A sinful woman met Jesus. She gave Jesus an extravagant gift of gratitude by washing his feet and pouring perfume on them. Simon the Pharisee knew that this woman was sinful, and he didn’t think it was right for Jesus to accept a gift like that from such a woman.

But Jesus said that the woman’s sinfulness was all the more reason for him to accept her gift. Because she had been forgiven such great sin, her gratitude and love for Jesus was also great.

We might read this story and imagine ourselves as the Pharisee. We might sense Jesus calling us to be more accepting of sinners. But what is even more important is to imagine ourselves as the woman. Every one of us has sinned greatly and needs to be forgiven by Jesus. Because every one of us is offered forgiveness by Jesus, we all have reason to show abundant love and gratitude to him, as this woman did.

Jesus has shown us all so much forgiveness—more than we even know. So let us give thanks to him and pour out our life as a fragrant offering to the Lord. “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).