“By judging others, we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This evening as I was reading Luke’s account of Jesus’ anointing by the sinful woman (Luke 7), God’s Word began to really challenge me to think about how often I make certain assumptions about people, even those who I’ve never met before in my life. Because the truth is that I do this just about every single day (in one way or another). The way people dress, the number of tattoos or body piercings they might have, the bumper stickers they have on their cars (especially if it’s political), how they interact with others, how they talk, how they spend their free time… and the list goes on. Now imagine if I knew about the mistakes they’ve made over the course of their lives!
Sadly this seems so natural to me. And as much as I’d like to lay most of the blame on the toxic political culture in our nation today, the fact of the matter is that while Jesus says we’re to be in the world, we’re not to be of the world. We’re called to be different. “They do not belong to this world anymore than I do” (John 17:16 NLT).
When the sinful woman entered the Pharisee’s house, she knew that she would be looked down upon and harshly judged, maybe even condemned. These people in attendance knew who she was, she had a reputation. Perhaps some of them even knew her reputation more than they cared to admit. But none of that mattered to her now. She was desperate to see the only man who could take her brokenness and make her whole. She was desperate for a new identity and a new life.
What she saw in Jesus and what Jesus saw in her were completely different from what everyone else at the dinner party that evening was seeing. She saw compassion, forgiveness, and love. And Jesus saw someone who was willing to surrender to him the shame of her sinful past and become a faithful follower.
How about us? Are we willing to look beyond what seems obvious to us and see people the way Jesus does? Are we, like the woman, courageous enough and desperate enough to approach Him, even when others may whisper and condemn us, trusting that Jesus alone can take our brokenness and make us complete?
Do we see what Jesus sees?
Lord, help me see people the way you see them. Break down any self-righteousness in my heart, and remind me that your grace extends to all who seek it. Teach me to love with your compassion and to trust in your power to transform lives, including my own. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 