What Manner of Woman ?

 Three in this household did meet
One kissed Jesus with love
In the light
Upon His feet

One kissed Jesus
with betrayal
in the night...
lips of deceit.

 

What Manner of Woman?

Tears, sorrow and love are found humbled at the feet of Christ by one who was preparing Him for burial.
 An ointment was used to annoint the Lamb of God, and the preparation couldn't have been more thoughtful or tender toward Jesus.
How moving it is for those who believe what Scripture proclaims about our Savior. 
It is written in Luke 7:  36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in 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, 38And 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. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
And further detail of this account is found in John 11 :2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
It is interesting to note how the Pharisee questioned > within himself< of Jesus being a prophet  as well as what he thought the role of a prophet was. The pharisee thought himself above the woman who he refers to as a sinner.  Did the pharisee think of himself as one without sin  ?  Did he think a prophet to be too sacred to touch ?  Twice within this short passage the woman is referred to as a sinner.
And though the Pharisee pondered this scene within -  Jesus answered him in conversation. 

We continue to read in Luke 7:40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

 Mary, the sister of Lazarus and a sinner just like the rest of us -  knew exactly who Jesus was and what would happen to Him in a short time to come. 
Mary knew Jesus was and forever is the Way.   She humbled herself at His feet  and found forgiveness in His sight.
Mary knew Jesus was and forever is the Truth.  She kissed the feet of  One who healed many and still heals this day .
Mary knew Jesus was and forever is the Life.     She witnessed herself of  Jesus raising her brother Lazarus from the dead.


John 11:1-11
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
 9Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

Miracles of God cannot be undone.  Those who were proud and considered themselves without sin  in their own eyes could not undo miracles. They sought to kill Lazarus and they crucified Jesus.  Their  wicked acts can never change miracles that were the witness of the perfect work of God. God used the cross in a way that would turn out good for all those who would believe in Jesus.    We read in Genesis 50:20  20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Jesus spoke truth in which Simon ( Judas Iscariot) was able to understand.  This woman was burdened with her sins . Jesus took her burden and lifted it away.
Mary believed Jesus and could only love our Saviour.


What manner of woman ?   A blessed woman of faith and a woman forgiven. A woman who kissed our Saviour.