Do you realize that Jesus is never shocked at what people do or believe? The New Testament is full of examples of His lack of shock-ability. That’s because Jesus looks beyond what we do or believe in order to show us His love. His major quest is to build a relationship with man, not to judge him for his behavior.Jesus knew Zaccheus was a thief and a crooked tax collector. He he told Zaccheus to come down from the tree because, “I’m staying at your house tonight.” (Luke 19:5). That one act changed Zaccheus forever; he now had a relationship with God.

When Jesus saw the Samaritan women at the well He wasn’t shocked at her sin. He looked beyond her five marriages and saw her emptiness. He knew she was living with a man and not married, but looked past her present sin and saw the deep longing of her heart. (John 4) He pressed beyond the cultural taboo of speaking to a Samaritan because He cared more about relationship than He did religious practice.

When Jesus dined with Simon the Pharisee and his friends it was evident that Simon’s friends had come to judge Jesus rather than to learn from Him. (Luke 7:36) As the meal was proceeding, an immoral woman crashed the party. Luke writes that she had lived a sinful life.(v37)

Apparently those at the table knew of her reputation for she felt judged and condemned. Yet her longing for peace and redemption drove her to risk further humiliation. For her to take this risk she may have thought that this was her last hope of obtaining God’s forgiveness and mercy.

As she stood at Jesus feet her shame and hope drove her to her knees. Then as an act of humility she began to wash Jesus feet with her tears of repentance. She then took out a bottle of oil mixed with perfume and began to anoint and kiss His feet as her act of worship.

The Pharisees looked on in disbelief that Jesus would allow this sinful woman to wash His feet with her tears. Simon lashed out in contempt, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is, that she is a sinner.” (V 39)

Simon thought Jesus should be shocked at this scandalous woman’s attempt to get his attention. But He wasn’t shocked; He knew her deepest need for forgiveness and restoration. He was moved by her faith and her courage to risk everything just to be touched by God. He could see beyond her sin and visualize a restored life and a relationship as a child of God.

You see, it’s about the heart. Jesus always looks at the heart. Jesus confronted the unloving hearts of His host and friends while this woman demonstrated a heart overflowing with love. Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to tell you” (v. 40).

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denari, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied,“I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,”

Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:41–47)

Jesus is never shocked because He is able to look beyond our messed up lives. He forgives us, restores us and then floods our heart with His great love. Let’s bask in His great love.