“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:47
In the days Jesus lived on the earth, alabaster jars were often made from precious stones found in Israel. This stone resembles the texture of marble and was extremely expensive to own. Alabaster jars often contained ointments, oils, and perfume. The thick stone prevented the aroma from escaping and kept the perfume from spoiling. The jar had a long neck and a sealed top. To open the jar, the top had to be broken, which allowed it to only be used once. The sinful woman in Luke 7 knew exactly how she wanted to use her precious perfume. She wanted to give a gift that illustrated her devotion to the One Whose grace had changed her. In her brokenness, she wanted to surrender everything to Jesus.
Simon the Pharisee scoffed at her extravagance. What a waste! But Jesus was quick to rebuke him, demonstrating instead that her gift was welcomed and appreciated…not because of its financial worth, but because of the heart of the woman who offered it. The grace of God is free…and it costs us everything.
The treasure of salvation is totally free because it was purchased for us with the blood of Christ. None of us can buy our way into God’s family. We can’t buy ourselves a new heart that delights in God rather than in our own desires. In His grace, God freely gives us the gift of forgiveness and restoration. And yet this gift costs us everything.
How can a free gift cost us everything? To enjoy Christ fully – experiencing His sufficiency in all things – we must be willing to turn from everything else. We must be willing to let go of anything we previously relied on for fulfillment, comfort, self-worth, or happiness so that Jesus can meet those needs. Only then can we enjoy the fullness of Christ.
This sinful woman understood her salvation. She knew she was a sinner who could never earn God’s favor. Her great love for Jesus – expressed in her tangible worship of Him – demonstrated that she had surrendered her life to Him. His extravagant grace prompted her extravagant surrender.
Salvation is offered freely, but the depth that we enjoy Christ and experience His love is up to us.
Dear God, I want to be like the woman in this passage, not the Pharisee. Please open my eyes and my heart to the depths of my own sin so that I can also be fully aware of the depths of Your grace to me in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Forgiveness
