One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (Luke 7:36–38)

Whoa. This “fallen woman” is wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair, and kissing them. A very intimate encounter. She obviously has lost her capacity to care what the “nice people” think, and Jesus doesn’t seem to have ever bothered trying that capacity on. He is no “respecter of persons.” Not, at least, as it is with most folks in this world, especially leaders. This is utterly remarkable in the society of the religious, for the fear of man rules that world. “What good people might think” is a very, very powerful motivator and the raison d’être for most of the ridiculous policies.

The man is free — free from what people think, free from religion, free from false obligation. People won’t like it, won’t understand it; they’ll draw false conclusions, point fingers, and worse. He is free from that as well. Oh to be so free.

The more you fall in love with Jesus’ genuine goodness, which is true goodness, the more you will absolutely detest the counterfeit of a false piety and a shallow morality. As he did. Jesus has a wild freedom born out of a profound holiness. Which makes him the most remarkable person I have ever known.

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