A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                               LOVE POURED OUT PART X

"I, a woman who was known as a sinful woman, have been forgiven....That means I can now be known as a forgiven woman!!... I know that to be true!!.... I know as well that, apart from me, only Jesus knows that to be true!!.... He was the One who spoke forgiveness over me... He has the right to do so.... For He is the Messiah.... We are both in the home of the Pharisee Simon... Jesus was invited.... I was not.... But I came anyway.... I am so happy I came.... For I am now a free woman..... There are many other guests.... They have all heard Jesus tell me that I am forgiven....I know they do not believe Jesus... But that does not matter to me... I know that what Jesus has said to me is true.... And I can now go in peace... I have never known this peace.... It is a supernatural Peace... A Peace that passes all understanding... A Peace that will last for a lifetime.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the sinful woman can now go in peace....

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                LOVE POURED OUT PART X

Jesus hears the muttering of the other guests of the Pharisee Simon but he ignores their comments. Instead He continues to speak to the woman who has not been forgiven as you can read in Luke 7:50

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

The woman is overjoyed that Jesus has recognised her faith in Him and has rewarded her with His Peace. She knows that from this moment on she can walk in Peace, not a peace that the world offers but a Peace that passes all understanding for it is not dependant on her circumstances.

P.S. In my next blog post we will begin to look at a another story when once again a woman poured perfume over Jesus' feet.

 

 

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             LOVE POURED OUT PART IX

I, Judas, am one of the guests at the home of the Pharisee Simon.... One of the other guests is Rabbi Jesus... I had come out of curiosity.... I had heard of Jesus and decided I would like to meet Him in person... So I listened to Him as He spoke.... It all sounded quite good.... But then unusual things began to happen... A woman we all know as a sinful woman appeared behind Jesus weeping... She wet His feet with her tears.... We expected her to ask for a towel... But she did not... Instead she loosened her hair and used it to dry Jesus' feet!... We, Simon's other guests, looked at each other... We were all shocked to see that... But I then remembered that she was a sinful woman!.... So her behaviour was, therefore, not strange... I was surprised, though, that Jesus never said anything.... Moreover, He allowed her to pour perfume over His feet!!.... Jesus then finally began to speak... I expected Him to tell the woman to leave but He did not.... Instead, He turned to His host Simon and told him a story.... It was all about love and forgiveness.... Who is He to talk about such subjects?.... Does He now know who this woman is?... That she is a sinner?... What Jesus did next is unbelievable... He turned to the woman and told her that her sins are forgiven!!.... We, all the other guests, looked at each other again.... Had we heard it right?... Had Jesus just said that this sinful woman's sins are forgiven?... Does He not know that only God can forgive sins?... Does He think He is God?.... Blasphemy!!".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the reaction of the other guests of the Pharisee Simon to Jesus words to the sinful woman...

 

               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                       LOVE POURED OUT PART IX

The Pharisee Simon has not only invited Jesus to his house but he has invited others as well. They have all seen what the sinful woman has done. And they have heard that Jesus told her her sins are forgiven as you can read in Luke 7:49

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

The other guests of the Pharisee Simon are not sure what to make of Jesus' words. To them Jesus is just a man and how can a man claim to be able to forgive sins? No doubt, many will have gone home that evening with questions in their minds. Will they eventually have discovered the truth about Jesus? only God knows....  

P.S. Please realise that Judas is a made up name of one of the guests....

  

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                            LOVE POURED OUT PART VIII

"I, was a sinful woman.... That is how everyone know me.... That is how I saw myself as well... That meant I was not loved.... But today that has changed..... It all changed because I dared to go and see a Man named Jesus.... I had heard of Him.... I had heard of His kindness...I had heard as well that He had been invited to the home of the Pharisee Simon.... I decided I would go and see Him... I did not want to go empty handed.... So I brought with me my most treasured possession.... My bottle of very expensive perfume....I looked for Jesus when I arrived at Simon's home.... The moment I saw Him I slipped behind Him... I could not stop crying.... My tears wet His feet.... So I loosened my hair to dry them.... I kissed them for they are beautiful to me.... I then poured perfume over them.... I knew Jesus would understand me... Others may not.... But that did not matter... I then heard Jesus talking to Simon.... He told him a story... That story touched my heart... I don't know if Simon understood the story.... But I did.... Jesus understood thhat I love Him so very much.... And Jesus has now just spoken the words I have been longing to hear from Him... He told me that I have been forgiven!!.... I, a sinful woman, have been forgiven my many sins!!... I am no longer guilty!!... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that a sinful woman has been forgiven by Jesus....

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                               LOVE POURED OUT PART VIII

Jesus is the sinful woman's only hope to find forgiveness for her many sins. And her hope is fulfilled as you can read in Luke 7:48

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Jesus turns to the woman and speaks to her the words she has been longing to hear that her sins are forgiven... She looks at Jesus with gratitude in her eyes. She may not yet fully understand what these words mean but she knows them to be true and life changing for her.

 

                           A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              LOVE POURED OUT PART VII

"I, Jesus, looked at the sinful woman.... However, I did not address her... I addressed my host Simon the Pharisee once again... I have just told him a story of two men who owed a money-lender money... The debt of both of them was forgiven.... However, one was forgiven a large amount and the other a small amount.... Simon understands the one who has been forgiven much loves much.... But does he understand that he is the one who loves little?... The fact that he loves little is seen in his actions towards Me.... For He did not give me any water for My feet when I entered his house... Neither did he kiss Me... Nor did he put oil on My head.... But the sinful woman has wet My feet with her tears... Has dried them with her hair.... Has not stopped kissing My feet.... And has poured perfume over My feet.... All signs of her great love for Me because she knows she has been forgiven much.... Simon loves little because he does not think he needs much forgiveness."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus addresses the Pharisee Simon to show him how much the sinful woman loves Him and how little he loves Him...

 

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                         LOVE POURED OUT PART VII

The time for telling the truth as it really is has come. so Jesus begins to compare the actions of the woman with the actions of the religious leader as you can read in Luke 7:44-47

Then He turned towards the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears amd wiped them with her hair. You did not give Me a kiss, but this woman, from the time she entered, has not stopped kissing My feet. You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on My feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little love little."

Jesus shows the religious leader that he considers himself a person who has little or no sin in his life and therefore does not need to be forgiven much. This causes him to have little or no love for Jesus for he has not shown Him any care or kindness when Jesus entered his home, since he never even bothered to have Jesus' feet washed when He entered his home, which was a service offered to anyone considered an honoured guest. Neither had he kissed Jesus to welcome Him in his home or poured oil on his head. But the woman knows that she is a great sinner and in need of much forgiveness. This causes her to have a great love for Jesus as is shown in her many kind acts towards Him. For she knows that all the religious leaders, including the religious leader in whose home she is now, have already judged her for her sins. However, she knows as well that Jesus is different.

                                     

  

                              A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             LOVE POURED OUT PART VI

"I, Jesus, have just turned to my host Simon the Pharisee.... I knew he has seen the sinful woman wet My feet with her tears.... Dry My feet with her hair.... And pour perfume over them.... I knew he did not believe I could be a Prophet... So I told him a story of two men who both owe a money-lender money they cannot pay back.... The money-lender cancelled both their debts.... I then asked my host a question.... My question was as follows.... Who did Simon think loved the money-lender the most?.... He answered my question... But the answer came very relunctantly.... He supposed the one who had the bigger debt cancelled loves most... I told him he had judged correctly.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Simon the Pharisee's answer to Jesus' question to him...

         ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                     LOVE POURED OUT PART VI

Jesus follows His story up by asking Simon, which is the name of the religious leader, a question related to the story. And Simon, having to be polite, reluctantly answers him as you can read in Luke 7:43

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Jesus lets Simon know that he has given Him the right answer to His question.

 

                                 A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  LOVE POURED OUT PART V

"I, Jesus, looked at Simon the Pharisee.... I was aware that he had been watching what the sinful woman had done for Me.... I knew that he had seen her come behind Me.... That she had wet My dirty feet with her tears... That she had dried them with her hair.... That she had poured very expensive perfume over them... I knew too that he thought I could not be a Prophet.... So I turned to Simon and began to tell him a story.... It was the story of two men... Both had borrowed money.... One had borrowed a little... The other had borrowed a lot.... Neither of them could pay their debt... The money-lender cancelled the debts of both of them..... I then asked Simon which of the two men would love the money lender more.... I waited for an answer from Simon.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus tells the Pharisee a story about two men who owe a money-lender money.....

             ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                        LOVE POURED OUT PART V

But Jesus is a Prophet and is, in fact, much more than a Prophet, and knowing what the religious leader thinks, He begins to speak to him as you can read in Luke 7:40-42

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me teacher," he said. "Two men owed money to a money-lender. One owed him five hundred dinarii and the other fifty." Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Jesus addresses the religious leader by telling him a story about two people who have to pay a debt which neither of them can pay off.

 

                             A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             LOVE POURED OUT PART IV

"I, Simon the Pharisee, have a dinner tonight.... One of the guests was Jesus... As we were having our meal a woman walked in.... She had not been invited... She came anyway... We all know her as that sinful woman.... She somehow managed to slip in and move behind Jesus.... She was crying.... Her teard wetted His feet.... She then did the unthinkable....She loosened her hair.... What a scandalous thing to do... She then began to use her hair as a towel to dry His feet with.... I looked at the whole scene with amazement.... I expected Jesus to say something to stop her... But He did not... That was not all though... The woman next opened a bottle of very expensive perfume... And she poured it over Jesus' feet!!... What a waste!!.... But there was nothing I could do to stop her... And it should not have been me to stop her from doing this... Jesus should have stopped her from doing this.... Did He not know who she was?... He is supposed to be a Prophet.... If that is true then he would know who she was."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Simon the Pharisee questions whether Jesus is a Prophet or not...

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           LOVE POURED OUT PART IV

Jesus allows the sinful woman to miniter to Him in the way she desires to. He does not send her away. Perhaps that is because He does not know what kind of woman she is or does He know?..." The religious leader has that question in mind as well as you can read in Luke 7:39

When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner."

Outwardly the religious leader is very polite to Jesus, making no comment what so ever on what the sinful woman is doing. However, inwardly, he is very critical of Jesus and decides that Jesus cannot possibly be a prophet since he does not even recognise what kind of woman touches Him.

 

                         A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              LOVE POURED OUT PART III 

"I, a sinful woman, had gone to the house of the Pharisee Simon... I knew he had organised a dinner party for Jesus.... Once I entered the house I looked for Him... The moment I spotted Him I walked up behind Him... I could not stop crying... My tears fell on His feet... I realised my tears were washing away the dust on His feet.... No one had offered to wash His feet.... Neither had anyone offered to dry His feet....What could I use to dry them?... I knew.... I could use my hair.... So I loosened my hair.... I then used my long hair to dry them....I could not help but kiss His feet for they were so beautiful to me.... It was then time to open my bottle with the very expensive perfume.... I knew just what I should do with it.... I should pour it over His feet... So I did!".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that a sinful woman has entered the home of the Pharisee Simon where Jesus had gone to for dinner and pours perfume over His feet...

                     ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                 LOVE POURED OUT PART III

The sinful woman manages to enter the home of the religious leaders and as soon as she spots Jesus at the table, she goes to His seat as we know from Luke7:38

And as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

No longer being able to control her deep-felt emotions at the sight of Jesus, the sinful woman begins to weep. Her tears fall on His feet. Not having a towel available to dry His feet with, she loosens her hair and uses them to dry His feet with. No respectablem Jewish woman will ever loosen her hair in public, but this woman is not interested in her personal dignity. All she wants sto do is to show her love to this Man named Jesus. Having dried His feet she knows it is now time to do what she has come to do; she pours the perfume she has brought with her over His feet as an act of worship.

                                      

 

                             A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                LOVE POURED OUT PART II

"I am a woman with a past as some would say of me.... This means that no one wants to be kind to me.... However, I learned that Jesus has been invited to the home of the Pharisee Simon for dinner.... I have heard of Jesus... In fact, I have heard many wonderful stories about Him.... Hope has risen up in me that He might be kind to me as well.... So I decided to go and see Him.... But I did not want to go empty handed... That is why I have taken my most precious possession with me... It is a bottle of very expensive perfume.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that a sinful woman has decided to go to the home of the Pharisee Simon where Jesus has gone for dinner...

          ATTACHMNENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           LOVE POURED OUT PART II

You may wonder why this Pharisee Simon aks Jesus to come to his home. Is it perhaps because secretly he wants to become a follower of Jesus? Let's read Luke 7:37 to see what happens during that dinner

When a woman who had lived a sinful lifestyle in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

The news that Jesus is eating at the home of the religious leader gets spread throughout the town. One of the inhabitants of the town is a woman who, as Luke, describes it, had lived a sinful lifestyle. This very likely means that she has worked as a prostitute. She too learns that Jesus is at the thome of the religious leader. No doubt, she has heard of Jesus' kindness though she, very likely, has never met Him in person as yet. And she decides her moment to meet Him has come.She takes the bold step of going to the home of the religious leader so she can see Jesus face to face. However, she does not want to go empty-handed so she takes with her an alabaster jar of perfume, which will have been very precious to her.