Invited or Inviting Yourself

There is this great story in Luke 7-36-50 (please read if you get a chance).  A Pharisee named Simon has initiated and invited Jesus into his home and that is about as far as he goes.  In those days, when you invited someone over to your house is was a sign of friendship.  When the guest arrived at your house a couple of things always took place:  1. Greeted with a kiss   2.  Water to wash the feet with a towel.  3.  Perfume/oil was put on the head.  Jesus comes into the home willingly and none of these are done to him.  Jesus makes himself comfortable at the table though, regardless of the welcome he did not get.  There, in a setting of friendship, with an opportunity  to encounter Jesus Christ - Simon keeps his distance.  He has invited Jesus into his home, but not his heart.  

Another person enters the story, and it is a woman who is most likely a prostitute.  She discovers that Jesus is in town and she decides that she will invite herself into the meeting in Simon's house.  The house is full of people with whom she is completely opposite of morally, but she does not care.  Somewhere she has either heard of Jesus or seen him and she knew she had to be near him, to be in his presence.  She comes in, kisses his feet, pours out her tears on his feet, and wipes them dry with her hair.  Get this --- Jesus lets her come near and stay.  A woman whom most of us would never even talk to, buy a meal for and Jesus lets her pour out her heart in the worship of him.  

Do you see this picture?  A God-knower keeps his distance and the neighborhood whore draws near.  I ask us all -- Who understood Jesus more on that day?

The depth and power of God's grace is available to the most godly person and to the most scandalous.  Are we okay with that?  And that is why I think she burst into the room that night --- She knew that she could come and not be rejected.  She saw her need - Simon did not see his and that is the major difference between the two.

The manner in which we respond to Jesus is connected to whether we think we need him or not.

How is it with us today? Do we think we need him?  We are invited to him and it is also okay when we invite ourselves.