The Hostess
Jesus was invited by a Pharisee to eat with him. Jesus never turned down an invitation to dinner, but he knew it was going to be awkward. During dinner, a “Woman in the city who was a sinner brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and she began to wash His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil”(Luke 7:38).
She was beautiful and so good at her trade she had become wealthy. She didn’t worship men, but some men worshiped her. She knew there would be haters, but she came from her house determined to give her devotion to Jesus. She pushed through the negative atmosphere and poured out her precious ointment upon His feet. She was used to receiving expensive gifts from men but now she was bringing all that she had, to one very special man. A man who did not want to pay for her body for an hour but wanted to redeem her soul forever.
She stroked Jesus feet with her hair and the Pharisee was disgusted. Jesus broke into his thoughts by asking Simon, “Who would love more: someone forgiven a lot or someone who has been forgiven a little?” Simon gets the answer right but not the point. He had not been a good host toward his guest. The custom of the day demanded that guest’s feet be washed, that they are given a welcome kiss and some oil be provided to refresh their heads. Neither Simon nor the woman treated Jesus as an ordinary person. What Jesus should have received from Simon (normal hospitality) he received from the women (extravagant devotion). She decided that what people thought of her, would not keep her back from worship. She was not there for the others or herself: she was there for Jesus. She did not know a lot: she knew more about bedrooms than the Bible, but it’s not a correct doctrine that touches Jesus but a correct heart.
She models for us, how to have an encounter with Jesus: she took responsibility to be the hostess. She located Him in the room, stands at His feet and shows him constant attention. She welcomed Him and poured on Him the fragrance and kisses of devotion. She honoured him by bringing a premeditated gift from her house. She determined ahead of time, to bring her best.
Friends, we too can have an encounter with Jesus. He is very sociable; He will come into your heart if you ask Him and into your house if you invite Him. But like the woman, we want an encounter with Jesus not to receive something from Him but so we can give something to Him.