The woman had no business being there, and yet, there she was mixing her tears with perfume while kissing the feet of Jesus.
Today, she might be accused of failing to read the room. She was an intruder at a dinner party thrown by a religious leader who had invited other religious leaders to eat and talk with Jesus. Had she read the room, she never would have been there in the first place, much less gone public with such an audacious act of devotion.
And yet, Jesus commended her while chiding the host. His final words on the matter are the ones we must take to heart: “Whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47)
Not only did this woman love big because she’d been forgiven big, she also knew the source of that forgiveness. As a result, it turns out that she did read the room correctly. In fact, she was the only one who had because she was the only one who recognized Who mattered most in the room.
Our worship changes when we remember how much we’ve been forgiven and when we recognize the presence of the Forgiver. Caution gets thrown to the wind. Reckless abandon ensues. Tears and perfume flow. And forgiveness takes center stage.
Today, worship like one who has been forgiven much.
