Jesus said words something like this: "Simon, I was tired and dusty with my journey when I came in, and you did not give me water to bathe my feet, but she has washed my feet with tears; you did not offer me a kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet; you did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with precious ointment. She has loved me very much, because I have forgiven her very much."
And turning to the woman, Jesus said to her, "Thy sins are forgiven; . . . go in peace."
Oh, the joy of hearing Jesus say those words!
And we may have that joy too, if we come to Him with humble loving heart, and tell Him that we are sorry.
He never turns anyone away who comes to Him; so, dear little children, let us trust His loving heart, and though we know we are very unworthy, do not let us stay away for that, for Jesus longs that we may be forgiven, and so be able to go away "in peace."
[XXXI. The Barren Fig Tree]
"Nothing but Leaves"
I have seen a picture of a fig tree, and I want to describe it to you, that we may understand a little about one of our Lord's Parables.
There are a great many Parables in the New Testament: they are word-pictures to teach us God's great lessons.
At school your teacher has a large blackboard, and sometimes she sketches an object, and explains it to you, does she not?