Forgiven much = Love much

Yesterday, during my devotions, I read the story of the woman who cried on Jesus' feet and washed them with her hair and perfume, and something hit home for me.

I realized how easy it is for us to become like the religious leader that had invited Jesus into his house.

He wanted Jesus there only to make himself look better.

For him it had nothing to do with sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from him.

He just wanted to raise his own importance and he knew that people were watching and following this man named Jesus.

So, Jesus came into his house and he didn't do any of the many things that were the normal custom of the day. He didn't wash Jesus' feet or it seems to me that he didn't even greet Him.

Some of these things seem strange to us because they aren't our customs.

But think about being invited over to some one's house, and when you enter that person is just off talking to the other people in the house. They don't come over and welcome you into their home, or offer to take your jacket or show you around.

I know that I probably wouldn't want to stay very long.

Then, this woman, who everyone in the town knows is a prostitute and whore walks in and starts touching Jesus. This is another custom that just wasn't done. Women did not touch men unless they were married.

Then she washes His feet with her with her tears and dries them with her hair. If I'm remembering right, one of the signs of her status as a sinner was to have her hair down in public. So, as she's washing Jesus' feet with her hair, she is going against all kinds of customs.

I feel like at this point the rest of the guests were probably all whispering about what was happening. Maybe they were even blaming the host. Maybe that's why he starts judging Jesus for allowing this woman to touch Him. Maybe he starts to see people gathering their things and heading for the door.

So, he starts telling people that he doesn't even think that Jesus can be a prophet if He could let a woman like this anywhere near Him.

He tries to take Jesus down and distance himself from Jesus, so that his standing among his guests isn't hurt.

One of the things that I love about the way Jesus rebukes him, is that Jesus doesn't yell. He just tells a simple parable to point out where this man has gone wrong in his judging of this woman's actions.

As one who has been forgiven much, I too often forget how big of a debt has been forgiven me.

It is at those times that I find myself sinning and falling into even deeper debt to my God.

Thank God for His endless grace and patience with us sinners.

May we learn to appreciate the debt that has been forgiven us.