A favourite story of mine is found in Luke, where we read that Yahshua was invited for a meal to the home of Simon, a Pharisee. In those days they used to ‘recline’ around the table on special couches, not sit on chairs as we do. I don’t know what the protocol was for uninvited guests, but people other than guests seemed to be free to gather. On the day in question a woman, notorious in the town as a sinful person, heard where Yahshua was and simply ‘turned up’! No one stopped her from making her way to the couch where He lay and she stood behind Him weeping.
Her tears fell onto Yahshua’s feet and she began to wipe them away with her hair. Finding His feet still dusty from His journey and receiving no rebuke from Him, she began to wash His feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. She had been carrying a beautiful, alabaster jar. As she removed the stopper a fragrant perfume began to fill the room. First she gently kissed those feet, and then began to massage them with the aromatic oil. Simon was watching critically and with disapproval. “If this Man really were a prophet,” he thought, “He’d know what kind of woman this is. Why is He letting her touch Him” [cited from Luke 7:39]?
Yahshua could be neither compromised nor contaminated by a sinner woman crying over His feet! Understanding His host’s thoughts, He pointed out that on His arrival Simon hadn’t supplied water for washing, nor greeted Him with a kiss, but this weeping woman had amply supplied that lack. Then He added, extraordinarily, “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven…” [v47]. Wait! Did we hear this woman ask that her sins be forgiven? They already were! No words had been needed. Yahshua saw into her heart, understood the repentance that produced the tears and the need for forgiveness that prompted her actions. Before she asked, He answered! “Your sins are forgiven; your faith has saved you,” He confirmed.
He is always available to hear the anguished prayer that has no words!
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The Living WordNew Audio Devotional
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1 Corinthians 15:19-20 NIV - If only for this life we have hope in - Bible Gateway
Rejoice, Rejoice, Oh Christian, Lift Up Your Voice And Sing Eternal Hallelujahs To [Yahshua the Messiah] The King! The Hope Of All Who Seek Him, The Help Of All Who Find, None Other Is So Loving, So Good And Kind.
Homer A. Rodeheaver
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