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Luke 7:43-47 (MSG) …….“That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”

As you read this, could you almost imagine how the scenario went…  Jesus is in Simon, the Pharisee’s home.  They are discussing important matters and along comes this woman.  Everyone is familiar with her background, she has lived an immoral life.  Jesus knew it too.  But He saw beyond what the others could see. He saw a hurting, broken woman who had looked for love in all the wrong places and found nothing but pain.

 She had heard much about Jesus and had possibly followed Him, along with the crowds of people, and seen Him do many miracles. 

But the miracles hadn’t touched her like love and compassion she saw in Jesus face.  He was kind to everyone, no matter what their status in life!  She had an unexplainable, irresistible urge from deep within to do something for Him.  Anything just to be in His presence. 

She knew what she must do, it didn’t matter what others would say.  People never had anything good to say about her anyway.

She yearned to feel a pure love.  She felt so empty, used up by this world…men used her, women turned away from her.  She had chosen the wrong path in life but couldn’t get off this horrible, dark road.  It seemed she had no hope…that is until…until Jesus crossed her path. 

That’s when she felt it.  Hope.  Some said that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. She believed it was true.  She knew she had to get to Him, no matter what the cost.   She would get her most expensive, treasured possession and bring it to Him. 

Entering Simon’s house, she walked toward Jesus with purpose. She spoke not a word but her bleeding heart  cried out to Him.   He heard the cry of her heart.

Years of sinning against God had taken it’s toll on her body and her very soul.  Along with great remorse, for the life she had lived, came a torrent of tears.  She fell to her knees at Jesus’ feet.

She experienced the feeling of God’s love reaching out to her for the very first time.  It cleased and warmed her heart like nothing else ever had.

Kneeling there before Him weeping, she saw the rivulets of tears mix with the dust on His feet.  Simon had not given Jesus the common courtesy of providing water for His feet when He had entered Simon’s home. 

The woman gently used her long hair to dry His feet, still weeping in the wonder of it all.  Feeling His forgivness as she kissed and then anointed and refreshed His feet with the expensive perfume she had brought for this purpose. 

Here’s the rest of the story:

Luke 7: 48-50 (MSG)  Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”  That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”

He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Today Jesus still ignores the crowd and most importantly, still hears the cry of the heart…will you take your heart to Him?