And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:38 ESV)
Hair and Love
The sacrifice of something precious is an expression of love. God loves us and sacrifices His Son. Jesus loves us and sacrifices Himself. Jonathan loved David and sacrificed Jonathan’s position. Parents love their children and sacrifice time, resources, and energy.
This unnamed woman loved Jesus. (Luke 7:47) She showed it by personal sacrifice. She ruined her hair to humbly wash and anoint the feet of Jesus.
Jesus exclaims, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV) But after this woman’s work, he might have said, “This is a pretty good expression of love, too, that someone gives up their beautiful hair for their beloved.”
We are not often given the opportunity to show love by giving up our hair.
But we are often given the opportunity to show love by giving up something.
Perhaps it is power. Perhaps it is a position. Perhaps it is a possession. Perhaps it is our reputation. Perhaps it is time. Perhaps it is energy.
We can love like this woman loved, because God has taught us… Jesus has taught us… His people have taught us what love is.
Take the love God grants us.