Penitence, Pardon and Peace
(No. 3359)
A SERMON PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1913.
DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that
Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster
box of ointment, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and she
began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair
ofher head, and kissed His feet and she anointed them with the
ointment" Luke 7:37-38.
THIS is a marvelously vivid Gospel incident. Every detail is plainly
and forcefully set forth, so that we can picture the scene, making it
live before us, without much mental effort. And yet, in some respects,
there is a great reticence, a Divine delicacy, gloriously
characteristic of so tender a book as the New Testament. The
Evangelist–"the beloved physician," Luke–does not lay bare the minute
particulars of this woman's life's sins, but delights to dwell rather
upon the story of her penitence and its fair fruits, and so makes her
to shine resplendently as a wonder of redeeming Grace! The symptoms of
her soul's horrible malady he reveals in a single phrase–and that of
general description–but upon the details of her gracious cure he
delights to dwell.
We will consider the life of this famous penitent, as the Holy Spirit
shall help us, under three heads, and notice, first, her former
character Then, her deed of love which showed her new character And,
thirdly, our Lord's treatment ofher. Let us very briefly look at–
THE WOMAN'S CHARACTER, to begin with, in order that we may see the
horrible pit out of which she was
taken.
We do not know much about her. Romish expositors generally insist upon
it that she was Mary Magdalene, but this appears to other writers to
have been quite impossible. Certainly it does not seem probable that a
woman possessed with seven devils should follow the trade of "a
sinner." Demoniacal possession was akin to madness and it was
frequently accompanied by epilepsy. And one would think that Magdalene
was more fit to be a patient at an infirmary than an inmate of a
reformatory. Some have even been so mistaken as to suppose this woman
to have been Mary of Bethany, but this will never do. One cannot
associate with the lovely household of Martha and Mary the horrible
course of pollution implied in the vice which earned for this woman the
special name of "a sinner." Besides, although both women anointed our
Lord, yet the place, the time, the manner were all different. I need
not stay to show you the difference, for that is not the point in hand.
This woman was distinguished by the title of "a sinner," and her touch
was regarded by Simon the Pharisee as defiling. We are all sinners, but
she was a sinner by profession–sin was her occupation and probably her
livelihood. The name in her case had an emphatic sense which involved
shame and dishonor of the worst kind. The city streets wherein she
dwelt could have told you how well she deserved her name. Poor fallen
daughter of Eve, she had forsaken the guide of her youth and forgotten
the Covenant of her God. She was one of those against whom Solomon
warns young men, saying, "Her house inclines unto death, and her paths
unto the dead." Yet as Rahab was saved by faith, even so was she, for
Grace covers even a harlot's sins!
She was a weel-known sinner. Ill-fame had branded her so that Simon the
Pharisee recognized her as one of the town's unhallowed sisterhood. Her
way of life was common town talk–persons of decent character would not
associate with her–she was cut off from respectable society and, like
a leper, put outside the camp of social life. She was a sinner marked
and labeled. There was no mistaking her–infamy had set its seal upon
her.
She was one who had evidently gone a great way in sin, because our
Savior, who was far from being prejudiced against her, as Simon was,
and never uttered a word that would exaggerate the evil in anyone, yet
spoke of "her sins which are many." She loved much, for much had been
forgiven. She was the five hundred pence debtor as compared with Simon,
who owed but fifty. It is not difficult to imagine her unhappy story
because that story is so commonly repeated
around us. We know not how she was first led into evil ways. Perhaps
her trustful heart was deceived by flattering words and promises.
Perhaps the treachery of one too dearly loved led her into sin and
afterwards deserted her to loneliness and shame. Perhaps her mother's
heart was broken and her father's head was bowed down with sorrow, but
she became bold enough to pursue the sin into which she had at first
been betrayed and became the decoyer of others. That long hair of hers,
I fear, is rightly called by Bishop Hall, "the net which she was known
to spread to catch her amorous companions." She was a sinner of the
city in which she dwelt and, though her name is not mentioned, it was
far too well known in her own day. She had lived an evil life we know
not how long, but, certainly, she had greatly sinned, for her own
flowing tears, as well as the Savior's estimate of her life, prove that
she had been no ordinary offender. Let equal sinners be encouraged to
go to Jesus as she did!
But all her sin was known to Jesus. I mention this, not at all as a
fact you do not know, but as one which any trembling sinner may do well
to remember. If you have fallen into the same vice in a greater or
lesser degree, whether others know it or not, Jesus knows all about it.
Our Lord allowed her to wash His feet with her tears, but He knew well
what those eyes had looked upon. When He allowed those lips to kiss His
feet, He knew right well what language those lips had used in years
gone by. And when He allowed her to show her love to Him, He knew how
foul her heart had been with every unhallowed desire. Her evil
imaginations and unchaste desires, her wanton words and shameless acts
were all before the Savior's mind far more vividly than they were
before her own, for she had forgotten much–but He knew all. With all
her tender sense of sin, she did not apprehend all the heinousness of
her guilt as the perfect mind of Jesus did–and yet though she was a
sinner, a well-known sinner, and known best of all to the Savior to be
such, yet, glory be to Divine Grace, she was not cast out when she came
to Jesus, but she obtained mercy and is now shining in Heaven as a
bright and special star to the glory of the love of Christ!
When this woman stood in the house of Simon she was a believing sinner.
We do not know how she became a convert, but, according to the harmony
of the Gospels, this particular incident fits in just after Matthew
11–that is to say, if Luke has written his story with the intent of
chronological correctness–and if the harmonies are right, this passage
comes in after the following blessed words, "Come unto Me all you that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: take My yoke upon
you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall
find rest unto your souls, for My yoke is easy, and My burden is
light." Did this woman hear this gracious invitation? Did she feel that
she was laboring and heavy laden? Did she look into the face of the
great Teacher and feel that He spoke the truth and did she come to Him
and find rest? Doubtless her faith came by hearing–did she hear in
some crowd in the street the sweet wooing voice of the Sinner's Friend?
Was this the means of making "the woman that was a sinner" into the
woman that anointed Jesus' feet? We are not informed as to the
particular means, nor is it of any consequence. She was converted and
that is enough–how it came about is a small matter. Perhaps even she,
herself, could not have told us the precise words which impressed her
mind, for many are most assuredly brought to Jesus, but the work has
been so gentle, gradual and gracious that they feel themselves renewed,
but hardly know how it came about! On the other hand, from the marked
change in her character, it is highly probable that she did know the
day, the hour and the precise means–and if so, dear were the words
which called her from the ways of folly, sin and shame! I do not
suppose that our Savior had, at that time, delivered the memorable
parable of the prodigal son, but it may have been some similar
discourse which won her attention when she made one of a crowd of
publicans and sinners who drew near to hear the Lord Jesus. Pressing
forward among the men to catch those silver tones, so full of music,
she wondered at the Man whose face was so strangely beautiful and yet
so marvelously sad–whose eyes were so bright with tears and whose face
so beamed with love and earnestness. The very look of that mirror of
love may have affected her! A glance at that holy countenance may have
awed her and His tones of deep pity and tender warning–all these held
her fast and drew her to abhor her sin and accept the joyful message
which the great Teacher had come to proclaim! She believed in Jesus.
She was saved and, therefore, she loved her Savior!
When she came to the Pharisee's house she was a forgiven sinner. She
carried an alabaster box in her hand with which to anoint Him because
she felt that He had been a priest to her–and had cleansed her. She
brought her choicest treasure to give to Him because He had bestowed on
her the choicest of all gifts, namely, the forgiveness of sin. She
washed His feet because He had washed her soul. She wept because she
believed–and loved because she trusted. She was, when she entered the
room, in a condition of rest as in her forgiveness, for men are seldom
deeply grateful for mercies which they are not sure of having obtained.
Though after that deed she rose a step higher and became fully assured
of her acceptance,
even at her first coming she was conscious of forgiven sin–and for
that reason she paid her vows unto the forgiving Lord whom her soul
loved.
Our text begins with a, "behold," and it may well be so, for a forgiven
sinner is a wonder to Heaven, earth and Hell! A forgiven sinner! Though
God has made this round world exceedingly fair, yet no work of Creation
reflects so much of His highest Glory as the manifestation of His Grace
in a pardoned sinner! If you range all the stars around and if it is so
that every star is filled with a race of intelligent beings, yet, I
think, among unfallen existences there can be no such marvel as a
forgiven sinner. At any rate, he is a wonder to himself and he will
never cease admiring the Divine Grace which pardoned and accepted him.
What a miracle to herself must this woman have been. For a case like
hers she had seen no precedent and this must have made it the more
surprising to her! When your case also appears to stand out by itself,
alone, as a towering peak of Grace, refrain not from wondering and
causing others to wonder. "All Glory to God," may some say, "I, whose
name could not be mentioned without making the cheek of modesty
crimson, I am washed in the blood of the Lamb! I who was a blasphemer,
who sat on the drunkard's bench, who gloried in being an infidel and
denied the Godhead of Christ, I, even I, am saved from wrath through
Him! I who played a dishonest part, who respected not the laws of man
any more than those of God, I who went to an excess of riot–even Iam
made whiter than snow through faith in Christ Jesus!–
"'Tell it unto sinners, tell, Iam, Iam saved from Hell.'"
Let all know it upon earth and let Heaven know it–and let the loud
harps ring in yon celestial halls because of matchless Grace! Behold,
then, this woman's character, and remember–however fallen you may have
been–the Grace of God can yet save you! Now, secondly, let us
consider, at some length–
II. THE DEED OF LOVE WHICH INDICATED HER CONVERSION.
Her conduct as a convert was wide as the poles asunder from that of her
unregenerate state–she became as evidently a penitent as she had been
a sinner. One of the expositors upon this passage says that he cannot
so much expound it as weep over it–and I think every Christian must
feel very much in that humor. O that our eyes were as ready with tears
of repentance as were hers! O that our hearts were as full of love as
hers and our hands as ready to serve the forgiving Lord! If she has
exceeded some of us in the publicity of her sin, yet has she not
exceeded all of us in the fervency of her affection!
Let us notice what she did. And the first of 12 matters to which I
shall call your attention is the earnest interest which she took in the
Lord Jesus. ' 'Behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she
knew that Jesus sat at the table." She had a quick ear for anything
about Jesus. When she heard the news, it did not pass in one ear and
out the other, but she was interested in the information and
immediately went to the Pharisee's house to find Him. There were
hundreds in that city who did not care a farthing where Jesus was. If
they heard the general gossip about Him, it did not concern them in the
least–He was nothing to them. But when she knew it, she was in motion
at once to come even to His feet! Jesus will never again be an object
of indifference to a forgiven sinner. If the Lord has pardoned you, you
will henceforth feel the deepest interest in your Savior and in all
things which concern His Kingdom and work among men. Now, if you have
to move to any place, you will want to know first, "Where can I hear
the Gospel? Are there any lovers of Jesus there?" If you are informed
about a town or country, the information will not be complete till you
have enquired, "How is the cause of God prospering there?" As you look
upon your fellow men, the thought will strike you, "How do they stand
towards Christ?" When you attend a place of worship, it will not matter
much to you whether the edifice is architecturally beautiful, or the
preacher a learned man and a great orator–you need to know whether you
can hear of Jesus in that place and be likely to meet with Him in that
assembly! Your cry will be, "Tell me, O You whom my soul loves, where
You feed?" If you perceive a sweet savor of Christ in the place, you
feel that you have had a good Sabbath, but if Jesus Christ is lacking,
you consider everything to be lacking–and you groan over a lost
Sabbath. A soul that has tasted Christ's love cannot be put off with
anything short of Him–it hungers and thirsts after Him and any good
word about Him is sweet unto the taste. Is it so with you?
Notice, next, the readiness ofher mind to think of something to be done
for Jesus.' 'When she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the
Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster box of ointment"–she was
quick and ready in her thoughts of service. She would not appear before
the Lord empty, but the resolve to bring an offering and the selection
of that offering were quickly made. She would get that alabaster box of
aromatic ointment, the daintiest and costliest perfume that she had,
and she would anoint His feet to do Him honor. Many minds are inventive
for the things of the world, but they
seem to have no quickness of thought in reference to the service of
Christ–they proceed with dull routine, but never flash out with
spontaneous deeds of love. This woman showed an original genius in her
love. She was no copier of a former example–her plan of service had
the dew of freshness upon it. Mary of Bethany did something like it,
but that was afterwards–this was the woman's own original idea. Her
thoughtful soul struck out this new path for itself. We need more
contriving, inventing and planning for Christ! See how we act towards
those we love–we consider what will please them and plot and plan some
pleasant surprise for them. We put our heads together and ask, "What
shall it be? Let us think of something new and original." That
thoughtfulness is half the beauty of the act.
Notice, thirdly, her promptness of action. She did not merely think
that she had an alabaster box to give, but she took it at once and
hastened to pour out its contents. Dear Friend, you have been saved by
Grace and you have an alabaster box upstairs which you have long meant
to bring down–but it is still there. Half-a-dozen times or more, when
you have had your heart warmed by the love of Christ, you have felt
that now was the time to bring out the box, but it still remains sealed
up! You were so pleased with yourself for having such earnest feelings
and generous resolutions that you stopped to admire yourself and forgot
to carry out your resolutions! You have done nothing, though you have
intended a great deal. Do you not sometimes feel as self-contented as
if you had done something wonderful when, after all, you have only
mapped out what you think you may possibly do at some future time?
Indeed, it is a mighty easy thing to make yourself believe that you
have really done what you have only dreamed about! This is wretched
child's play and the woman before us would have none of it! She saw the
occasion and she seized it. Jesus might not be in her city, again, and
she might not be able to find Him for many a day. The thought struck
her and she struck the thought while yet the iron was hot and fashioned
it into a fact!
Observe, in the fourth place, her courage. She knew that Jesus was at
the table in the Pharisee's house. And she soon found Him reclining, in
the Oriental fashion, with His feet near the door, for Simon was so
uncivil that he was sure to give Him a poor place at the table. Seeing
the Lord, she ventured in. It needed no small bravery for her to enter
the house of a Pharisee, who, above all things, would dread to be
touched by such a character! In her bad times she had seen the holy man
gather up his garments and leave her a broad space on the streets, for
fear that she should pollute his sacred person! She must have felt, as
all penitent sinners do, an inward shrinking from the cold, hard,
self-righteous professor of purity! She would have gone anywhere in
that city rather than into Simon's house. It must have cost her a great
struggle to face his frowns and severe remarks. Perhaps, however, I am
wrong. Indeed, I think I am, for she was so full of the desire to show
her love and to honor the Lord Jesus that she forgot the Pharisee! Yes,
and if the devil had been there, instead of Simon, she would have dared
even him in his den, to reach her Lord! Still, there was much courage
needed for one so lowly in her penitence to be able to bear the cold,
contemptuous look of the master of the house. Conscious that she had
been a castaway from society, yet she courageously fulfilled her
mission, fearless of cruel remarks and taunting charges. O poor, timid
seeking Soul, the Lord can also give you the courage of a lion in His
cause, though now you are timid as a hare!
When, then, the penitent had reached the Master's feet, note well how
one Grace balanced another and observe her humility tempering her
courage. Her boldness was not forwardness nor indelicate
impertinence–no, she was as bashful as she was brave! She did not
advance to our Lord's head, or thrust herself where He would readily
see her–much less did she presume to address Him–but she stood at His
feet behind Him, weeping. She was probably but a little way in the
room. She courted no observation. She was near Jesus, but it was near
His feet, and weeping there. To weep at His feet was honor high enough
for her–she sought no uppermost seat at the banquet. Ah, dear Friends,
it is a blessed thing to see young converts bold, but it is equally
delightful to see them humble! And they are none the worse for being
very retiring if they have been great sinners.
I have been very sorry when I have seen a lack of modesty where it
ought to have superabounded. There is more Grace in a blush than in a
brazen forehead, far more propriety in holy shamefacedness than in
pious impudence. Good Bishop Hall says, "How well is the case altered!
She was known to look boldly in the face of her lovers, and now she
dares not behold the awful Countenance of her Savior! She had been
accustomed to send alluring beams forth into the eyes of her paramours,
but now she casts dejected eyes to the earth and dares not so much as
raise them up to see those eyes from which she desired commiseration."
Lowliness goes well with penitence. One would not wish humility to be
corrupted into cowardice, nor courage to be poisoned into pride. This
repenting sinner had both excellences in proper proportion and the two
together put her exactly in the place where a woman that was a sinner
ought to be when saved by Grace!
We see before us our reclaimed Sister looking down upon the Lord's
blessed feet. And as we mark her flowing tears, we pause to speak of
her contrition. She gazed upon our Lord's feet and I wonder whether
that sight suggested to her how her feet had wandered–and how
travel-worn had become the feet of the Lord, who had sought and found
her–
"She knew not of the bitter way
Those sacred feet had yet to tread,
Nor how the nails would pierce, one day,
Where now her costly balms were shed." But she saw those feet to be all
unwashed, for Jesus had been neglected where He ought to have been
honored. And she saw therein the memory of her own neglect of Him who
had so freely loved her soul. She wept at the memory of her sins, but
she wept over His feet. She grieved most because she had grieved Him.
She wept because she had sinned so much and then wept because He had
forgiven her so freely! Love and grief in equal measures made up those
precious tears. The Divine Spirit was at work within her, dissolving
her very soul, even as it is written, "He causes His wind to blow and
the waters flow." And again, "He smote the Rock and the waters gushed
out." Do you marvel that she stood and wept? Thinking of herself and
then thinking of Him, the two thoughts together were far too much for
her–and what could she do but both relieve her heart and express it in
a shower of tears? Wherever there is a real forgiveness of sin, there
will be real sorrow on account of it. He who knows that his sin is
pardoned, is the man who most acceptably exercises repentance. Our hymn
puts it on the right footing when it points, not to the horrors of
Hell, but to the griefs of Immanuel, by which our pardon is certified
to us as the deep source of sorrow for sin–
"My sins, my sins, my Savior,
How sad on You they fall!
Seen through Your gentle patience,
I tenfold feel them all.
I know they are forgiven,
But all their pain to me
Is all the grief and anguish
They laid, my Lord, on Thee." After admiring this woman's contrition,
notice her love. The Holy Spirit took delight in adorning her with all
the Divine Graces and she came behind in nothing–but she excelled in
love. Our Lord Jesus Christ, when He translated her act of anointing
His feet, expressed it in the one word, "love." He said, "She loved
much." I cannot speak much with you concerning love, for it is rather
to be felt than to be described. Words have no power to bear the weight
of meaning which lies in love to Christ. Oh, how she loved! Her eyes,
her hair, her tears–herself–she counted all as nothing for His dear
sake! Words failed her, as they fail us and, therefore, she betook
herself to deeds in order to let her heart have vent. Alabaster box and
ointment were all too little for Him–the essence of her heart was
distilled to bathe His feet–and the glory of her head was unbound to
furnish Him with a towel! He was her Lord, her All-in-All! If she could
have laid kingdoms at His feet, she would have rejoiced to do so! As it
was, she did her best and He accepted it.
This love of hers led her to personal service. Her hands were the
servants of her heart and did their part in the expression of her
affection. She did not send the alabaster box to Jesus by her sister,
or ask a disciple to pass it to Him, but she performed the anointing
with her own hands, the washing with her own tears and the wiping with
her own hair. Love cannot be put off with proxy service! She seeks no
substitute, but offers her own person! I grant, dear Brothers and
Sisters, that we can serve the Lord a great deal by helping others to
serve Him, and it is right and proper to help those who are able to
labor better and more widely than we can. But still, it is not right
that we should rest content with that–we ought to be ambitious to
render tribute to our Lord with our own hands. We cannot deny ourselves
the pleasure of doing some little thing for our Beloved Lord. Suppose
this loving woman had had a sister who loved the Master even as she
did? And suppose, like a loving sister, she had said to her, "I fear it
will be too heavy a task for you to face cold-hearted Simon–I will
take the box and anoint our blessed Lord and tell Him that I did it for
you–and so He shall know your love." Do you think she would have
consented to the proposal? Ah, no, it would not have answered the
purpose at all. Love refuses sponsors. She must anoint those blessed
feet herself Now, dear Friends, you who hope that you have been
forgiven, are you doing anything for Jesus? Are you, on your own,
serving Him? If not, let me tell you, you are missing one of the
greatest delights that your souls can ever know and, at the same time,
you are omitting one of the chief fruits of the Spirit! "Simon, son of
Jonas, do you love Me?" is the question, and if you wish to answer it
with proof positive,
then go, and with your own hands, feed the Savior's sheep! Surely you
cannot love Him as you should, unless each day has its deed of love,
its sacrifice of gratitude!
Observe, next, that her service was rendered to the Lord Himself Read
the passage and place an emphasis upon the words which refer to the
Lord. "She stood at His feet, behind Him, weeping, and began to wash
His feet, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His
feet, and anointed them with the ointment." It was not for Peter, or
James, or John that she acted as servitor. I have no doubt she would
have done anything for any of His disciples, but at this time all her
thoughts were with her Lord–and all her desire was to honor Him. It is
a delightful thing for Christian people to lay themselves out
distinctly for the Lord Jesus. There should be more ministering unto
Him, more definite aiming at His Glory. To give money to the poor is
good, but sometimes it is better to spend it upon Jesus more
distinctly, even though some Judas or other should complain of waste–
"Love is the true economist! She breaks the box and gives her all, Yet
not one precious drop is missed, Since on His head and feet they fall."
One is glad to serve the Church–who would not wait upon the bride for
the bridegroom's sake? One is glad to go into the streets and lanes of
the city to gather in poor sinners, but our main motive is to honor the
Savior. See, then, how she who was once a harlot has become a zealous
lover of the Lord and is ready to wash her Lord's feet, or perform any
service which may be permitted her, if she may work a good work upon
Him!
Further, note that what she did, she did very earnestly. She washed His
feet, but it was with tears. She wiped them, but it was with those
luxurious tresses which were all unbound and disheveled that she might
make a towel of them for His blessed feet. She kissed His feet and she
did it again and again, for she did not cease to kiss His feet, or if
she made a moment's pause, it was only that she might pour on more of
the ointment. She was altogether taken up with her Lord and His work!
Her entire nature concurred in what she did and awakened itself to do
it well. True love is intense–its coals burn with vehement heat–it
makes all things around it living. Dead services cannot be endured by
living hearts!
Furthermore, notice the woman's absorption in her work There she stood,
anointing His feet with ointment and kissing them again and again.
Simon shook his head, but what of that? He frowned and cast black looks
at her, but she ceased not to wash His feet with her tears! She was too
much occupied with her Lord to care for scowling Pharisees. Whether
anyone observed her or not, or whether observers approved or censured,
was a very small matter to her–she went quietly on–accomplishing the
suggestion of her loving heart!
And what she did was so real, so practical, s o free from the mere
froth of profession and pretence. She never said a word–and why not?
Because it was all act and all heart with her. Words! Some abound in
them, but what wretched things words are with which to express a heart.
As in a glass, darkly, can we see the reflection of a soul's love in
its most passionate utterances?. Actions are far more loud and have a
sweeter tone than words! This woman had done with speech, for the time
being, at any rate, and tears and disheveled hair and poured-out
ointment must speak for her! She was too much in earnest to call
anyone's attention to what she was doing, or to care for anyone's
opinion, much less to court commendation, or to answer the ugly looks
of the proud professor who scorned her! This thorough oblivion of all
except her Lord constituted, in a measure, the charm of her deed of
love–it was wholehearted and entire loyalty which her homage revealed.
Now, dearly Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, I do pray that you and I,
as pardoned sinners, may be so taken up with the service of our Lord
Jesus Christ that it may not matter to us who smiles or who frowns! And
may we never take the trouble to defend ourselves if people find fault,
or ever wish for anybody to commend us, but be so taken up with Him and
the work He has given us to do, and with the love we feel to Him, that
we know nothing else! If all others run away from the work. If all
discourage us, or if they all praise us, may we take but small notice
of them, but keep steadily to our loving service of Jesus! If Grace
enables us to do this, i t will be greatly magnified.
See, dear Friends, what Divine Grace made of "the woman that was a
sinner." Perhaps you thought her worse than yourselves in her carnal
state–what do you think of her as a penitent? What do you think of
yourselves if you stand side by side with her? Do you not blush for
very shame and ask for forgiveness of your Lord for the slenderness of
your affection? Lastly, let us see–
III. THE SAVIOR'S BEHAVIOR TO HER.
What did He do? First, He silently accepted her service. He did not
move His feet away, did not rebuke her, or bid her to leave. He knew
that reflections were being cast upon His Character by His allowing her
to touch Him, yet He did
not forbid her, but, on the contrary, continued quietly enjoying the
feast of repentance, gratitude and love which she spread for Him. He
was refreshed by seeing such Grace in one who had before been so far
from God. The perfumed ointment was not so grateful to His feet as her
love was to His soul–for Jesus delights in love–especially in
penitent love! Her tears did not fall in vain–they refreshed the heart
of Jesus, who delights in the tears of repentance. The applause of a
nation would not have solaced Him one-half as much as this woman's
pure, grateful, contrite, humble love! His silence gave consent, yes,
even approbation! And she was happy enough to be allowed to indulge
herself in expressions of adoring affection.
Then the Lord went a little farther, He turned round and looked at her,
and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?" That glance of His must
have encouraged her and made her heart dance for joy! As soon as ever
those eyes of His lighted on her, she could see that all was right–she
knew that whoever frowned, there were no frowns on that brow– and she
was filled with supreme contentment!
Next, the Lord spoke, and defended her triumphantly, and praised her
for her deed! Yes, and He went beyond that and personally spoke to her
and said, "Your sins are forgiven you," setting a seal to the pardon
which she had received and making her assurance doubly sure! This was a
joy worth worlds–
"Oh, might I hear Your heavenly tongue
But whisper, 'You are Mine,'
The heavenly word should raise my song
To notes almost Divine."
She had a choice blessing in hearing from His own lips that her faith
was firmly based and that she was, indeed, forgiven! Then she received
a direction from Him as to what to do–"Go in peace." A forgiven sinner
is anxious to know what he may do to please his Lord. "Show me what You
would have me to do," was Paul's prayer. So our Lord Jesus seemed to
say, "Beloved, do not stay here battling with these Pharisees. Do not
tarry in this crowd of cavilers. Go home in perfect peace and as you
have made home unhappy by your sin, make it holy by your example."
That is just, I think, what the Lord Jesus would have me say to my dear
friends who have followed me in this discourse. You see what Grace can
do–go home and let your family see it! If any of you are conscious of
great sin–and have received great forgiveness–and, therefore, wish to
show your love to Jesus, do what is on your heart! But at the same time
remember that He would have you go in peace. Let a holy calm abide in
your breast. Do not enter into the vain jangling and endless
controversies of the hour. Do not worry yourself with the battles of
the newspapers and magazines that are everlastingly worrying poor souls
with modern notions. Go in peace! You know what you know–keep to that.
You know your sin and you know Christ, your Savior! Keep to Him and
live for Him. Go home into the family circle and do everything you can
to make home happy, to bring your brothers and sisters to Christ and to
encourage your father and mother if they have not yet found the Savior!
Home is especially a woman's place. There she reigns as a queen! Let
her reign well. Around the hearth and at the table, in the sweets of
domestic relationships and quiet friendships, a woman will do more for
the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ than by getting up to preach! In the
cases of men, also, many who long to flash in public had better by far
shine at home! Go home in peace and, by a happy, holy life, show to
others what saints God can make out of sinners! You have seen what sin
and the devil can do to degrade–go and prove what Grace and the Holy
Spirit can do to elevate–and may many, cheered by your example, come
and trust your Lord!