LET HER ALONE by T. E. Bowen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1901

LET HER ALONE.

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN.

JESUS was at the home of Simon. This man professed to be a follower of God, but he had committed grievous sins. Yet Jesus came into the world to save sinners, so He accepted Simon’s invitation to dine with him. While those at the table were conversing, a timid woman, unobserved, stole into the room, and broke upon the Saviour’s feet from behind (the custom then being to recline at meals) an alabaster box of ointment, very precious, and began wiping His feet with her long flowing hair, the tears of gratitude falling fast as she reverently kissed the feet of her divine Lord. She purposed to remain unobserved, but the precious perfume filled the room.

She had heard rumors that Jesus might be taken away, and fearing she might not have another opportunity of showing her love and gratitude for the wonderful mercy shown her in the forgiveness of her great sins, she hastened to break the seal of her treasured box.

The spirit of criticism began to manifest itself. Judas ventured to suggest that it would have been far better to have sold this ointment and given the proceeds to the poor. Simon thought if Jesus was the Messiah, He would not have permitted this woman to touch Him, for he knew she was a great sinner. Jesus was unmoved by this censure. Turning to her accusers, He said: “Let her alone.” He said more, but ponder this statement: Let her alone. She took this way of manifesting her love for me. Let her alone.

How many acts of love have been frozen to death before they found expression, by some cold censure or criticism. Christ’s “Let her alone” applies to all such.

Some timid wife longs to invite a needy one to share the comforts of her home, but the husband inwardly or outwardly objects, and so the good deed is smothered. Some children long to give expression to their childish love for Christ, but for fear of censure restrain it. How much better it would be to let them alone.

Mary’s was the only precious box of ointment broken upon the Saviour while He was alive. Are you sorry she broke it?

Let us know that this cold, unfeeling spirit is not of heaven. It comes from beneath. We need to heed what the Saviour said in more ways than one, and let people alone. Let them follow the good promptings of the Spirit. God is able also to guide them. Much more might be done for God, would all heed these words to them of old, “Let her alone.”