Perspective is powerful!
Problems arise when we forget other people have a different perspective than we do and when we forget their perspective is just as real and valid as mine.
It was customary in Jesus’ time to provide for your guests’ feet to be washed. In the various recordings of the times Jesus had His feet washed, the one thing that connects them is the reaction of other people.
In Mark 14:3-9 and Matthew 26:6-13, those eating with Jesus scolded the woman washing Jesus’ feet!
And it appears from Matthew 26:14 and Mark 14:10 that Jesus’ acceptance and forgiveness of this woman was the final straw in Judas’ decision to betray Jesus!
In John 12:1-6 it was specifically Judas who was upset with the woman. Really? Judas? He didn’t just betray Jesus a few days later, he was also stealing from Jesus’ ministry funds! So his judging of her wasn’t genuine!
In Luke 7:36-48 a Pharisee scoffed at Jesus for letting a sinful woman touch His feet.
Thank God this Pharisee wasn’t in charge of the guest list the night I came to Jesus!
The Pharisee, instead of rejoicing in the tokens of the woman’s repentance, confined his thoughts to her former bad character.
Matthew Henry
Don’t be angry if I wash His feet with my tears and dry them with my hair
You weren’t there the night Jesus found me
You didn’t feel what I felt when He wrapped his loving arms around me
And you don’t know the cost of the oil in my alabaster box
Janice Sjostrand, Alabaster Box
But beyond other people’s sins, what about others who look or act differently than ourselves.
Instead of judging others or jumping to conclusions, let’s try on their shoes. People aren’t responding to my perspective but the one they are coming from.
First, ALL people are broken—we just express our brokenness in different ways.
Next, ALL people are welcome—the Gospel is good news for all of us.
And lastly, ALL followers of Jesus are called to repent—because we are all in the long process of being conformed to the image of Jesus.
Jonathan Morrow
Whether our struggles are community-inflicted, family-inflicted or self-inflicted, the answer for all struggles is Jesus!
Church 29:11 