The unnamed woman who washed Christ’s feet
Do you know what the first act of hospitality was in New Testament times when a traveler came into a man’s house? Mostly they traveled by foot, they wore sandals and the very first act of hospitality was to draw a container of water so the guest could wash his feet. In the Bible days the people came to people’s houses, not by limousine or by car. They came by foot path. And they walked on the same foot path as the cows. And so, every now and then, when they stepped down, you know what they stepped in. And this was evening. And usually, that’s why people would wash one another's feet. It was customary to wash your feet. Simon didn’t do that that night. You can read it in all four of the gospels. And Jesus feet were not washed. And also the welcome kiss was withheld. And the anointing oil was withheld. You know, that anointing oil was perfumed. So it was sort of like a deodorant, and people that came in from the heat of Palestine, they smelled good. That’s why they did that. B...
