Trying to Play it Safe

Baby Kenzie sleeping in her carseat. Carseats
have saved many lives, but we also grow out of
them and move onto bumper seats, and regular seat-belts. 
We can't play it safe and live our whole life in a carseat. 

Scripture:

Luke 7:36   One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. ³⁷ And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸ She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.” ⁴¹ “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Observation:

This is such a fascinating story, and it is only found here in Luke. Jesus was invited to table fellowship at the home of a leading Pharisee. When a banquet was served the guests would lounge around the table, which was nearly floor level, probably leaning on their side, with their feet stretched out behind them. It was not uncommon to allow strangers into the courtyard to create a perimeter around the guests so that they could listen in on the conversation. Having an honored guest lounge at your table and speak was a big deal, and you wanted everyone to know about it. 

There, among the people gathered, was a woman who was well-known to be a prostitute. We assume that she has already heard Jesus preach and has been radically saved and transformed. The gratitude welling up inside of her is more than she can contain. She brings an alabaster jar filled with oil that can be used to anoint. Usually one would anoint someone’s head, but she can’t reach his head because of how he is reclining at the table. She can, however, stoop down at his feet. 

Overcome with gratitude she begins to weep and the scene is far too intimate for most people, making the host uncomfortable. Women didn’t let their hair down in public for this was considered sensual, but she does, and she dried her tears from his feet with her hair. Can you imagine! Then she kisses his feet and anoints them with oil — and Jesus lets her do this! This was all far too improper, let alone making him unclean. 

Because Jesus allowed this woman to continue, the Pharisee became upset, and assumed that Jesus didn’t know what kind of woman was in front of him. It’s interesting that the Pharisee did know who she was! 

As if reading his mind, Jesus now speaks up and uses this as a teachable moment. He speaks of those who have great debt cancelled. He wants Simon, the Pharisee to recognize that those who have great debts forgiven, will have much gratitude. Then he reflects on the ordinary way in which Simon treated Jesus when he entered the home. 

While the woman had already experienced transformation, Jesus now provided words of affirmation, telling her that her sins were forgiven. This, of course, frustrated those at the table with Jesus, wondering how he could say these words. It wasn’t the words, nor was it her lavish actions that saved her, but the simplicity of her faith. She had been made whole and now, she could go in peace. 

Application:

The Pharisee was trying to live his life in a safe space. He wanted to look spiritual and invite the right people to his home. When the newest preacher came into town, he wanted to host him, but then things took a turn. The presence of Jesus in his home revealed more than Simon had imagined, and he was no longer feeling safe. Why did Simon know the prostitute? Now, it may simply have been common knowledge in a small town, and yet, he had not sent her away from the gathering. Why did Simon not kiss Jesus? He seemed to have wanted Jesus to come because that might make him look better, but he didn’t really have an appreciation for Jesus. This was more about appearances and how others might think of him, than it was about what was going on in his own heart. That’s where he thought he could remain safe — and yet, he couldn’t because Jesus really was a prophet, who not only knew the woman, but knew Simon. 

Jesus knows us and can see right through our actions when we think that we are trying to “play it safe.” John Wesley challenges us as followers of Christ to be willing to minister at the margins, and be willing to be found with people whom others may condemn. He writes: “Let us neither absolutely refuse all favours, nor resent all neglects, from those whose friendship is at best very doubtful, and their intimacy by no means safe.” 

Have there been times in your Christian walk that you have been challenged to help someone that you really didn’t want to help? Maybe they were difficult, or lived a rough lifestyle, or even smelled bad. Sometimes we want to look spiritual, but at the same time, we want to play it safe. Jesus didn’t play it safe. He did what was right. 

Prayer:

Lord, I confess that it’s easy to want to play it safe, but I truly want to follow you into the messy zones of ministry. Amen.