She ran her fingers lightly over her forearm and winced. The deepening purple mark was a parting gesture from her last client of the night. Crumpled in a heap on the floor she applied perfume from an alabaster jar over her body. For a moment, the lovely fragrance helped her escape her ugly reality.

We do not know her real name, but we will call her Joanna. Outside her window she heard a commotion in the street. A crowd was passing by with excited exclamations. She heard them call out the name “Jesus.” Could it be the Jesus who was healing the sick and performing miracles? Her heart leapt within her, and before she knew it, she was on her feet and out the door. She did not know why, but she had to see this Jesus. She tried to push through the crowd that was headed to Simon the Pharisee’s house, but they would not let her through.

Knowing there was a back entrance to his home, Joanna raced down the next street and found the back entrance open. She stopped in front of the door as fear gripped her. “What am I doing? What makes me think that I can enter the house of a Pharisee uninvited. Me, who people scorn.” Her feet moved forward as her mind raced. The people preparing the meal looked up surprised at her abrupt entrance but continued with their work.

Joanna stood for a moment in the doorway looking at the guests reclining at the table. She did not know what Jesus looked like, but her gaze stopped at the one with the worn tunic and sandals. His voice was gentle, but authoritative. It was then that she felt the glare of Simon the Pharisee upon her. It was filled with the contempt and distain she often felt. The room went silent as all eyes fell upon her. Her eyes filled with tears of shame and she turned to leave, but something compelled her to stay. As she looked back, Jesus turned his eyes toward her and his gaze pierced her heart, breaking through the icy barrier of shame and humiliation. No words were spoken. None were needed. She did not realize that she had stopped breathing until she let out a gasp as a love she had never experienced washed over her—pure, cleansing, healing. Tears of gratitude and joy streamed down her face as she moved into the room. The alabaster jar was still in her hand.

Scripture –  Luke 7:38-50 NIV

As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “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?”  Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. 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.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  Jesus said to the woman,

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:38-50, NIV).

Although Scripture doesn’t give her name, her faith will be an eternal testimony to the power of Christ’s forgiveness and redemption. Jesus still pursues the lost and scorned today through each one of us. The lost are compelled as Joanna was, and are drawn to Him when they hear of His love and ability to heal their lives. Thanks be to God who will direct their steps into our corps and programs. Let us continue to pursue every Joanna who lives just down the street from us.