We were at the Temple listening to the great teacher when the leaders and a strong crowd suddenly and aggressively interrupted us. They forced their way to the centre and pushed a woman down. Her clothes were mostly torn and hastily put on. In shame she sobbed before the feet of the Master, waiting for her doom and death.
We were all shocked and speechless at the sudden scene before us. The Pharisees and scribes came forward and pointing at the woman, addressed the Master “this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” (John 8:1-5). The place became as quiet as a cemetery; except for the crying of the woman, we were all silenced and ashamed of the situation! I wondered why she was brought there alone without the man and how they managed to get her in the very act…
While we stood wondering, Jesus started writing on the floor, ignoring their questions to Him about the judgement to be meted out to the woman. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her,” He said and started writing on the floor. As the leaders saw what he was writing, they began to leave one by one. Why were they leaving? We got closer and saw him writing detailed and secret sins of the scribes and Pharisees themselves. When they see their sin, they secretly left before their sins became public. So it happened until there was no one left standing…
Thus was this woman saved from a certain death! Jesus forgave her and asked her to go and sin no more. The woman, shaken and obviously ashamed but grateful for the pardon, rose up, thanked Him, and run away to hide her shame. She went home, to a village called Bethany that was about 2 miles from Jerusalem, and told her ordeal to her sister and brother. Out of gratitude for His saving mercy, the three siblings later came to thank Him and invite Him to their home in Bethany. From time to time, we always stayed with this family in Bethany whenever we were going to Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, Mary’s current state of whoredom was inculcated into her by the same Pharisees and Scribes, who used her for their own pleasures and ends. It so happened that although this woman, called Mary, was freed from death, she was still infested with seven demons. With deep prayers and tears, Jesus prayed for Mary and rebuked the demons tormenting and leading her into adultery to leave her alone (Luke 8:2). For this, Mary, Lazarus, and Martha became very close to Jesus.
Towards the crucifixion of Jesus, closer to the last Passover, we were invited with Jesus to the house of Simon, a Pharisee who used to be a leper. This Simon also lived in Bethany, the same town of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and was instrumental in leading Mary astray into adultery. Indeed, he had wronged her deeply. Simon’s leprosy had been healed by Jesus and in appreciation, he invited Jesus to a feast at his house, with other Pharisees in attendance. Prior to this invitation, Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had been dead for 4 days and risen from the dead.
As the news of Lazarus resurrection spread, hundreds of people who had come for the impending Passover feast at Jerusalem thronged Bethany to see Lazarus for themselves and hear more of his ordeal. Jesus was seated between Lazarus and Simon at the feast..
“Martha served at the table, but Mary was earnestly listening to every word from the lips of Jesus. In His mercy, Jesus had pardoned her sins, He had called forth her beloved brother from the grave, and Mary’s heart was filled with gratitude. She had heard Jesus speak of His approaching death, and in her deep love and sorrow she had longed to show Him honor. At great personal sacrifice she had purchased an alabaster box of “ointment of spikenard, very costly,” with which to anoint His body. But now many were declaring that He was about to be crowned king. Her grief was turned to joy, and she was eager to be first in honoring her Lord. Breaking her box of ointment, she poured its contents upon the head and feet of Jesus; then, as she knelt weeping, moistening them with her tears, she wiped His feet with her long, flowing hair.” DA 558.4
“She had sought to avoid observation, and her movements might have passed unnoticed, but the ointment filled the room with its fragrance, and published her act to all present. Judas looked upon this act with great displeasure..he began to whisper his complaints to those near him, throwing reproach upon Christ for suffering such waste. Craftily he made suggestions that would be likely to cause disaffection. “DA 559.1
Mary heard the words of criticism. Her heart trembled within her. She feared that her sister would reproach her for extravagance. The Master, too, might think her improvident. Without apology or excuse she was about to shrink away, when the voice of her Lord was heard, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her?” He saw that she was embarrassed and distressed. He knew that in this act of service she had expressed her gratitude for the forgiveness of her sins, and He brought relief to her mind. Lifting His voice above the murmur of criticism, He said, “She hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.” DA 560.1
Jesus did not rebuke Judas directly, “but the look which Jesus cast upon Judas convinced him that the Saviour penetrated his hypocrisy, and read his base, contemptible character. And in commending Mary’s action, which had been so severely condemned, Christ had rebuked Judas.” This indirect rebuke causes Judas so much bruised ego and emotional pain that he determined to be revenged. From the supper he went directly to the palace of the high priest, where he found the council assembled, and he offered to betray Jesus into their hands.”
Simon the host had been influenced by the criticism of Judas upon Mary’s gift, and he was surprised at the conduct of Jesus. His Pharisaic pride was offended. He knew that many of his guests were looking upon Christ with distrust and displeasure. Simon said in his heart, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him: for she is a sinner.”
By curing Simon of leprosy, Christ had saved him from a living death. But now Simon questioned whether the Saviour were a prophet. Because Christ allowed this woman to approach Him, because He did not indignantly spurn her as one whose sins were too great to be forgiven, because He did not show that He realized she had fallen, Simon was tempted to think that He was not a prophet. Jesus knows nothing of this woman who is so free in her demonstrations, he thought, or He would not allow her to touch Him.But it was Simon’s ignorance of God and of Christ that led him to think as he did. He did not realize that God’s Son must act in God’s way, with compassion, tenderness, and mercy. Simon’s way was to take no notice of Mary’s penitent service. Her act of kissing Christ’s feet and anointing them with ointment was exasperating to his hardheartedness.
He thought that if Christ were a prophet, He would recognize sinners and rebuke them.To this unspoken thought the Saviour answered: “Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee…. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And He said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.” DA 566.1
I entered into thine house,” Christ continued, “thou gavest Me no water for My feet;” but with tears of repentance, prompted by love, Mary hath washed My feet, and wiped them with the hair of her head. “Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman,” whom you despise, “since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet.” Christ recounted the opportunities Simon had had to show his love for his Lord, and his appreciation of what had been done for him. Plainly, yet with delicate politeness, the Saviour assured His disciples that His heart is grieved when His children neglect to show their gratitude to Him by words and deeds of love.
The Heart Searcher read the motive that led to Mary’s action, and He saw also the spirit that prompted Simon’s words. “Seest thou this woman?” He said to him. She is a sinner. “I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”Simon’s coldness and neglect toward the Saviour showed how little he appreciated the mercy he had received. He had thought he honored Jesus by inviting Him to his house. But he now saw himself as he really was. While he thought himself reading his Guest, his Guest had been reading him. He saw how true Christ’s judgment of him was. His religion had been a robe of Pharisaism. He had despised the compassion of Jesus. He had not recognized Him as the representative of God. While Mary was a sinner pardoned, he was a sinner unpardoned. The rigid rule of justice he had desired to enforce against her condemned him. DA 567.2 – DA 567.4
Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, Christ saw in Mary capabilities for good. The one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a habitation of demons, was brought very near to the Saviour in fellowship and ministry. It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil, and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross, and followed Him to the sepulcher. Mary was first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary who first proclaimed a risen Saviour.
Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say, I am sinful, very sinful. You may be; but the worse you are, the more you need Jesus. He turns no weeping, contrite one away. He does not tell to any all that He might reveal, but He bids every trembling soul take courage. Freely will He pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. Christ might commission the angels of heaven to pour out the vials of His wrath on our world, to destroy those who are filled with hatred of God. He might wipe this dark spot from His universe. But He does not do this. He is today standing at the altar of incense, presenting before God the prayers of those who desire His help.
The souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing and the strife of tongues. No man or evil angel can impeach these souls. Christ unites them to His own divine-human nature. They stand beside the great Sin Bearer, in the light proceeding from the throne of God. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33, 34. DA 568.1 – DA 568.5
