She tucked the precious vile firmly under her leather belt, under the bundled folds of her finely woven linen halug that robed her from shoulder to ankle. The Pushing her way through noisy streets lined with flat- topped clay buildings she made her way to a home filled with lively chatter and scrumptious evening dinner of hummus, couscous and pita bread. Carefully looking through the window into the golden hues of flickering candle light, her eyes trailed desperately seeking the face of each man who lounged in reclined pillows. Then she found Him.His Face glowed in the warmth of candle light. Men’s voices laughing here and there floated across the cool Mediterranean air. She fixed her eager gaze on Him and He looked up with a tender, delighted smile. Uncontrollably, under a power alien to her body, she moved forward past the blur of gaping men’s faces and suddenly was standing before Him.
She delicately removed the ivory clip and her rich chestnut brown hair cascaded all about her shoulders. Almost fiercely the clip yanked back in her hand. Then softly, gently, she relinquished control of even that and patiently tugged it free, strand by strand. Tears trickled hot and poured into her hands as she instinctively cupped her face to hide from Him. Shaking she fell to her knees, and fell on her face. Her hands extended above her prostrated body and her fingers blindly picked across the floor and grasped His Feet. She stuttered in uncontrollable whisper, “I got a full night’s sleep last night for the first time that I could remember.”
She drew herself up and sat on her hunches, in racking sobs, her head ever bowed. She gasped softly, abruptly, “The evil spirits…they are no longer in my bed at night torturing my spirit and body.” She drew deeper breath, and with slight chuckle, “Now, I can sleep without the candle light to ward them off.” Desperately and almost horrified she muttered, “I don’t hear their screeches anymore. I don’t see bloodshed horror assaulting my mind… the creatures bizarre and crazed enticing me to venture into the pit of Hell and darkness…they…are gone…all gone…,” her shoulders relaxed unexpectedly.
As if suddenly reminding herself of her prized item, and with hands soaked from tears she eagerly fumbled the now slippery alabaster jar whose cork had popped out with suction squeak. It tumbled from her hands and rolled across the gold woven flowers of the kashan Persian rug. Air infused with sweetness poured across His Feet. Her neck ached from its diligently bowed arc. “Jesus…I’m free…You set me free…,” she stuttered a little louder still not daring to look up. She inhaled, her spirit rising being cleansed by the aroma. She gasped and cradled His Foot in her wet hands and pressed her face and neck against it and then wrapped both Feet in all of her hair cradling them as if they were a newborn.
Unquenched shame was now drenched in cleansing tears flooding uncontrollably. One kiss. Two kisses. Three and four and five. Kiss and kiss, her lips trailed across each worn, calloused, but precious Foot. Those often sandled Feet that walked miles nonstop in the heat and dust - Feet so tired they let Him rest at the Well of Living Water to satisfy another devastated outcast woman in Samaria. Each Foot she pressed her lips against adoringly, intimately, unashamedly…the very Feet of Holy God.Snickers and accusations suffocated the delicate perfume.
“Why is she here, the nerve!?”"Why is she wasting all that perfume? That spikenard from the high mountains is a year’s worth of money!”
“What a fool! She doesn’t belong here!
Thoughts of cowardice secretly, inaudibly crowded a cold heart. “If He were a prophet He would know what manner of woman she is who is touching Him…that she is a sinner…”"Simon…,” Jesus’ voice abruptly halted the man’s hidden accusation.
“Simon, I have something to tell you…”
“Tell 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.”
Her throat was sore and dry from crying herself into a deep sleep the night before. Her head was spinning and her lips parched. She pushed herself up, head still bowed. She dusted her frock and smoothed it out all around.
Hands raised her head and cleared away her hair. Precious Fingers trailed her tears across her face, wiping them away ever so gently. Warm Hands soothed her brow and tilted her chin upward. That Smile…those Eyes…met hers and she dropped her head instantly.“Mary.”
That Voice, so pure, perfectly resonated intertwined with every air-borne molecule of perfume. It sounded of the warmth and security of Home, a place she’d ever been heartsick for, never knowing where it was or is. But now she knew. He - He, the One - He is her Home. He is her Tabernacle. She hid beneath His Wings and soared on His every word- every morsel of His every word - entranced as they flew through time and space and lodged into her soul forever.She raised her head and looked into His Eyes, drinking in the beauty of His Face. Like a little girl, she embraced Him with full gratitude. He cleared her hair once more and planted a kiss atop her forehead. Her eyes sparkling and skin glowing in the soft candle light, she turned and regally exited the silent door.
