MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Luke 7:36-39
John 8:12-24

“… for if ye believe not that I am he,
ye shall die in your sins.”

THE ANOINTING OF THE ANOINTED

A Pharisee invited Jesus to his home to dine. Although Jesus knew the heart of this man, He accepted the invitation. Later, this Pharisee found fault with Jesus because of a woman who came to anoint Him. He judged Christ as having no spirit of discernment, for He allowed the woman who was a sinner to anoint Him.

The woman, known for her sinful behavior, deserved condemnation. But when she heard about Jesus, she wept realizing her grave sinfulness. She used her tears to wash Jesus’ feet. Surely those were tears of repentance (2 Cor 7:10). She humbly bowed before her Lord and wiped His feet with her hair. She even kissed His feet, an act in ancient times that signified love, religious reverence, subjection, and supplication. She brought an alabaster box of ointment. Such boxes were made of a kind of lime and used as vessels to hold valuable ointments. Anointing with oil was an act of hospitality during Jesus’ time, and in Luke 7:46, Jesus contrasted her act with the inhospitable reception of the Pharisee. She welcomed Jesus not into a house but into her heart as her Saviour and Lord. It is said that the ointment was used as part of her sinful lifestyle. Repentant sinners must likewise cut off all that pulls them back to their past ungodly life and surrender them to the Lord. “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:43).

The faultfinding Pharisee condemned the woman as a sinner but was not mindful of his own sinfulness. He did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah having all the nature of Jehovah God of the Old Testament. Indeed, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Have you repented of your sins and acknowledged Jesus as your anointed Messiah?

THOUGHT: Do I have faith or find fault in Jesus?
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to have faith in Thee.