Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”.
Jesus was repeatedly confronted and accused by the Pharisees, however, in Luke 7:36-50 we see a strange invitation that Jesus had honoured. He was invited to dine at the house of a Pharisee. The party house was filled with the judgemental crowd of his colleagues (Pharisees) from the Sanhedrin. It wasn’t a very warm invitation as Jesus pointed out to the Pharisee that he did not give Him water to wash His feet or greet Him with a kiss. When guests come into the home from the dusty streets in ancient Israel, it was customary to offer water to wash their feet and oil for their head. The custom of greeting with a kiss continues even today. However, this invitation was cold and seditious as the Pharisee had a hidden agenda. He wanted to see for himself if Jesus was a prophet. There was no understanding that he had the Messiah under his roof.
To the home of the condemning senator came a sinful woman. Imagine the repudiating looks that the Pharisee and his friends would have given her. With their eyebrows lifted, pouting lips and prodding elbows they would have chewed her alive. Shame and stigma can be inflicted on people even through non-verbal communication such as looks, gestures and body language. It need not necessarily be caused by damaging or defaming words. Shame is powerfully undoing.
“Shame needs three things to grow exponentially in our lives: secrecy, silence, and judgment.” – Dr. Brené Brown.
While the Pharisees were spraying her with the scent of shame to make her feel small, flawed, and ugly, Jesus washed the shame away, clothed her with grace and sent her home redeemed and restored.
Three conduits that grows shame:
1. Secrecy: Shame constantly mocks us that we are alone. Shame lies to us that the moment we share about the humiliation, mistake or pitfall we will become the gossip of the town. The woman decided to go public and wet the feet of Jesus with her confession. She wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair (Luke 7:44b). She boldly stepped into the most uncomfortable gathering and broke the blanket of shame. Be vulnerable and break shame.
2. Silence: Shame grows exponentially in silence and loneliness. Guilt says, “I’ve done something bad” but shame says, “I am bad”. Break the shameful self-condemning thoughts that grow in silence to matured mentors. The notorious woman came to the greatest leader of the world, Jesus, who set her free from stigma. Break the silence and destroy stigma.
- Sentence: Shameful thoughts are self-destructive. Accept the truth but don’t accept the condemnation. There is freedom from the shame that abuse, addiction and adversity drenches on us through the blood of Jesus. Dismiss self-condemning sentences and set yourself free from shame.
Humiliation caused by verbal or non-verbal communication must be brought to the light. Silence, secrecy and judgement grows shame exponentially.
Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Prayer: Compassionate Jesus, thank you for setting me free from guilt, shame and stigma by your precious pure blood. Amen.
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