Have you ever known someone who knew everything about you but loved you anyway?
That was Jesus.
I’d heard Him preach. Lots of times, from a distance. He talked about the kingdom of heaven, and oh, He made it sound so wonderful—like He’d been there, just the other day: “In my Father’s house are many mansions . . .”
But I knew I’d never see it. Too many sins. And too many demons, always at war within me.
I followed Him, but on the outskirts. He drew me in spite of myself.
I watched Him laugh with the little children. I could tell He loved them. You can’t fake that. He gathered them up in His arms and held them close, then He whispered in their ears. And they smiled—every time.
I watched how He walked among the people—the sick, blind, lepers even—and healed them. Why would He, a rabbi, touch them? They were unclean. Outcasts. The slumdogs of society.
And then He cast the demon out of that little boy. That was when I began to hope. Maybe, just maybe, He could help me.
So I waited until He went to Simon’s house.
I brought my most precious treasure—ointment for His head. But when I cracked it open, my heart cracked open too. Standing there, Him so pure and holy, and me so unclean.
How could I dare to stand in His presence? My knees gave way, and I crumpled to the ground, oil sloshing onto His feet. He looked at me—everyone was looking at me—but I couldn’t raise my eyes. My sin stood hopelessly between us.
But then I remembered the blind man and the lame man and the leper.
And my heart cracked open more. I began to weep. My tears mingled with the dust on His feet.
That dirt—I knew it was a picture of my sin. This God/Man had walked the world and allowed the sin of the world to cling to Him, yet it never became part of Him. The more I sobbed, the more my repentant tears flowed.
I knew I was making a scene, but I couldn’t help it. The fragrance of the oil permeated the room as I rubbed it onto His feet. My tears made silver trails on His dark skin.
“Leave her alone . . . . she’s anointing me for my burial.” I heard His words, but they sounded far away, otherworldly.
These feet . . . feet that had walked a hundred miles to search for the lost sheep of Israel. I loved these feet—the part of Him that was most like me—soiled. And calloused. And . . . human. I kissed them over and over again as gratitude filled my heart to bursting.
“Simon.” I heard His voice again—tender and tired. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Then I heard Simon’s voice, squirmy and self-righteous. “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
The tears, the oil, and the dirt had puddled around those sacred feet. I reached for a towel, only to find I had none. Desperate to clean the mess I’d made, I fumbled with the tie that held my hair back. Grabbing a handful of my hair, I wiped frantically at the fragrant mess, trying to remove the evidence of my bold indiscretion.
“I came into your house,” I heard Him say to Simon. “You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.”
I felt His fingers, rough from work, touch my face. Tenderly He raised my chin. I wanted to run, but a force stronger than fear held me in place. Eyes lowered, I waited for the condemnation I knew would come.
“I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
I heard His words, but they made no sense.
“Your sins are forgiven,” He repeated to my disbelieving ears. “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
As we move ever closer to Easter, it’s good to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. As we follow Him to the cross, it’s appropriate to ask:
Have you ever seen your sin for what it is? Not a mistake or an indiscretion, but the thing that stands between you and a holy God? Have you, like Mary Magdalene, come to Christ in humility and repentance, wanting only to be cleansed? Have you believed, by faith, that Jesus has the power to forgive your sin and transform your life? Have you accepted His gift of forgiveness? If you have, then the words Christ spoke to Mary belong to you as well: “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Based on Luke 7:36–48.
—Written by Lori Hatcher. Used by permission from the author. Click here to connect with Lori.
48 Responses
This verse speaks so much that I am loved by Jesus.
So grateful that you are a part of the GHH Community Cynthia!
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I praise God for His Reckless, Endless Love that still pursue me and us. I ask God to help us to. ast all our cares on Him, freeing our hearts and minds of anxiety/ worry and guide us to know and do His Will.
Thank you Lori for the beautifully healing devotion. 🙏💜
Sonja, amen amen. "freeing our hearts and minds of anxiety/ worry and guide us to know and do His Will." YES! So grateful that this encouraged your heart!
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❤️🙏🏻
Thanks for joining us, Joanne!
Such a great representation of that passage of scripture. Your short devotions have made me laugh and cry and ponder. I have also enjoyed the book "Refresh Your Faith".
Thank you, Janet, for your kind words. I, too, laugh, and cry, and ponder as I come face to face with God’s Word and the love that splashes out of His heart onto all of us. What a gift!
Beautiful. I felt as if I was Mary. Amen.
One day, Angela, we, too, will be able to fall at His feet and declare our love for Him. What a day that will be!
This made me cry tears because I too was like Mary Magdalene. I stood at the foot of cross for the first time at the age of 53. I asked and received forgiveness for my many sins. Today I I walk a path more closely aligned to Jesus and the words of our Father, I sometimes still struggle with my flesh. Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me in mind, heart and word. The Spirit given freely at the death of my Savior.
Amen and amen, Laurie. "Amazing love, how can it be, that thou, my God shouldst die for me?" What a beautiful testimony you have of God’s grace and mercy.
What a beautifully-written account of this event. Mary Magdalene’s story reminds us that Jesus loves us even though He is aware of our sin. That thought is staggering and coupled with the crucifixion, shows the necessity of His blood as payment for sin and the depth of His love. Thank you, Lori, for sharing this beautiful story.
Jeannie, it’s mind blowing to think that He knows every dark thought and deed that lives in our heart, yet He still chose to offer Himself in our place. Only God could possess a love like that . . . and then He extends that love to us. As my former pastor often said, "I cannot earn it. I don’t deserve it. But I am infinitely grateful." Amen and amen!
This is a wonderful reminder for us all! Thank you so much! I praise and thank Jesus for the truth found in this story….that He paid it all! We have been set free by His sacrifice! We are forgiven!!! Thank You, Jesus!!!!!!
Sue, your comment made me smile, because it’s obvious that it bubbled out of a heart filled with love and joy and delight in our precious Savior. Forgiven indeed! God’s blessings to you.
Am humbled. Indeed what a loving Saviour we have in Jesus
Unmerited favor. Undeserved grace. We are, indeed, most blessed. Thanks for reading today, friend.
I really enjoyed that, thank you!
Thank you for entering into the Easter experience with us, Brittany. What a joy to serve such a forgiving and grace-filled Savior.
Absolutely wonderful 👐👐👐👐👐
Thank you so much, my Special friend 🙂 May the joy of your salvation fill your heart every day!
Love the stories! God bless all of you ♥️
Thank you, Carol, for your kind support and participation in God Hears Her. God has blessed us with a sweet and sacred community.
So very holy for this day, this week. Thank you!! Michelle
Michelle,
I suspect you’ll agree that there’s nothing so profound as coming face to face with our own sinfulness and seeing it washed away by our Savior. Amazing grace!
Tearfully beautiful – thank you so much!!
Thank you, Trudy, for being a part of the God Hears Her community. Blessings to you today!
Lori, that was so touching and insightful. Thank you and have a blessed Easter.
Michele,
I pray the joy of our risen Lord fills your heart today and every day. He is risen!
This was absolutely beautiful and inspiring.
Imagine, Kathleen, what it will be like when we get to fall at Jesus’ feet? Oh my. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Today’s article has me sitting here with tears running down my face. I had never thought of it in the terms of what she was experiencing, or what was going through her mind. Thank you for helping me understand this event more clearly…
Dianna,
When Jesus said, "He who has been forgiven much loves much," He described us all, didn’t He? Oh, how much He’s forgiven, and oh, what a great debt we owed. But thanks be to God, He paid it all! Happy Easter, friend.
Thank you, Jesus…🙏🏻♥️🙏🏻
Amen and amen!
Thank you for your sacrifice for me Lord I didn’t deserve it then nor now but I’ll spend my life trying to make you happy so I can hear the words well done my faithful servant hallelujah Amen love you Lord please help this sin sick world help us turn back to you!!!We need you now more than ever!!!
Yes, Lord, I agree with Rubbie. Draw this lost and dying world back to you. Give them a fresh glimpse of your love, mercy, and power. Open their eyes to see their sin and their need of a Savior. Draw them to yourself, one person at a time, just like you drew us. Amen.
Thank you for this article, it brought tears to my eyes as a reminder of my sin and the scarfice He made for me. My this Easter bring love to our country and healing and revival. God Bless you all.
Yes, Lord. Draw us, heal us, cleanse us, and fill us. Use us as lights in this dark place to shine the light of truth and point people to You. For our good and your glory, Amen!
BEAUTIFUL! AMEN…
Thank you, sweet friend. God’s blessings to you!
What a beautiful picture of unconditional love and forgiveness. We are all broken because of sin, but Jesus is always with us to mend our brokenness. This is a reminder to be a blessing to others as God longs to bless us through a personal relationship with Him.
Beth, you’re absolutely right. I wonder how many people Mary brought to the Lord through her humble and grateful heart? I can’t wait to meet her in heaven. Blessings to you!
Thank you so much for sharing this. It was just what I needed to read.
Marigold,
I’m so thankful God brought you here to share in Easter worship with us. Blessings, sweet friend!
Beautiful, that’s how mercy saw me!!!
Me, too, Mimi, me too. Amazing grace. Undeserved favor. Endless love.