem the world from sin so that whosoever believe in him are set from sin, so It is through faith in Jesus.
Faith – is not by sight but by the things hoped for, but not yet realised .
Faith is like posting a letter we put the address and the stamp on the envelope and post it, believing that it will reach its destination and also we may expect a reply in due course.
The woman’s faith brought her to Jesus, the only person who was able to justify, declared not guilty by God, to vindicate, and absolve her sin.
She showed her love for God and her love fulfilled the law.
Also in the reading these aspects of love – The woman showing her love, in wanting to please God by coming to Jesus in repentance, saying sorry and in her gratitude and respect anointing his feet.
God’s love - Jesus forgave her without hesitation in his love for her.
When Simon watched the woman, his face must have shown his disgust.
Simon thought that he was justified by the Jewish law and he was indignant towards Jesus and the woman. He thought that Jesus should not have allowed this woman to touch him.
When Simon watched the woman, his face must have shown his disgust.
Simon thought that he was justified by the Jewish law and he was indignant towards Jesus and the woman. He thought that Jesus should not have allowed this woman to touch him.
Jesus told the parable to prove that Simon was not justified, declared not guilty before God by the law, Simon was still a sinner in God’s eyes.
“A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed him 500 denarii, and the
other 5o. When they could not pay he forgave them both. Now which one will love
him the more?” Simon answered, “The one I suppose, to whom he forgave the
more.” Jesus said, “You have judged rightly.”
Through the woman’s actions, Jesus pointed out to Simon his sin.
He had failed to show Jesus the customary hospitality shown to a special guest. Jesus said to Simon, “I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. You gave me no kiss. You did not anoint my feet with oil. Therefore; he, who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Simon’s sin coming from love of self: showed no remorse, no gratitude or respect for Jesus.
The parable almost gives us a graf. 500 Danarii the greater, whereas, Simon’s 50 Danarii a big dip. The great outpouring of love and a trickle of love.
Through the woman’s actions, Jesus pointed out to Simon his sin.
He had failed to show Jesus the customary hospitality shown to a special guest. Jesus said to Simon, “I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. You gave me no kiss. You did not anoint my feet with oil. Therefore; he, who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Simon’s sin coming from love of self: showed no remorse, no gratitude or respect for Jesus.
The parable almost gives us a graf. 500 Danarii the greater, whereas, Simon’s 50 Danarii a big dip. The great outpouring of love and a trickle of love.
Both had sinned and both were forgiven, both were debtors to God.
We have another example in John’s Gospel were those present had varying degrees of sin: the woman caught in the act of adultery. John 8: 3- 11
We have another example in John’s Gospel were those present had varying degrees of sin: the woman caught in the act of adultery. John 8: 3- 11
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus who was accused of committing adultery, which was punishable by stoning her to death. They wanted Jesus to make a judgement over her. Jesus' response he brought the scribes and Pharisees and all those present to account for their sin. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” When they heard these words, they went away, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. He forgave her sin and told her to sin no more.
Jesus had the authority to forgive the lady her sins.
Those sat at the table began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, forgave both their debts as both were debtors to God.
The Messiah’s Secret page 57
Jesus had the authority to forgive sins without an offering been made at the temple or a ritual of washing. Jesus was God revealed in the flesh. Jesus proved that he had the authority to forgive sins by his healing ministry. The Jews believed that sin resulted in sickness and only God could forgive sin and as a result heal the person. Psalm 41: 4. Jesus therefore proved his authority by forgiveness of sin and healing the person. Mark 2: 1-12.
Not every sickness is a result of sin John 9: 2, 3, 14.
Peter Meadows & Joseph Steinberg in their book "Beyond Belief" page 50 They confirm this view concerning Jesus' authority to forgive sins in connection with his healing ministry. "To Jewish people, only God could forgive sins. So when Jesus told someone their sins were forgiven it was no different from saying 'I'm God'. And when he healed people of their disease or disfigurement he was putting out the same message. Jewish people believed physical suffering was caused by the person's sin. For a person to be healed meant that their sin had been dealt with - only God could do that."
Jesus showed no partiality between the women, Simon the Pharisee and the scribes and other people present. By the same standards in the Parable they were all debtors to God, sin against God.
It is through faith in Jesus we are freed from our debt, our sin against God. We can not justify ourselves.
The law was a stumbling block to the Jews because they thought it would save them.
For us Gentiles because the Hebrew Scriptures prove through the prophesies that God had planned to send a Saviour we read their scriptures, and through those scriptures we become aware of sin against God, and were God put in place the law as a guide to what sin is. But Christians are not under Jewish law.
Jesus had the authority to forgive the lady her sins.
Those sat at the table began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, forgave both their debts as both were debtors to God.
The Messiah’s Secret page 57
Jesus had the authority to forgive sins without an offering been made at the temple or a ritual of washing. Jesus was God revealed in the flesh. Jesus proved that he had the authority to forgive sins by his healing ministry. The Jews believed that sin resulted in sickness and only God could forgive sin and as a result heal the person. Psalm 41: 4. Jesus therefore proved his authority by forgiveness of sin and healing the person. Mark 2: 1-12.
Not every sickness is a result of sin John 9: 2, 3, 14.
Peter Meadows & Joseph Steinberg in their book "Beyond Belief" page 50 They confirm this view concerning Jesus' authority to forgive sins in connection with his healing ministry. "To Jewish people, only God could forgive sins. So when Jesus told someone their sins were forgiven it was no different from saying 'I'm God'. And when he healed people of their disease or disfigurement he was putting out the same message. Jewish people believed physical suffering was caused by the person's sin. For a person to be healed meant that their sin had been dealt with - only God could do that."
Jesus showed no partiality between the women, Simon the Pharisee and the scribes and other people present. By the same standards in the Parable they were all debtors to God, sin against God.
It is through faith in Jesus we are freed from our debt, our sin against God. We can not justify ourselves.
The law was a stumbling block to the Jews because they thought it would save them.
For us Gentiles because the Hebrew Scriptures prove through the prophesies that God had planned to send a Saviour we read their scriptures, and through those scriptures we become aware of sin against God, and were God put in place the law as a guide to what sin is. But Christians are not under Jewish law.
New Testament
Jesus taught that through faith in him who through his life laid down. We are justified by his blood that was the final sacrifice for sin and the forgiveness of sin.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.” Hebrews 9: 14
At the last supper Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 28
The words ‘for many’ include the Gentiles, therefore, Jesus is the only one who is able to justify, and declare us not guilty and absolve us from our sin against God.
When we like the woman recognise our need to get right with God, we will be convicted to seek God out.
Some times Jesus meets a person as they cry out in desperation or it may be through hearing about Jesus from someone or even through reading the message on a board outside a church.
For example:
We feel like this kettle, empty, discontented with life. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour it is like filling the kettle with water, filling our empty space within. When we put the plug attached to the kettle into the socket on the wall, we switch it on and the current flows into the kettle and boils the water.
Likewise, our faith connects us with Jesus, the current between us and God is his Spirit, and he shows his love and power to forgive us, absolving us from all our sin. As a result we have an amazing freedom and peace within, that the world cannot give.
We are crucified with Christ, this is realised when we know that our sins against God have been forgiven and we feel how God feels about sin. When we do fall into sin, we are like the sheep that falls into the ditch and is not comfortable there.
“But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1: 7.
The Devil attacks the holy love of God.
He tries to pollute the love of God with the universal love that is tainted by sin due to the fall of Adam and Eve. But we like the woman in our reading we have turned away from sin, and we are justified, declared not guilty by the blood of Jesus that testifies to our new nature in Christ, God’s nature.
God shows no partiality between races and cultures across the world and he blesses only the truth about his Word Jesus.
Paul in his letter to the Galatians. “And from those who were reputed to be something (what they are makes no difference to me: God shows no partiality.” Galatians 2: 6. “Peter said, “Truly, I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right and acceptable to him.” Acts 10: 34
We are crucified with Christ, this is realised when we know that our sins against God have been forgiven and we feel how God feels about sin. When we do fall into sin, we are like the sheep that falls into the ditch and is not comfortable there.
“But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1: 7.
The Devil attacks the holy love of God.
He tries to pollute the love of God with the universal love that is tainted by sin due to the fall of Adam and Eve. But we like the woman in our reading we have turned away from sin, and we are justified, declared not guilty by the blood of Jesus that testifies to our new nature in Christ, God’s nature.
God shows no partiality between races and cultures across the world and he blesses only the truth about his Word Jesus.
Paul in his letter to the Galatians. “And from those who were reputed to be something (what they are makes no difference to me: God shows no partiality.” Galatians 2: 6. “Peter said, “Truly, I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right and acceptable to him.” Acts 10: 34
