Jesus is a guest in the house….everyone is seated at the dinner table talking and eating when a woman enters the room….an unclean woman known to everyone by her sins. Her eyes are full of tears….she blinks so that she can see more clearly and the tears spill over and stain her face….her eyes are fixed on the floor as she walks over to where Jesus is sitting. She shakes as she walks – all the shame, guilt, and pain of her sin is a burden too heavy to carry any further. As her hands shake, so does the box she is holding….a costly, alabaster box filled with expensive oil….the one thing she possesses that is worth anything. She treasures this box. She walks over to where Jesus is sitting….she kneels down at His feet….and she pours it all out….
Luke 7:37-38….And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, 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.
She can hear the comments that the people around the table are making….the humiliation is overwhelming….but she continues to pour it all out for Jesus….the shame, the guilt, the pain, the expensive oil that she treasures….she doesn’t hold anything back. She has heard about Jesus….about the miracles He has done….about all the people He has healed….and she desires to be healed….she desires to be made whole and she knows that He is the only One that can set her free. Her mind is plagued by her sin….plagued by regret….she doesn’t say anything….she doesn’t look up….the guilt in her soul keeps her prostrate at the feet of Jesus while she washes His feet with her tears and the treasured oil. Then she hears His voice….
Luke 7:40-50….And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “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.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
The words He speaks ring in her ears….they are music to her soul. All at once the guilt is gone….the shame is gone….the pain is gone….only joy and peace take their place. She looks up at Him. Her eyes are still spilling over with tears….but this time, they are tears of Joy, Thankfulness and Hope. As she leaves the house she knows that her life will never be the same. She walks home with a smile on her face….a giggle in her Spirit….she has been made new and her whole being Rejoices!!!!
Fast forward to Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23,and John 18….
This same woman watches as her Savior is arrested….mocked….brutally beaten….and murdered like a criminal….
Luke 23:32-49….There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
She has been in the background during every proceeding….praying fervently for her Savior….weeping….her mind, body, heart, and Spirit are heavy with distress. As she watches, her mind races with questions….how can this be happening?….what is going to happen next?….is Jesus really going to die? She sees His flesh ripped apart as He is beaten….she sees His every struggle as He carries His cross down the streets….she sees Him brutally nailed to the cross He carried….she can’t bear to watch…. but her Love for her Savior keeps her eyes fixated on Him. She watches as Jesus breathes His last breath….she hears Him cry out “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” She witnesses the darkening of the skies….the quaking of the ground…..the fear of some of the people watching. She is not fearful…..she is broken…. emotionally and physically. She notices that people are walking away from Jesus….she can’t leave Him….she crumples to the ground and weeps some more. She stays until evening and watches as Jesus’ body is removed from the cross and wrapped in linen….she follows as His body is taken to a tomb, laid inside, and a stone is rolled in front of the entrance. She is tired and grief ridden but she heads for home to prepare spices and oils for His burial….and to rest on the Sabbath. Everything moves in slow motion….her whole being is mourning the loss of her Savior…..
Luke 23:50-56….Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
She arises the morning after the Sabbath…..she is still very tired….her soul is still suffering the loss of Jesus. The finality of the whole situation weighs heavily upon her as she prepares to serve her Savior one last time….anointing Jesus’ body with the prepared spices and fragrant oils…..the same ones that she poured onto His feet at their first meeting….the memories flood her mind….she is overcome by grief once more. She collects the prepared spices and oils and begins to walk to the tomb where Jesus was laid. She arrives at the tomb and immediately notices that the stone sealing the tomb has been pushed away. She approaches the tomb….she is curious but fearful. As she enters the tomb an Angel appears….He tells her that she won’t find Jesus in the tomb because He has Risen from the dead!! The Angel tells her to go and tell the disciples….
Mark 16:1-11….Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed.
She races away to tell the disciples….excitement and joy fill her whole being. The thought that Jesus is alive races through her mind…..she remembers the words He spoke about His death….she knows in her Spirit that He has indeed Risen from the dead….Joy overwhelms her….and then she sees Him….
Matthew 28:9-10….And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Can you imagine this? Can you feel the Joy….the excitement….the VICTORY??? Do you remember the Joy….the excitement….the VICTORY you felt when Jesus touched you and saved you? This is what we need to feel when we celebrate Easter. We need to remember….no matter how uncomfortable or shameful….what we were before we met Jesus. We need to remember how it felt when Jesus’ Love healed our souls. We need to remember the day Jesus’ Love set us free. We need to CELEBRATE HIS VICTORY!!! And, we need to Love Him back by making our lives a Living Praise to Him.
Sing it out, Jesus is alive!
The empty cross, the empty grave….
Life eternal, You have won the day!
Shout it all, Jesus is alive!
He’s alive!!!!
Oh happy day, happy day….
You washed my sin away!
Oh happy day, happy day….
I’ll never be the same….
Forever I am changed!!!!
Free at last, meeting face to face…
I am Yours, Jesus You are mine!
Endless joy and perfect peace!
Earthly pain finally will cease!
Celebrate Jesus is alive!
He’s alive!!!!
Oh what a glorious day!
What a glorious way….
That You have saved me!
Oh what a glorious day!
What a glorious name….
Jesus!!!!