The Offenses of Jesus – The Women in Jesus’ Life, part 1

There are several instances that Jesus has opportunity to reveal the hearts around Him in his encounters with women.  It is amazing how Jesus consistently breaks the cultural barriers to show His love and honor to the women in His life.   I’ve heard it said that Christianity is demeaning to women.  Well, if it is, it’s not what Jesus modeled for us. 

For example, the story of the woman found in Luke 7:36-50.  Jesus has been invited to the home of Simon the Pharisee for dinner.  In verse 37, the Amplified version says that “a woman of the town, an especially wicked sinner…brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume).”  She comes to anoint Jesus.  Her love for Jesus is so great that she can’t stay away, even when she must come into the presence of people who despise her.  She can’t even face Jesus.  She comes up behind him and starts weeping, wetting his feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair.  She kisses His feet and anoints them with the ointment.

Here is where the offense is made.  The Pharisee sees all of this happening and says to himself, “If this man was a prophet, he would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him – for she is a notorious sinner (a social outcast, devoted to sin).”  (vs. 39)  Jesus replies to him, even though he never voiced his opinion, with a story. 

A certain lender of money [at interest] who had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both.  Now which of them will love him more?  Simon answered, "The one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more."  And Jesus said to him, "You have decided correctly." (vs. 41-43)

Jesus takes the opportunity to honor this wicked woman.  He turns to her while still talking to Simon.  He points out to Simon that she is the one who is lavishing love, while he did not even give the common courtesies of the day – water for his feet, a kiss of greeting, and oil to anoint His head.    “Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her – because she has loved much.  But he who is forgiven little loves little.” (vs. 47)

There are so many things that strike me about this passage.  First, the woman.  She is so bold.  Her love for Jesus compels her to Him, no matter what others will think.  She is lavish and extravagant with her love; expensive perfume, her own tears and her un-bound hair.  She doesn't let the criticism of the Pharisee stop her.  Her love must be expressed.  She knows the love Jesus has for her.  It is done in response to Jesus, not in order to receive anything from Him.  The result?  She is saved and takes with her the peace of Christ.  “Your faith has saved you; go (enter) into the peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin].” (vs. 50)

Jesus is amazing in this passage.  He is not the least bit upset or embarrassed by her behavior.  He lets her continue what she is doing.  He knows He is worthy of these acts of love.  He receives them with grace and compassion. He stops whatever was going on at the party to address the situation.  He doesn’t tell her to come back later.  Simon is offended that Jesus would let this notorious woman touch Him.  The Pharisee didn’t treat Jesus with honor that He should have received.   Is Jesus offended?  No, he uses the moment of Simon’s offense, and reveals the hardness of his heart.  Jesus gently leads the Pharisee to the truth with the story of the debts forgiven.  To Jesus, it was all about love and forgiveness, not “political correctness” at the dinner party.

Jesus allowed the woman to express herself just as she wanted.  He accepted the anointing she gave Him.  He understood the intent and received it.  Although she starts out behind Jesus, He turns to her, even as He speaks to Simon and tells His story.  There is no question that Simon gets the meaning of the story.  He answered correctly.  The one who is forgiven much, loves much.


This is one of my favorite stories.  The Lord has used it in my life as a reality check.  I must admit that I have stood in the place of the Pharisee.  It's easy for me to forget how much I have been forgiven.  The truth is that Jesus had to die for both the Pharisee's sin and the wicked woman's sin.  Sin is sin, and any of it separates us from God.  Just because I may not have been a "notorious sinner" doesn't mean I don't need forgiveness.  I would paraphrase what Jesus said for my own life:  The one who remembers how much she is forgiven, loves much.  The one who forgets how much she's been forgiven, loves little.


I knew I had lost my "first love" with Jesus when I saw other people with a greater passion for Jesus than I had.  I was jealous.  I would read the psalms of David and think, "What an emotional man."  I would listen to people like Beth Moore and think, "Wow, she really loves Jesus."  I wanted that.  I had been living an emotionally dead faith.  This story woke me up to the reality that I had become ungrateful for the forgiveness I had received.  Only by remembering the value of the forgiveness given, could my passion for Jesus be revived.  


I know this post is a lot longer than my others.  Thanks for hanging with me today.  I just can't say enough about this story.  Just as with Simon, Jesus gently offended my mind to reveal my heart.  He rescued me from my emotional prison and freed me to love Him.  He is worthy of all the love I can give.    

Back to reality...

On arriving to our church's annual Women's Retreat, my spirit was tired and my body was needing rest.  On returning home from the retreat, my spirit felt revived, but my body still needed a nap.

We had a wonderful time.  The Lord is so faithful.  He always takes my small offering and multiplies it into the more-than-enough that He provides.  Everyone who was able to attend "caught" the transforming power of eucharisteo - the thanksgiving, grace, and joy.  It was so amazing to see the light bulbs go on above their heads.  I couldn't have been happier.  To see my friends fall in love with Ann Voskamp and her book was priceless.  Jesus spoke His love to each lady and the joy filled the room.  There were almost a dozen new Gift Lists started this weekend!

I can't think of a better book to take along on a girl's getaway weekend!  I highly recommend it!

So now, back to reality.  Fortunately, my new reality contains the tools I need to live with a thankful heart, receiving all that God has for me as a gift of grace, and the joy of His presence.  Bring it on!
 

Enjoying the View is becoming more than a blog name.

When I started this blog, I searched for a name that would represent me.  Something that I've always loved is a great view.  I'll endure quite a bit just to see one (as you may have noticed by my hiking posts...).  But as with a lot of things in my life, the name is evolving to mean more than just a physical view of my surroundings.  A view can also be a perspective of life, like a world view.

This week, I'm busy working on retreat presentations.  Our topic for this year is from Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts: Daring to Live Fully Right Where You Are.   If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.  One of the main points of the book is learning to see what God is placing right in front of you as a gift from Him.   All of life is a grace that is meant to be received with gratitude.  Eucharisteo is the Greek word that breaks down into three:  Eucharisteo = thanksgiving, Chara = joy and Charis = grace.  Such a power-packed word.  I'm learning to look around with new eyes.  I look for the beauty of the ordinary; a rainbow, a sunset, a child's smile, a piece of bread.  I look for the joy even in the hard things as Jesus did - but for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.

This looking for the God-gifts is not easy.  It takes deliberate effort, practice.  I've been trying to make a list to 1000 for quite awhile now.  I must admit.  I haven't been adding to it lately and I miss it.  As I look over my previous posts that have a portion of my list, I instantly feel the joy that came along with those entries.  Counting gifts makes me feel God's love for me.  That's a view that I will always enjoy, right where I am - no hiking necessary!

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT

Retreat on the horizon....Waterfall in the rear view...

I ask for your grace for the next two weeks.  Our annual Women's Retreat is May 13-15, and I need prepare.  I'll try to keep in touch, but my study focus needs to be on our retreat material.

Keeping with my "Enjoying the View" theme....

We found this fun water hole on a short hike in Kahaluu.  Nice clear, cold water to dip our feet in.  Sorry about the graffiti.  Can't seem to get away from it.  One person's art...

Mark was carving Andrew's name, not ours....

Nice shot by the waterfall.

Smooch!

But just so you don't think it's so easy to get these shots, I'll show you how graceful I was on the way down.
My daughter, Rachael, was all too happy to document the moment!

We were standing on a water pipe about 5 feet off the ground.

I'm too scared to jump...

Maybe if I squat down first...

I look like a frog..

Who me?  I'm always this graceful...

The older I get, the easier it is for me to laugh at myself.  I can't take myself too seriously!

But as for me, I will sing about your power.

      Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.

   For you have been my refuge,

      a place of safety when I am in distress.

O my Strength, to you I sing praises,

      for you, O God, are my refuge,

      the God who shows me unfailing love.

Psalm 59:16-17

Have a great day!  

This is my solomn vow....

In honor of William and Kate, here's a re-post:


I love weddings. I never used to cry at them, until I got married myself. Now I can hardly even watch one without crying - even if it's on TV. I think it is because once you enter into that marriage covenant and live a few years together, those vows really take on meaning. A starry-eyed bride can not begin to understand what she's saying. But don't try to tell her that... She's making them in faith.

Here is a copy of the vows my groom and I made to each other: 

I, (Karelin/Mark),

take thee (Mark/Karelin),

to be my wedded (husband/wife),

to have and to hold from this day forward,

for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,

in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish,

'til death do us part,

according to God's holy ordinance;

this is my solemn vow.


During my quiet time this week, it dawned on me that a prayer of surrender to the LORD is very much like the vows I made at my wedding. When I give myself fully to my Savior, it is for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish.... I make these vows in faith, too. A new believer can't really know what lay ahead in his journey with Jesus. But there is a trust, a knowing that God is a good and faithful God. "Perfect love casts out fear," and day by day, those vows take on new meaning.

There is no better groom than Jesus. He remains faithful, even when I do not. He loves me completely, even though I am just learning to love Him. The best part is, there is no "'til death do us part."

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Now that's romantic! *sniff*

This LORD's day, I want to come to Him with my heart given to be fully His. There's no better love than the love of God.

Pacesetter...Moi?

Had a beautiful run this morning.  The rain had just passed through and the air was clean and fresh.  With Rachael's driver's ed. class forcing me to get up and out three mornings a week, my road running has improved. 

Since I posted about finding that pacesetter, I keep coming back to that image.  While I run, even though there is no one a head of me, I can imagine those feet and see the pace.  I don't have to have a physical pacesetter, in my mind's eye, I can see them.  It has improved my time.  I don't start out too fast and use up all my energy.  It helps me run more and walk less. 

I passed a man on the street today.  He looked like the "old coach" type of guy.  He actually commented as I went by him, "Nice pace, real comfortable."   I thought, "Yes, it is comfortable.  I could run a long time at this pace..." 

A little further on, I passed a woman running just a bit slower than I was.  (yes, I can actually pass people...)  I began to wonder if I might be a pacesetter for her.  Not that I'm such a super-star runner.  But I know how much I was helped by a passing runner. 

It got me thinking.  Isn't that how our journey with Christ is supposed to be.  We find a pacesetter for us, Jesus and others, and we also become a pacesetter.  Paul repeatedly talks about running the race in his letters to the churches.  He set an example for us to pursue Christ at all costs.  Paul new that he hadn't "arrived" to perfection, but that didn't stop him from urging them (and us) to imitate him. 

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...

Philippians 3:13 NIV



...For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. 

So I urge you to imitate me.

I Corinthians 1:15-16 NLT

Before my come-back to road running, I was content to run on my treadmill.  It was enough to keep me going.  I could mark off a few miles a week and not feel too guilty.  How many years of my Christian life have I been content to run my own private race?  It's enough for me to get by, but that's not what Jesus commanded as He left this planet.  He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations..."  If I'm not running my race as a pacesetter, who will come after me?  How will I obey this command?  I'm coming to the strong conviction that this journey is not to be lived in isolation.  There is no "plan B" for reaching the world.  I am a part of it and I have a role to play. 

As I was coming back to my starting point, I passed the same lady again.   This time as I passed her, she was walking.  I'll never know if I was a pacesetter for her, but when I was finally at my car, I saw her a third time.  But this time she continued past me - running.

Do you have someone who can set the pace for you?  Are you setting the pace for someone else.  The truth is, people are watching us.  What kind of pace will we set?

The Offenses of Jesus: The Faith of a Gentile Woman

Usually, the offenses of Jesus make me cringe.  This is one that inspires me. It is found in Matthew 15:21-28.  Jesus leaves the offended Pharisees and travels to the north, to the region on Tyre and Sidon.  A gentile woman comes to Jesus, pleading for Him to deliver her daughter who was possessed by a demon.

Don't you hate it when you are talking to someone and they ignore you?  That's what Jesus did.  (Offense #1)  He didn't say a word - no reply to her pleading.  Evidently that didn't put her off.  She keeps begging.  So much so that the disciples ask Jesus to send her away, "She is bother us with all her begging."  So Jesus speaks to her.  "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep, the people of Israel." (Offense #2)  She is not deterred.  Her response?  She came and worshiped Him, and pleaded again, "Lord, help me!"

Jesus comes back with this, "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs."  (Offense #3) Ouch!  Basically, Jesus is calling this woman a dog, unworthy of His attention.  But this woman is amazing.  Her love for her daughter and her belief that Jesus is the answer gives her the chutzpah to push on. She ignores His insult and replies, "That's true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master's table."  Wow.  Such boldness.  She passes the test.  Remember, Jesus only offends the mind to reveal the heart. Her heart for her daughter and her faith in Jesus is revealed  ~ and impresses Jesus.  Now Jesus can drop the offenses.  His tone changes completely.  "Dear woman,"  Jesus says to her, "your faith is great.  Your request is granted."  Finally, the intended result.  His offense of the woman revealed a heart of faith.  Her daughter was instantly healed.  If there was any doubt that our persistence and faith can move the heart of God, here it is.  Jesus stated that His purpose was to bring salvation to the Jews.  But her bold faith pleased Jesus so much, He extended His grace to her, even before the dispensation to any other Gentile.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. 

Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists 

and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 NLT

In our day, the salvation and grace of Jesus is fully available to everyone.  But do I persist in prayer, using bold faith to lay hold of what I need from Jesus?  Does my faith please God, enough to move Him?  Do I believe it can?