"It's not much," he said, "I'm not the greatest artist in the world, but I think your son would want you to have it." Upon opening it, the father found it to be a portrait of his only son. He loved it and offered to pay for it. "Oh, no, sir, I could never repay what your son did for me—this is a gift!" From then on, the portrait of the son hung over the fireplace, and the father showed it off to one and all, treasuring it above all his other works of art. A few months later, the father died as well, and news spread everywhere of the great auction that would take place on the estate. The first item on the block was the painting of the son.
A shout came from the back, "Show us the famous paintings—just skip this one!" But the auctioneer persisted, "Who will start the bidding—$100, $200?" Another voice shouted, "We didn't come to see this one—get on with the real bids." But the auctioneer was undaunted—"The son! The son!" he cried, "Who will take the son?" Finally, the long-time gardener of the estate offered all he could—$10. As time passed, the crowd got very angry and demanded he move on. When the painting was sold for $10, the auctioneer laid down his gavel—the auction was over. "What?" they all cried, "What about the other paintings?" "I'm sorry," he explained, "but there is a secret stipulation in the will—this was the only painting to be auctioned, and whoever buys it, inherits the entire estate! The man who takes the son, gets all!"
What a crucial thought to wrap our minds around as we proceed through the season of Lent! Who will take the Son; who will take all? It doesn't really matter how important we think other things are—they aren't, Jesus is! A very powerful illustration of this can be found in the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with the expensive ointment. Each Gospel mentions it, but a careful look reveals that they are not the same accounts. The stories in Matthew 26 and Mark 14 do describe the same event, with the latter giving the added detail of it happening two days before the Passover. In John 12, we are told of Mary, Martha's and Lazarus' sister, anointing Him six days before the Passover—even before Palm Sunday—obviously, a different event! Then there is the one in Luke 7, distinct from the others, for it happened very early in Jesus ministry. I say all of this to make a paramount point—more than one person loved Jesus enough to be totally "poured out" for Him! Praise God—Jesus has somewhat to say about all this, even to us! But who will listen? Who will obey?
In Luke's account, we find a Pharisee named Simon, inviting Jesus to dinner in order to "check Him out." And then it happened—"And, behold, a woman of the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment." (7:37-38) Many try to label her a "prostitute," and I'm not saying that she wasn't, but the word "sinner" simply means that she had deviated and missed the mark. We have all done that—"for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) But this woman comes in humility to worship the only One who could save her. A.W. Tozer put it this way—"It is delightful to worship God, but it is also a humbling thing—the man who has not been humbled in the presence of God will never be a worshiper of God at all. He may be a church member who keeps the rules and obeys the discipline, and who even tithes, but he'll never be a worshiper unless he is deeply humbled."
What a picture! First, she stood behind Him weeping over her sin, recognizing what an abomination any sin is to a pure and holy God. Secondly, she humbly bowed down to Him and began to wash His feet with her tears, a loving response to what hadn't even happened yet—the washing of her own spirit in the waters of regeneration by the One who was the "Living Water." (John 7:37-39) Thirdly, she wiped His feet with her hair. Amazing! You see, in her culture, for a woman to reveal her hair in public was similar to a woman today baring her bosom. I don't say this to be provocative—she is, in a very powerful way, declaring that she was giving her entirekissed His feet—in the Greek, it speaks of an earnest expression of personal attachment to Him. And lastly, she anointed His feet with precious perfumed oil. It is important to note that when true tears of humbling repentance flow, and a complete surrender of everything we are takes place, the giving of the Holy Spirit—symbolized throughout the Scriptures by precious oil—is not far behind!
being into His control—even her most intimate thoughts. Fourthly, she then
When Simon the Pharisee objected inwardly in his spirit, Jesus said, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." (vs. 40) The Greek word for "somewhat" is "tis," referring to a particular or a certain thing. When Simon agreed to listen, Jesus proceeded to tell him of two particular people who were forgiven certain debts—one equal to a day and a half of wages, and the other, a month and a half. Who will love the master more? Simon responded correctly—the one who recognized the depths of the love shown him! At that point, we are told that Jesus turned to the woman, but He spoke to Simon—she is now the object of the lesson! Simon, when I entered your home, you didn't have anyone wash my feet, which would have been a very normal thing to do. And yet, she did so with her own tears and her own hair. You didn't even give me the customary greeting of a kiss, but she is still kissing my feet, revealing her earnest desire to be attached to me. Normally, I would have had my head anointed with oil by this time as a sign of how much I was welcome in your home and in your life. But it didn’t happen—not until she did it! And then it was my feet—showing her desire to walk where I walk!
In their day, these were common courtesies. Why didn't Simon do some of the things that would have normally been done? He was trying to "get" Jesus without really loving Him. Much later, when Judas betrayed Jesus, he kissed Him, and, oddly enough, Jesus called him, "friend."(Mt. 26) This looks like love, but this "friend," in the Greek, is "hetairos," referring to being a companion in order to get something out of it. And so it is with this Pharisee—not really caringskip
about the Son (vs.39); not really desiring to be attached to Jesus in true love; not really seeing Him as far more precious than everything else on the auction block of life. He was willing to the one thing needful—true worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet, the words still ring in our ears, don't they?—The Son! The Son! Who will take the Son?
It really is a very good question, and one that everyone on this planet must deal with before they leave it—so, in these last of days, now is a very good time! Many today, going beyond Simon, are willing to show Jesus certain common courtesies, like showing up in church or being a decent person. Many others yearn for "sinner-friendly" hype, entertainment, and fun, thinking that these are worship. Many think that because they have followed the pattern, keeping a list of do's and don'ts, that their worship will be accepted and they will get what they want out of it. But Jesus has somewhat more to say, both to Simon and to us—"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: and to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." (vs. 47) Lovereally is the key!!! Who will really take the Son? Those who realize that His entire life was poured out for them as a gift—the greatest gift ever given—that can never be deserved or repaid, but it can be responded to with the gift of love-motivated surrender. Who will really take the Son? Those who truly recognize that Jesus paid the price for their own sin at the Cross of Calvary, receive that price personally, AND let Him live and rule within, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the woman, "Thy sins are forgiven," and, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (vss. 48 and 50) It must be very personal! You can only have true forgiveness and true reconciliation, or peace, with a holy God, when it is your sins and your faith that are involved in the transaction. God does it, not you—but He does want somewhat more than one to come in humility, worshiping Him in love and devotion. Remember—everyone who takes the Son, gets all!
