JP47: Jesus And The 'Sketchy' Dinner Guest: A lesson in access for outcasts

Jesus made time to relate with people from all walks of life.  Observing his conversations with the devoutly religious and those considered outcasts provides a guiding perspective for loving the marginalized.

Such was the case when a Pharisee invited Jesus over for dinner.  Pharisees were leaders of the religious class during Jesus’ day and frequently found themselves surprised and embarrassed by Jesus’ stinging rebukes.  Notice below as Luke, an eyewitness to Jesus’ life, records a valuable lesson about access for outcasts.

“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 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.” (NIV, Lk 7:36–50)  

Welcome Outcasts Into Your Personal Space

Instead of being offended by the woman's reputation, Jesus provided unhindered access to his person, creating an opportunity to show her faith and love boldly and dramatically.  She gave Him perhaps everything she had - an expensive bottle of perfume and a willingness to publicly sacrifice her dignity in a humble act of worship. Unlike the Pharisee, Jesus related to her based on present worth and future potential.  

By contrast, Simon practiced valuing people based on their past rather than potential.  In doing so, he failed to recognize his shortcomings and the courageous woman's inherent value as an image bearer of her Creator.  We would like to think that this religious value system existed only in Jesus’ day.

The Pharisee's response is a caution for church and ministry leaders to assess how they value each person.  Are staff and volunteer positions filled with bias toward a person’s "cool" factor? If so, where do people on the social margins find room for service?  

Charisma and good looks are cornerstones for building personal platforms but fail to reflect the heart of the Jesus - the Chief Cornerstone.  An external rather than internal value mindset also trains people that full inclusion in God's Kingdom is mainly for the pretty, handsome, articulate, or well connected.

Instead, prayerfully select people for key positions based on their humility, heart for God, and love for their neighbors rather than their ability to draw a crowd.  

Question Injustice

In God's Kingdom, all people are welcome at all times and places.  Everyone gains access, whether a prostitute at a banquet attended by pious locals or a homeless person entering a local church.  

Knowing his judging thoughts about the woman, Jesus told a parable to help Simon see the way of love - those forgiven much, love much, and those forgiven little, love little.

Jesus also helped Simon see himself rightly by exposing his lack of love through ordinary hospitality.  Simon wanted to demote the woman, but Jesus promoted her and demoted him.

Too often, people who are different or new to our gatherings find building authentic relationships hard to cement because the prevailing culture caters toward conformity instead of unity in diversity.

To those limiting access, we follow Jesus by asking the hard questions and graciously pointing toward the all-inclusive way of Christ.

Forgive Everyone

Ultimately, giving access to outcasts moves beyond external things to matters of the soul when we practice forgiving as Jesus forgave us.  To do so requires that we humble ourselves and practice the discipline of considering others as better than ourselves.  

In his letter to the Philippian church, the apostle Paul wrote, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or in vain conceit, rather in humility value others better than yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." Phil (2:3-5)

When we welcome outcasts, question injustice, and forgive everyone as Jesus forgave us we’ll be following the lead of Jesus and learning to love as he loves us.  In this way we'll be bringing the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven.

‍

Jesus And The 'Sketchy' Dinner Guest: A Lesson In Access For Outcasts

1. Welcome Outcasts Into Your Personal Space

“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 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.” (NIV, Luke 37-38)

2. Question Injustice

“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.” (NIV, Luke 7:44-47)

3. Forgive Everyone

“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.” (NIV, Luke 7:50)

‍

‍