First Thoughts: This story paints such a lovely picture, not only of the woman pouring out her ointment (as well as her kisses and tears) on Jesus' feet, but also with Jesus affirming her and restoring her dignity. Her act of love exposes her to the Pharisee, potentially making her an object for scorn and judgment. But Jesus' interpretation of her act transforms her from an object of sinfulness to an image of righteousness. Her willingness to bring her love to Jesus, to kneel at his feet, and to offer him extravagant courtesy reveals the deepest truth in herself that she has a heart for holiness. I love the verse from 1 Peter 4, which says that "love covers a multitude of sins." A heart living in love is available to God, willing to be healed and changed. This is why the woman can be forgiven her past. The Pharisee, whose heart is closed by his falsely righteous need to judge, can't see the truth. As you prepare to teach the children, think of the way that you pour your love out at their feet. Do you listen to their stories? Tell them how glad you are to see them? Do you commit special time each week in praying for them? I decided long ago, the best teachers aren't necessarily those who are terribly skilled, but those who really love their students. Commit yourself to being THAT kind of teacher this Sunday!
Teaching On Your Own: Hey everybody, I have an announcement to make: I have the very best friend in the whole world! Do you believe me? Well, you will after you've heard this story. This weekend I went over to my friend's house to practice kicking the soccer ball, and he showed me this amazing Lego sculpture he's been working on. It's a castle with a real working bridge and a moat around it. It's really cool. Or it WAS really cool. See, I accidentally kicked the soccer ball right into the castle, and the whole thing fell down. Months of work just destroyed. I felt horrible. Have you ever made a huge mistake like that? How did you feel? I thought my friend would be so angry at me that he wouldn't even want to be my friend anymore. But you know what he said? He said it was okay. He forgave me. Can you believe he forgave me of something that big?
You know, it reminds me of something Jesus said in our story today. Jesus was having dinner with some friends when a woman came to see him. She had led a very difficult life, and many people thought she was no good. But when she saw Jesus she just believed that somehow he would love her. So she sat on the floor and washed his feet. When he didn't kick her out of the house, she was so relieved and so happy that she cried. But some people in the house didn't like it one bit. They thought she had no business coming into the same house with a holy man. They thought her past made her unworthy. But Jesus said it was because her past was so difficult that her love now was so great. She was so happy to be forgiven, it was like her heart was overflowing with love. I know that feeling, don't you? In fact, the day after my friend forgave me, I ran over early in the morning and mowed his lawn so he wouldn't have to! I just had to do something to let him know how much I appreciated his forgiveness. I guess in Jesus' eyes what's most important about us isn't the mistakes we've made in the past, but how much love we can share right now. The bigger the love, the better.
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 2: (Name), I have to tell you something. I have the very best friend in the whole world!
Leader 1: You do?
Leader 2: Yes, I do. This weekend I went over to my friend's house to practice kicking the soccer ball, and he showed me this amazing Lego sculpture he's been working on. It's a castle with a real working bridge and a moat around it. It's really cool. Or it WAS really cool.
Leader 1: Uh oh. That doesn't sound so good.
Leader 2: Yeah. See, I accidentally kicked the soccer ball right into the castle, and the whole thing fell down. Months of work just destroyed. I felt horrible.
Leader 1: I can see why.
Leader 2: I thought my friend would be so angry at me that he wouldn't even want to be my friend anymore. But you know what he said? He said it was okay. He forgave me. Can you believe he forgave me of something that big?
Leader 1: Wow! That really is something. It reminds me of something Jesus said in our story today. Jesus was having dinner with some friends when a woman came to see him. She sat in the floor, crying and kissing his feet, and then she poured some ointment on them.
Leader 2: Why was she crying?
Leader 1: She had led a very difficult life, and many people thought she was no good. But when she saw Jesus she just believed that somehow he would love her. When he let her wash his feet, it made her so happy that she cried. But some people in the house didn't like it one bit. They thought she had no business coming into the same house with a holy man. They thought her past made her unworthy. But Jesus said it was because her past was so difficult that her love now was so great. She was so happy to be forgiven, it was like her heart was overflowing with love.
Leader 2: I know the feeling. The day after my friend forgave me, I ran over early in the morning and mowed his lawn so he wouldn't have to! I just had to do something to let him know how much I appreciated his forgiveness.
Leader 1: See, in Jesus' eyes what is most important about us isn't the mistakes we've made in the past, but how much love we can share right now. The bigger the love, the better.
Closing Prayer: God, give us a heart of gratitude, knowing that no matter what mistakes we've made or will make, you will always love us and welcome us into your heart. Help us to offer that same loving forgiveness to people who hurt us with their mistakes. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, revisit the story going into some of the details that the above lesson skipped over. Talk about the expensive ointment the woman poured on Jesus' feet and how she kissed him. Her act wasn't just a utilitarian one (cleaning dirty feet) but was truly an act of love and worship. She gave Jesus the best things she had to show him how grateful she was that he treated her with kindness. Ask the children to think of a time in their lives when they really messed up. How does it feel to know that you've hurt somebody else or that somebody is mad at you? How does it feel when somebody acts like you're no good now that you've messed up? Now what's it like when that person lets you off the hook, telling you that they still love you no matter what? It makes you want to jump up and sing and dance and to really celebrate. It makes you want to share that feeling of joy with everybody around you. This feeling of wanting to celebrate is what worship is all about. We are so grateful for all that God does for us that we want to share our best gifts and our best love with God.
For a craft idea, provide each child with small pottery jars (available in craft stores or home improvement stores). Explain that the woman carried the most expensive item she had, some perfume, in an alabaster jar. It was precious and costly, and she poured it at his feet. Invite the children to think of the most precious things they have like their kindness, their laughter, their talents, and so forth. Now invite them to imagine all those most precious things being stored in this jar. How should such a jar be decorated? You might provide gold or silver paints, glitter glue, acrylic jewels, anything that will help the children make their jars look precious and costly. When they're done decorating their jars, invite them to close their eyes and imagine taking their jar to Jesus' feet, pouring out all their gifts, and offering them to God. Close with a time of prayer.
