Lessons Learned: Kaphara

Tears and Perfume

Luke 7:36-50

There is some division on whether this story is the same story in the other Gospels.  The other Gospels’ stories take place in Bethany near the time of Jesus’ death.  John chapter 12 is about Mary, sister to Lazarus and Martha at Bethany, just before Jesus’ death.  Other places with similar stories are Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9.  All these other stories are at the end of Jesus’ life but this one in Luke is near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  The Luke story was the one I was thinking of as I was starting my research.  My brother-in-law suggested Kaphara when I was looking for a name for this woman.  Kaphar is the Hebrew word for atonement.  Thank you, Allen!

Scripture in this story is from the New Living Translation and is in italics.

Kaphara’s Story

I was just fifteen years old when both of my parents died.  They had both caught a dreadful disease and could not be saved from it.  I was alone.  I had no other siblings, and no one had spoken to my father about marrying me.  I did not know how to survive.  I became incredibly angry at God for taking my parents away from me.  I turned my back on God.

I did have an aunt who lived in a nearby town.  I traveled to her town to see if I could stay with her.  She was my father’s sister and I knew truly little about her because my parents would not talk about her.  When I got to the town I asked where I might find my aunt from some women at the well.  They all laughed and said I do not want to go to her house.  I asked why?  “Because she is a harlot” they snickered.  I explained my situation to the women, but no one seemed to care about my plight, so I went to my aunt’s house.

I stood at the door and knocked.  My aunt came to the door and she was made up with paint on her face and smelled of perfume.  I told her who I was and what happened to my parents.  She invited me into her home.  It was beautiful full of fine furniture and draperies.  I asked her if I could stay with her until we could find someone to marry me.  She said it would be alright.  She had her servant get a room ready for me while another one made a meal for us.  It was nice here, but I do not think I want to stay long.

Later that evening a man came to call.  My aunt asked if I would go to my room early so, she could spend time alone with the man.  I knew what was going on, but I did not want any part of it, so I went to my room for the rest of the night.  As I laid on my bed, I could hear my aunt laugh.   I rolled over a tried to go to sleep.  I kept telling myself this was better than begging.

The next day I enjoyed time with my aunt but again a different man came to call, and I was off to my room for the night.  This went on for a week.  Finally, I asked my aunt how to find a man to marry me and if she would help me.   She said she really did not know.  All her callers were single men who had no sons to marry.  She also said she was not welcome in places because of her profession.  Then she admitted the men who came to call paid her for her time.  I told her I knew but after that I was a loss for words.  Now what would happen to me?

Then she said something that made me so angry at first.  She asked if I wanted to go into business with her.  She said I could make a lot of money with my looks.  She said I could help her pay for her rich lifestyle.  She went on to say she was sorry she was not in the position to find me a husband to take care of me but I would not need anyone to take care of me if I went into business with her.  I was stunned! 

First God takes away my parents then he puts me in such a difficult situation.  God must really hate me!  Not seeing any other choices, I agreed.  I went to my room and cried the rest of the day.   

The next day my aunt said she needed to prepare me for my first time.  She asked a regular customer to be my first.  She said he would be gentle with me.  My aunt’s servants prepared a bath for me and helped me into a beautiful gown afterwards.  I was excited and nervous at the same time.  I did not know why I was excited because once I spent the night with this man my life, I dreamed of having would be over.  Was this something I wanted to do?  I looked around at all the beautiful things my aunt had.  She did not suffer for money.  She seemed to have lots of men friends.  What more could a girl want?

My aunt had a feast for dinner that night.  I drank more wine than I usually do to help calm my nerves.  I managed to get through the night.  I hurt a little, but the man was gentle.  I was surprised at the amount of money he paid me.  I guess I could do this.

After that night I became immensely popular.  Men still came to see my aunt, older ones mostly, but I had more than her.  She taught me how to talk with men and how to listen to them.  I gave my aunt almost half of what I was earning.  Our house was filled with expensive things.  I almost enjoyed my life, but something was missing.  Then one day I heard about a man named Jesus.

Jesus was passing by my town and healing a lot of people.  I went to hear him talk just out of curiosity.  This man Jesus said a lot of things that day but some of them stayed with me.  He said:

(Luke 6:24) “What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.  25What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.

What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow. 26What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

37“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

His words got me thinking.  Maybe I was wrong about God.  What if God did not hate me but actually loved me and cared about what happened to me?  What if this man, who heals people and raises people from the dead, is the Son of God?  He seemed to look right at me when he was talking.  I could feel so much love in that look.  It was like when my father would look at me when I was a child and did something wrong, but I knew he loved me and would forgive me.  Could I be forgiven?  I started to really think about my life, and I hated my sin.

A few days later I heard Jesus was eating dinner at Simon’s, a Pharisees, house.  I decided to make the boldest move of my life.  I decided if Jesus would forgive my sins, I would follow him wherever he went.  I packed an old outfit I had when I arrived and put on the plainest dress I could find.  I took a jar of perfume with me and a few coins.  I told my aunt I was leaving.  She was angry with me.  I felt bad leaving her, but I knew this was something I needed to do.  I could not go on with my life the way it was going anymore.

I snuck into Simon’s house and pretended I was a hired servant.  I was going to be brave and speak to Jesus when he was leaving Simon’s house later but when I saw Jesus at Simon’s table, I could not help myself.  I started crying.  I went over to Jesus’ feet and broke the bottle of perfume open and poured it on Jesus’ feet.  Weeping more, because of my sin, I dried the tears with my hair.  I found myself kissing his feet.  I could not look at Jesus or anyone else.  Then I heard Jesus speak:

“Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

41Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44Then he turned towards me and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

47“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48Then Jesus said to me “Your sins are forgiven.”

49The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”  Then Jesus said to me “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

I bowed myself low to the ground and could not say anything.  It was like a huge weight was lifted off me.  Then I found my voice.  Lord, please let me join your group of disciples.  I cannot go back to where I came, and I have no where else to go.  I only want to serve you.  Thank you for forgiving me.  It is more than I could ever hope for, please let me come with you.

He said the way I go is exceedingly difficult.  I said I would follow him no matter how hard it was until the end of my life.  Jesus agreed to let me follow him.  The women in the group were very welcoming.  That was something I did not expect since I had been a prostitute.  God is so good.

Lessons Learned from Kaphara

Can you feel the love and forgiveness Kaphara must have felt that day?  She had turned her back on God and was drawn into a life of sin.  Yet, Jesus forgave her that day just like he will forgive you.  Some of you are thinking I have never been so sinful as Kaphara nor have I committed any great sins.  However, it was not the life of sin Kaphara found herself, that needed the most forgiveness, but when she turned her back on God.  Romans 3:23 says For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  God’s standard is to be perfect.  I do not know about you, but I cannot live up to God’s standard.  That is where Jesus comes in.  Jesus willingly died on the cross, even though he never sinned, so we can be forgiven and have atonement.  Have you received God’s forgiveness and love?

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