You know the type. You go to visit them. You have to let yourself in or you get a brief "Hello" as you are let in. You are invited to sit down. And the formalities of the conversation begin.
"Hi. How have you been doing?"
"Fine, thank you. How about you?"
"Is anything new happening?"
"No, not much. Just the routine. Anything new for you?"
"Not really. Different day, same stuff."
Somewhere about this point you get to actually start the conversation. You talk about a particular incident or two that your children have been involved in, what your spouse is doing, maybe a project you're working on. Usually someone else comes in the room about this time and the conversation base turns to them. A little later the activity you came for begins. Then everyone is off and flying.
Not too long ago some friends visited our house. My wife and I greeted them at the door with friendly hellos. It had been about a year since we had last seen them. We all hugged each other. We brought out tea for them to drink. They had driven an hour and a half to see us. The conversation was animated. We had to know what had been going on in their lives since we saw them last. The conversation bounced back and forth between them and us energetically. After a spirited 30 minutes of talking, we began a meal.
What a contrast between the two conversations. Both are true events. Both left me with totally different feelings. They also allow me to understand fully the episode in Jesus' life where he experienced the exact same conversations. Luke 7.36-50 records the incident.
What happens in verse 39 is unconscionable in retrospect. Especially two thousand years of retrospect. How can one criticize the Son of God? All I have to do is remember a few of the conversations like conversation #1 above. People are so judgmental. It happens all the time. In some of these conversations people use diminuitives in their conversations like, "I like your little house here," or "How's _____ (your son or daughter) doing? You know that job (s)he has doesn't pay very much." Sometimes it's the superlative judgment like "Did you get over your sickness. It seems you are sick all the time lately," or "Have you lightened up on your workload. You're gone from your kids so very much." There are a thousand other ways to show people they don't measure up. So, it's no surprise at all that Jesus would experience the same kind of conversation.
I can picture it, Jesus comes in, gets the formal greeting, "Hi, how are you doing. It's been awhile... blah, blah. Here have a seat. In a minute we'll eat." Then, someone of a higher station comes in to eat with Simon as well. "Hi, how are you. It's so good to see you. Let _____ (the servant) wash your feet. You've been in those awful streets. I'll put some good smelling oil on your head so you feel (and smell) refreshed. Have a seat."
I don't know how the woman that kneels behind Jesus' feet got into the house. If it was Mary, Lazarus' sister, she was a woman of means. That would account for the invitation and the expensive oil. But, if it was not that Mary, then perhaps she whisked in unnoticed with her flask of good smelling oil. Nothing is really said when Mary begins pouring the oil from the flask onto Jesus' feet. But what Simon thought in this instance is so typical of what people say and think today.
Verse 39
ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Φαρισαῖος ὁ καλέσας αὐτὸν εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· οὗτος
εἰ ἦν προφήτης, ἐγίνωσκεν ἂν τίς καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ γυνὴ ἥτις ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός
ἐστιν
(The Pharisee that invited Jesus saw what happened and thought to himself, "If he were a prophet, he would have known who she was, what kind of background she has, and where she is from because the woman touching him has such a questionable character.)
It's clear that Jesus was invited by Simon to his house. So, when Luke uses "the Pharisee" in this verse, it is a deliberate use to show the kind of person Simon was. He was one of those judgmental types who prided himself in knowing the Talmud, which included all the oral traditions, and doing all the right things at all the right times. He's a rule-keeper and polices others' actions to make sure that they are good rule keepers as well. Who would want to be touched by someone of questionable reputation like Mary. Jesus shouldn't allow her to touch him.
Jesus saw his transparent mind, maybe by reading his face, eyes, or posture. Jesus knew what Simon was thinking. He gave him a parable to think about as a result. And very directly Jesus tells Simon that he was not treated well when he arrived - no foot wash, no embrace, no oil for refreshment. In contrast "this woman" (a very impersonal reference to Mary to sarcastically point out that he knew Simon's condescending thoughts about her) used tears to wash his feet, continually kissed his feet, and poured refreshing, sweet-smelling, expensive oil on them. "This woman" had treated him as royalty, like an emperor, like the Son of God.
That is lesson enough for most people, but a tasty morsel comes in verse 47. Jesus' words highlight the great difference between serving God from Simon's standpoint of deserving notice because of his good behavior and Mary's picture of showing total gratitude for Jesus noticing her despite her background and regional origin. She responded with a great show of love for who Jesus was and the change he allowed her with a second chance.
Verse 47
οὗ χάριν λέγω σοι, ἀφέωνται αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτῆς αἱ πολλαί, ὅτι ἠγάπησεν
πολύ· ᾧ δὲ ὀλίγον ἀφίεται, ὀλίγον ἀγαπᾷ
(So, I am telling you her many failures are acquitted because she has shown so much love. A person who has been acquitted of little, loves little.)
Can you see the arched eyebrows of the Pharisees present? In fact, verse 48 says as much. Jesus sees and knows this response too. So, he addresses Mary directly and forgives failures and gives her one more insight.
Verse 50
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε· πορεύου εἰς
εἰρήνην
(Jesus also told the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Move on in peace.")
I know the conviction but stubborn resistance and possible resentment Simon felt after this incident. I have been in Simon's shoes on a great number of occasions. I was raised in an environment just like Simon's and understand his arrogance and desire to be noticed for his piety. I also have poured out my tears at Jesus' feet because of how grateful I am to have the Son of God look at me saying, "Your failures are acquitted because you have shown great love." I have shared that same station in life that Mary was in and comprehend the great relief of being acquitted.
Without any doubt, Mary and all of us who have experienced an acquittal for wrongdoings, failures on our part to live up to a standard of decent living, know the great freedom that comes when the Son of God looks at us and says, "Your faith has saved you, move on in peace." And we do. We move on with a calm about us that only those who have been there understand.
This is how I am approaching 2016 - being acquitted, loving like crazy, moving ahead in peace!
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