Like a Mighty Flame




For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. Song of Solomon 8:6-7

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 7:37-38

She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Mark 14: 8

Her sins weighed heavy as a boulder, pressing down and nearly choking her with grief, regret and torment. The religious leaders judged and despised her. They were right—she was a sinner. Someone with a past. Someone without a future. It was difficult for her to enter their houses looking for Jesus but His love was greater than her fears. She searched for Him, carrying an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume, her most valuable treasure.

When she found Jesus, she knelt behind him. She didn’t know what to say and was horrified to realize that her tears were falling on his dusty feet. She hurriedly wiped them dry with her hair. How embarrassing! She was making a spectacle of herself in front of the religious leaders who already despised her. She kissed his feet, pouring out her love and adoration, turning her back on all who would deny her access to the Savior. Then with determination, she broke the jar and spilled the perfume over his feet.

Some of the religious people thought she should have sold the perfume instead of wasting it that way. They said it would have been better used to help the poor. But Jesus saw it for what it was— an act of devotion. A gift of love.

She didn’t hold back. How could she? Jesus looked beyond her faults, beyond her past, and into her future. He knew the dreams God had dreamed for her before the creation of the earth. He knew her value. He recognized her potential. He didn’t look at her with the eyes of a judge but with the eyes of love. He yearned to forgive her and help her begin again.

Who can understand such love? Love stronger than the grave, stronger than death itself. As much as this woman loved Jesus and gave her treasure to him, He loved her more. His love burned like a blazing fire, like a roaring flame. His love was so strong that raging rivers could not wash it away nor oceans drown it.

What is your response to Jesus? He sees you as you were created to be. He pours out love, strong as death and unyielding as the grave, upon you. He looks beyond your sins, beyond your past and into your future. He wants to baptize you in liquid love, fill you with the power and joy of the Holy Spirit, and wash away all that separates you from Him.

He will remember your broken jar of sacrifice, the cup of water given in His Name, the helping hand stretched out to a child. He sees and is pleased. He speaks to you today—You’ve done what you can; I won’t forget.