April 30, 2011

• worship ~ the woman remembered | letter 116 on assurance & joy

  Luke 7:36  One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40  And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

  41  “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43  Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44  Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48  And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49  Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50  And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

  Mark 14:3  And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4  There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5  For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6  But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7  For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8  She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9  And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

  stony heart unfrozen
  alabaster flask broken
  pours grateful token
  fiery affections spoken
  
  men may criticize
  mock and chastise
  Christ looks inside
  heart circumcised
  
  merciful Savior
  every tear He savors
  having found His favor
  her love was no labor
  
  debtor, tarry no more
  your debt fully borne
  the curtain's been torn
  enjoy heav'ns rich store
  
  divine meets human
  real participation
  living communion
  indissoluble union
  
  though world rejected
  labeled defective
  offering accepted
  of lambs He's elected
  
  flawed to man's eye
  by God sanctified
  pleasing sacrifice
  never despised
  
  worldly disgrace
  can never erase
  God's eternal grace
  or His shining face
  
  as men rise to judge
  look up to the Son
  hear Him: "It is done!"
  your sin is expunged
  
  love's offering tendered
  always remembered
  precious love poured
  God never ignores
  
  men may shame
  heaps of disdain
  can never restrain
  glory's acclaim
  
  worms come and dine
  fellowship divine
  grafted to the Vine
  partake of His wine
  
  debtor's welcome
  beyond all telling
  holy compulsion
  sweet consolation

  ---

  Related:

  my other letters on assurance and joy including:

  take me to that place of quiet rest (letter 68 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  a conversation with Jesus about misplaced joy ("do not rejoice in this" - letter 73 on joy)
  one Friend alone | letter 100 on assurance & fighting for joy

  Links to my "Conversations with God about failure"
  Links to my series "Dealing with Past Sins & Guilt"
  from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet...
  even among the voices (Bible reading: Nehemiah 6:1-14)
  one woman's (not so secret) addiction
  Galatians 1:10 . . . if I yet pleased men . . .
  Keep me away from the paths of the destroyer that I might behold Your face. (Psalm 17)
  the sparrow reminds us
  even in my disappointment - still blessed by my Father
  a word in doubt
  Lenten Reflections: the remembrance and the rendering (Luke 20:9-26)

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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