31 Disciple Example 2

The Mary’s

Feet and Forgiveness

In the passage described by Luke, Jesus has been set up by Simon a Pharisee. Jesus accepts an invitation to a meal knowing that the Pharisees are critical about his lifestyle and his involvement with 'sinners'. A woman gate-crashes the meal and washes his feet with her tears and anoints them with perfume. In this society it would have been extraordinary and must have been engineered to some degree by Simon. For such an outpouring of devotion the woman must have had a previous encounter with Jesus that had a fundamental impact on her life. One suspects that Simon was aware of this previous encounter of the woman with Jesus and ensured that she knew he was at the meal, together with facilitating her access.

This was engineered because the woman was known to be a 'sinner' and they wanted to see how Jesus reacted to her. In their view this was an opportunity to undermine Jesus' credentials to be a prophet. To be called a sinner it was likely that there were known issues of immorality and therefore the woman could have been a prostitute. Prostitutes at that time were accepted as part of society but shunned by the Pharisees. The test for Jesus was whether he would be able to distinguish her from others and thus reject her. However Jesus welcomes her and offers forgiveness.

The passage compares how Simon and the woman acted in their encounters with Jesus. Simon wants to test him and be the one to catch him out. He is a bad host and needs forgiveness but doesn't realise it. The woman knows that she needs forgiveness and receives it. A passage that has a similar message is the encounter in John’s gospel when Jesus says "He who is without sin, throw the first stone".

It is possible that the woman is Mary Magdalene. Peter was the first named disciple in Luke and fell at Jesus' feet aware of being a sinner. Mary is the first named female disciple and there are similarities to Peter and his response. Mary may have been the unnamed woman in this passage.

Other parallels are the references to weeping and the word 'touch', more accurately 'cling to'. The woman was weeping and clinging onto the feet of Jesus. Mary continues to follow him and witnesses his death and resurrection. When Mary encounters Jesus at his resurrection, Jesus says "Woman, why are you weeping?", then calls her by her name. He then goes on to say "Stop clinging to me ....." referring to his ascension and the necessary changes to how discipleship is to be expressed.

A lot of baseless nonsense is made about the relationship between Jesus and Mary. If there had been anything improper it would have been seized on by the Pharisees among others who were scrutinising everything Jesus did and said in order to trip him up. Mary, like Peter is an example of a disciple.

How many Mary's?

It is possible that the woman who washed the feet of Jesus was Mary Magdalene. It is a logical follow on, where Luke builds on the passage to make the point about women's roles. The actions of the woman suggest that she had previously encountered Jesus and was grateful to him. This could have been a response to healing.

There is also a debate about whether Mary Magdalene was also the Mary with a sister Martha. This is further complicated by a query about whether the Simon in the passage is also ‘Simon the leper’, and if he was the father of Mary and Martha, and therefore Lazarus.

Each of the similar passages has different emphases, for example the one in Luke refers to the woman's forgiveness whilst that in John addresses the anointing of the Messiah for his death. Therefore they tend to be viewed separately.

There is a debate about how many Mary’s there were amongst Jesus’ disciples, in addition to his mother. It is not really important as each expresses what being a disciple is about. Just as Peter represents an example of a disciple, the Mary’s also represent another example.

Washing Feet

This is an expression of service. John records an occasion where Jesus washes his disciples feet. Peter objects but needs to understand that he and we are in debt to Jesus, who lived and died as a service to us. In him we have life and an inheritance. Discipleship is about serving one another. Sometimes it is harder to receive than to give. We serve when we forgive.

Background

Luke chapter 7 verses 36 to chapter 8 verse 3 - Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher." "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

A passage that has a similar message is the encounter in John chapter 8 when Jesus says "He who is without sin, throw the first stone".

It is possible that the woman who washed the feet of Jesus (mentioned in chapter 7 verses 36 to 50) was Mary Magdalene, named in chapter 8 verse 2.

There is also a debate about whether Mary Magdalene was also the Mary with a sister Martha (chapter 10 verses 38,39). This is further complicated by a query about whether the Simon (mentioned in chapter 7 verse 40) is also ‘Simon the leper’ in a similar passage in Mark chapter 14 verses 3 to 9, and if he was the father of Mary and Martha, and therefore Lazarus (John chapter 12 verses 1 to 8). is possible that the woman is Mary Magdalene (Luke chapter 8 verse 2). Peter was the first named disciple in Luke and fell at Jesus' feet aware of being a sinner (chapter 5 verse 8). Mary is the first named female disciple and there are similarities to Peter and his response. Mary may have been the unnamed woman in this passage.

Other parallels are the references to weeping and the word 'touch', more accurately 'cling to' (in chapter 7 verse 39).

When Mary encounters Jesus at his resurrection, Jesus says "Woman, why are you weeping?", then calls her by her name. He then goes on to say "Stop clinging to me ....." referring to his ascension and the necessary changes to how discipleship is to be expressed (John chapter 20 verses 11 to 17).

Washing feet is an expression of service. John records an occasion where Jesus washes his disciples feet (John chapter 13 verses 8 to 17).