Yesterday, as I was praying over our women's Bible study room, the Lord gave me a vision. I saw a earthen, clay jug lying on the ground shattered and broken into many pieces. But rather than seeing water trickling away there was a glorious light bursting forth. The colors as brilliant as a morning sunset. I didn't think much of the mental picture and continued praying over each table and chair filling the room.
When my small group arrived, my co-leader and I began to ask the ladies how they were and how their weeks and been. One of the ladies began to tear up as she shared her frustrations. She felt isolated because her faith walk had been one that included divorce, single motherhood, and prostitution - things most church women can't relate to or even understand. She continued to explain that the Jesus she's known since becoming a Believer is a man full of tremendous love and undeserved mercy - even when she wasn't making the best choices.
Our table conversation was cut short as the entire room was led into a time of worship. I found it hard to concentrate while everyone was singing. I kept thinking of my earlier vision and wondered what the Lord was trying to say. Within seconds I was reminded of one the Lord's encounters with a "sinful" woman...
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, Jesus went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” Simon said.
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.... Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)
No one around this woman understood her brokenness. But Jesus did. And Jesus loved her. He received her. He forgave her. Then He blessed her with peace.
I can imagine there were many "ashes" in this woman's life. I can also imagine that after this encounter with the living God her life was forever changed. Her brokenness, her shattered life, and her desperate need for forgiveness were found acceptable to the One who will never despise a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51:17).
