There was once a woman, so infamous that history never even gave her a name. In this story, she was recognized immediately by her reputation. For a woman like her, there was really no hope of changing how she was perceived. At her time, there were no social programs, no welfare checks, no ways to come back. She had been marked by society and that was the way she would remain. And most everyone was fine with that.
In that society, little girls were taught from early on how important proper etiquette was. Things simply had to be done a certain way. So for a woman like this, with such a bad reputation, no one could really afford to reach out to her. If another woman tried to reach out, there was a good possibility that she too would be labeled as an outcast and a woman of ill repute. If a man tried to reach out, his name would become as good as mud.
This woman, though, was bold. And at least in this specific instance, she comes off as being fearless. Because on this day, there was a certain party being held. A dinner party with a number of bigwigs and prominent religious leaders. And although she had no invitation she barged into the event. She made a beeline for the goal she had in mind, for this one man who was there. While standing in front of him, she pulled out an alabaster jar of perfume. Something that had to be quite expensive. Something so expensive that it probably would’ve caused everyone around to speculate about the manner in which she was able to afford such a gift. You could imagine the shock that this already created in the atmosphere. But, her boldness didn’t stop. She then unwrapped her hair, another big no-no, pours the perfume on this man’s feet, kisses those feet, cries on them, and wipes them with her hair that had been let down.
If this man were you, how would you have reacted? If it were you sitting there in front of pastors or your parents or elders of the church, how would you have been feeling as a prostitute continued to kiss your feet over and over again? Fear? Disgust? Embarrassment?
Yet, how did this man react? He held her up in front of all these religious leaders as a symbol of faith and love. For this man was Christ. And he was unafraid of dealing with sin and with sinners and what that would do to him or to his reputation. In fact, it was people exactly like her that he came to this earth. He didn’t come to save the sinless, but those who were most obviously sinners.
So what does this have to do with our lesson today? It has everything to do with our lesson. Because what happens here is God lays it out nice and neat. He said, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Doesn’t this look wonderful? So much good is offered here! The people had a chance of remaining God’s own. In a world filled with other nations, they had been singled out as being his, and they could remain that way! Just think of what God had done for them already. He said it this way, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” They would be able to retain this gift of God!
On top of this, they would be labeled as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They would be seen by God and by all as people who really had it together. As people that were on top of their game and who had their lives figured out. So, it’s no wonder why the people all agreed to this. This is a sweet deal! They said, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”
Don’t you sometimes wish that this is how we had it too? There aren’t many feelings better in this world than when we work hard, make sacrifices, overcome struggles, and witness the success that follows. Wouldn’t it be nice to look back at your life as you’re standing before God’s throne in heaven and admire the work you did to accomplish such glory? Oh, absolutely it would.
That line of thinking right there is why God had to introduce his relationship with the people in this way. He saw the wisdom in laying out his covenant, or treaty, with them in ways that they would approve of immediately. Because all of us by nature want to deal with God like this. We want to stand before him based, at least in part, on our own merits and hard work. This is the initial beauty of the law! It’s so picturesque, so clean, so bright. We want to be those Pharisees sitting with Jesus and receive the honor of him dining within our own homes because we are such good people.
What we don’t want by nature is the shame of God’s mercy. This mercy, which is also called the gospel, initially is gross, it’s ugly, it’s despicable, it’s shameful, it’s embarrassing, it’s crawling through the mud, it’s being stripped of any worthiness or honor that we think we might have. Who of you ever wants to be in the position where you’re so strung out and broken that the only hope you have is dependent on the care of another? Of course none of you want that.
That’s why God first detailed his relationship with his people as he did here. You follow my commands and I will be your God. We want that. We want the law. We want to be able to say we’ve done it. Look at me! But, the reason why we want this is because we haven’t yet been properly introduced to the law. The law is like that person who everyone wants to be friends with. They’re rich, they have status, they are admired by all. But, then you actually meet them. And what they’re like is nothing like the reputation that proceeded them. They’re mean, they’re nasty, they’re blunt. They have no problem calling you out for anything and everything that is wrong with you. And they’re willing to do it in front of people that you care about deeply so that you stand embarrassed before them all. Luther once said that before the law came, he was smug and didn’t worry about sin. But then it came and it showed him sin, death, and hell. The law did not justify him or his being, it sentenced him, marking him as an enemy of God. Being a sinner, the law alone cannot make you better, but only makes you worse.
What the law does is strip you down and bare your shame. It places you at the same level as the sinful woman from earlier. It lets you know that you have no honor and are as guilty as the very worst of humanity.
It is only once you have been drug through the mud like, that you can appreciate the gospel. Once you have given up all hope in yourself, you then can be shown that God’s mercy is not something to be ashamed of. The world may still see it as despicable. They may judge you like they once judged that woman. But you know what is offered there.
You are shown that through this path alone, through mercy and grace alone, you do have hope. Because the relationship you have with God is not based on you. Through this path, there is no mention of any of your shortcomings. There is no fear that you will be setup once more only to be brought low again. There is no possibility of defeat or shame or embarrassment in the end. There is only victory. And why? Because here you are shown your substitute. Here you are shown the Christ. No, you are not capable of following all the rules and commands that God has given. But this one, Jesus, was. And all of his accomplishments, all of his glory, all of his victory have been given to you as a gift from God. He is why there is no fear. He is why your relationship with God will stand the test of time and eternity.
The Israelites needed this first covenant with God. They needed to see the futility of trying to please God with their own abilities and works. You did too. Thank God that he has given us such a beautiful tool in the law that strips us of any false hope. But thank him too that he did not stop there. But instead created a new covenant. One in which he introduced another beautiful tool: the gospel. That tool which binds up hearts, forgives sins, creates hope, and is based solely on the work of his Son, your Savior. Amen.
