Listening like Jesus who forgives - 21 November 2007

There are at least two women in the Gospels who knew the precious time and listening of Jesus before they were ready to receive His forgiveness.

The “sinful woman” in Luke 7: 36-50 came to Jesus with her tears. Jesus let her weep at His feet, dry His feet with her hair, then pour perfume on His feet. He didn’t question her, rebuke her or indeed say anything to her. He simply received her tears of sorrow. It wasn’t until He spoke to the Pharisee of His value of her actions that He then turned to her and spoke forgiveness and peace.

The woman caught in adultery (John 8: 3-11) had a very different experience of Jesus’ forgiveness. She hadn’t come to Him willingly. In fact she must have been terrified. How precious is Jesus’ response – I sense He is giving her some dignity back as He takes His time to listen to / sense the need of the moment. Then He spoke the words she needed to hear – I don’t condemn you. Then she could respond to His words “Go and leave your life of sin.”

May we grow in learning to listen, value and affirm rather than condemn, which then enables our fellow strugglers to leave the life of sin.