We’re continuing our journey with Jesus and His disciples in Luke’s gospel. In this post, we’ll look at what it cost some to follow Jesus.

Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” So Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him 500 silver coins, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

— Luke 7:36-50

Luke gives a lot of detail to what might be called minority groups in his gospel, including women. In fact, in Luke 8:1-3 we read this:

Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities: Mary (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Cuza (Herod’s household manager), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.

In our passage today, we see an example of this. We see a woman invite herself to a banquet to show her devotion to Jesus. How did she get there? She likely took advantage of the law that allowed those in need to attend such events to receive the leftovers. In this case, however, it’s clear her motivation was to see Jesus.

She brought what was probably a very expensive bottle of perfumed oil. These were often bought and saved for specific and/or special occasions. The bottle would have had a long neck that had to be broken for the oil to be poured out. The woman (who is unnamed here) deides this is the best of all occasions to use the oil. She stands behind Jesus at the table weeping, her tears wetting His feet. She then dries His feet with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with that most precious commodity she had–the oil.

It’s clear that she doesn’t speak (at least Luke doesn’t share it if she did). She just performs this simple act of devotion. And Jesus, as He often does, transforms it into a moment of both salvation and teaching. While this woman is wiping, kissing, and anointing Jesus’ feet, the Pharisee who invited Jesus is having a conversation with himself.

This woman is a sinner!
If Jesus knew who she was, he wouldn’t allow her to touch him.
Therefore, he can be no prophet.

Notice that the Pharisee (Jesus identifies him as Simon) thought nothing of the amazing act that was performed by the woman, but only about one thing–she was a sinner. Notice further that Simon did not speak those thoughts out loud. His attitude was, “If this man knew . . . .”

What does Jesus do? In short, He demonstrates that He does know. He starts with a simple statement: “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Then, Jesus begins as He often does–with a parable. He tells of a moneylender who had two customers who couldn’t pay the loan back. One owed 500 denarii, the other 50. Since they couldn’t pay him back, the moneylender canceled both their debts. A straightforward story. Then Jesus asks that question that goes to the heart of the matter:

Which of them will love him more?

The answer seems obvious, doesn’t it? And Simon answers correctly (albeit somewhat reluctantly, perhaps knowing where this conversation is going). Simon answers,

The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.

After acknowledging Simon’s correct answer, Jesus proceeds to describe what really just happened. He contrasts the woman’s actions with Simon’s.

You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Then He does what the Pharisee would consider unthinkable. He pronounces her sins, “which are many,” forgiven. Why? “Because she loved much.” What’s Jesus saying in all this? A few things:

First, He told Simon, “Yes, I know this woman, her sins, and her heart. And by the way, I know you as well.” Simon did not find Jesus worthy of the normal treatment one would extend to a guest in that culture. That alone showed a glimpse into Simon’s heart. The unnamed woman, on the other hand, thought Jesus worthy of exquisitely special treatment, giving all she had in a special service to Him.

Second, Jesus teaches that God’s forgiveness manifests itself in loving service. One who realizes the depth of the debt that was owed but forgiven cannot help but love the one who has forgiven the debt–and consequently will love others.

So, the question for us today is this: Do we really know the debt that has been forgiven us? It’s one thing to say, “My sins are forgiven.” It’s another thing to come face-to-face with the depth of our sin–and realize it’s no more because it was cancelled by Jesus.

This is another example of this statement: There is no sin too big, no misery too deep, that Jesus cannot forgive, heal, and redeem. When we feel overwhelmed with despair in our sin, we can hold tight to this truth..

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