Do You See This Woman?Sample

Devotional:

The Woman Jesus Saw

Imagine going to a party you weren’t invited to—and where the hosts can’t stand you.

In our story today, a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to a dinner party at his home. An unnamed woman also showed up because she learned that Jesus would be there. This alone tells us a lot about her. In her determination to get to Jesus, she showed up uninvited and unwanted. 

Needless to say, she was not a welcome guest at this party. Women were considered second-class citizens at best in this culture, and because this woman was referred to as an “immoral” or “sinful” woman, we can also assume that she was a prostitute. She was so intent on seeing Jesus that she broke through social norms to show up at a Pharisee’s home. 

The Pharisees were an ancient Jewish separatist party who used religion as a means of manipulation and fear to make themselves appear holy and lord power over others. They basically thought they were better than everyone else, and their philosophy was to separate themselves completely from people they considered “unclean” or “sinners.”

At the party, the woman was hiding in the shadows. We can see how she viewed her worth just by where she chose to stand. She knew that she wasn’t invited, yet she stood behind Jesus, placing herself at His feet. My guess is that she had heard stories of Him healing and helping people. 

The woman cried so much that she was able to wash Jesus’s feet with her tears. I love that in her brokenness, insecurity, and low self-worth, she felt safe in His presence. At this point, Jesus hadn’t yet spoken a word to her, yet she wept, kissed His feet, and poured her perfume on His feet, wiping them with her hair. This is such an intimate act of love, humility, and tender worship. 

It’s worth noting that this woman’s alabaster jar would’ve been a treasured possession, and it likely cost an entire year’s worth of wages. She quite possibly used this perfume in her everyday job. Its sweet smell would’ve been a painful reminder of her sin that brought on great sorrow, shame, and regret. 

Pouring her perfume on Jesus’s feet symbolized pouring out her old life of sin. She wept in repentance and worshipped Jesus as Lord. Because she was aware of her many sins, she was all the more grateful for Jesus’s forgiveness. She understood the meaning of grace because she knew what she had been saved from. 

Meanwhile, Simon couldn’t see his sin. He was too busy judging this woman to realize his own need for a savior. He thought he was clean by his works or outward appearance. He missed the whole point of grace because his pride was in the way.

Until this point, the woman had only been called “sinner.” Her shame was her identity. But when Jesus looked at her, he called her “woman.” I wonder how long it had been since anyone had referred to her that way. Jesus honored her by calling out her true identity: a woman created in the image of God.

Don’t miss Jesus’s parting words to this woman: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” 

Just as this woman came to Jesus to receive love and healing, let us come to Him and pour out our repentant hearts to Him. He won’t heap shame or judgment on us. He loves us and welcomes us. When we bring our sin and brokenness to Him and ask for forgiveness, He washes us clean, restores our dignity, and sets us free to move forward in peace. 

Jesus forgives you, saves you, loves you, and sees you. Your debts are canceled.

Reflect:

• How did Simon and Jesus each view the woman at the dinner party?
• How can you experience God’s forgiveness and freedom today?