Nameless

There are many noteworthy women in the Bible, many with emmulating. You may think of Ruth and Naomi or Esther or Mary or Miriam or countless others. Some are named and much time is spent on them. Others receive much less fanfare, but that doesn't mean they have less to teach us.

In Luke 7:36-50 we meet a woman whose name we never get to know. Infact, not only do we not know her real name, the phrase she is often known by isn't terribly flattering: "The Anointing Sinner".  When you read Lukes account you'll find that this woman, a well known sinner, entered the home of a Pharisee who did not seem to care for her (presumably due to the sinful situation she was living in). She enters the home and proceeds to anoint Jesus feet - washing them with her tears, kissing them, and then pouring perfume on them. Gernerally we focus on the Pharisees less than forgiving response to the woman and Jesus gentle reprimand ... It's definitely an angle with studying. But today I thought about the woman.

The woman was a *known* sinner. People knew her because of her sin. People judged her because of her sin. She had lived in this sin long enough it was a part of her and her life ... Something she hadn't, didn't, maybe couldnt, hide.

And, apparently, she was ready to change.

She was so ready to change she marched into the home of a man who didn't want her there. The home of a man who was probably as known for his "righteous judgements" as she was for her sin. 

She was so ready to make a change that she went into this uncomfortable situation to wash a man's dirty, stinky feet with her tears, dry them with her hair, and pour her perfume on them ... Which doesn't exactly sound like a pleasant task. 

She was so ready to make a change that she decided not to care what others would think of her, not to care that they would likely ridicule and belittle her as she approached Jesus's feet. 

She was was so ready to make a change that she approached Jesus with her love and faith completely unrestrained. 

And we never even get to know her name.

I've sometimes wondered why we aren't told her name. Maybe it's to help us remember that perhaps our individuality isn't as important as our willingness to stand with and serve God. Maybe because after being so well known for her sin, her name not being shared was a blessing of some sort ... She no longer needed to stand out as an individual because she now stands with the servants of God.

She got to "go in peace", saved by her faith. Saved by her willingness to make a change despite everything people thought they knew of her. Saved and able to go on, a changed and new person, ready to serve God.

Oh, how I hope I am always willing to turn to God (and away from my sins) nommatter who is watching or how (un)comfortable I feel. Oh, how I hope I remember my name here on earth doesn't really matter as long as it is written in God's Book of Life.