Fox's UPS N downs

Hello again. Here is post number two and I promise not to start each post with a number update. Anyway, I was in church this past Sunday, and the pastor was talking about the woman who came in to a fancy dinner party that one of the religious big wigs threw. Jesus was invited, along with the guy's (Simon) best buddies and most of his influential associates.

Jesus had quite a reputation by this time, and I think Simon was trying to show off that he could get Jesus to his place. Sort of like if you invited Tom Cruise or Regis or somebody to dinner, and then invited everybody else you know would be impressed or those you are trying to impress. (Okay, maybe not Regis, but certainly Oprah).

Anyway, while they're all hanging around eating, drinking and full of themselves, this woman comes in. Everybody in the room seemed to know this woman had a past. Apparently either she or her reputation got around. Well, she went right to where Jesus was reclining. She was crying this whole time, and actually washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her long hair. Then she took some very expensive "perfume" and poured it on Jesus' feet.

Well, Simon and the other folks were THINKING "if He knew who she was and what she's done, He wouldn't be allowing her to do that." These uptight socialites were appalled, but no one SAID anything. So then Jesus answers their thoughts by saying, "Simon, if two men owed a debt to a man, one owed much more than the other, and the man canceled (forgave) each one's debt, who would love him more?" Well, Simon answered, "the one who owed more". Bingo! (That's me, not Jesus).

Jesus went on to tell Simon that the woman had come in and washed his feet, kissing them and wiping them with her hair. Jesus reminded Simon that he had not offered water for foot-washing (a custom back then), nor greeted Him with a kiss. He went on to tell Simon, "the one who has been forgiven for much loves much, but the one who has been forgiven little loves little." See, Simon was looking for a headliner for his show, not someone who was sincere, true and loving. Simon was looking for a dinner show, "try the veal, folks, Jesus will be here all week with a matinee on Sunday."

Two things, here. One, Jesus tells the guy, "Look, you figure as a religious leader you're all set and don't need to worry about any heaven-type of stuff or forgiveness, because you figure you don't do anything wrong. But, the ones who know they've been wrong and look for forgiveness are the ones who are on the right track.." Jesus was always tough on those religious guys but the folks who desired a relationship with Him, (mostly those who realized they'd been screwing up a lot in their lives), he loved much.

The second thing, as the Pastor pointed out Sunday, was the woman's attitude. She was not afraid to look crazy or be branded a foolish, shameless woman of ill-repute by those socialites as she went to Jesus. She knew who He was. She wasn't looking for Tiger Woods(perhaps one of the only "women with a past" who could say that) or Lawrence Taylor or Charlie Sheen, she was looking for love from the One who would forgive her and set her free from her past. It didn't matter what people were going to say, she knew what she had to do and did it.

Now, here was a woman who had some ups and downs in life. She chose the one way she could be forgiven, she chose to love much the One who could forgive her, and allow her to start again with a clean slate. How about you? You've had some times you'd just as soon forget? Skeletons in your closet that keep jumping out to remind you they are there? The woman those many years ago knew where to go. Jesus is always there to help you through those ups and downs. Let me know what you think.