The Secret Princess

By Shirley Mitchell

            “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. When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “ If this Man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner…Then He (Jesus) turned toward the woman and said to Simon (the Pharisee), “Do you see this woman?...Her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much.” Luke 7:37-39, 44a, 47a

            The Greek word for “see” is a word that is used for one who was blind and now has sight. Jesus is calling Simon to have spiritual vision and to see this woman as He saw her. He is asking Simon to give a correct assessment of her. Simon saw only her sin. Jesus saw through her sin to her heart. He saw her life of sin, yes.  However, He saw her as a priceless woman who knew how to receive the gift of grace.  The Pharisee could not see her because he didn’t understand the worth of the gift. 

Jesus asked Simon the question, but He was looking at the woman.  He was saying to Simon, “Take off your blinders.  See what I see when I look at this woman.  Woman, when I look at you, I see a woman who has great faith and has chosen to love me well.”  If she had enough time to react, what do you think she did?

I think her heart palpitated and she braced her body for an emotional blow when Jesus forced the Pharisee to look at her.  She had had so much mud slung at her.  Which started first, the mud slinging or her choice to bathe in the mud bath of sin?  Was she “forced” into a life of sexual sin in order to earn money?  God leaves it again unanswered so both women who were forced into it by the treacherous treatment of women in this world and women who chose a life a sin can relate to her.  Regardless, the mud covered something that her heart said long ago.  Jesus awakened that part of her.  Her heart had once whispered, “Can’t anyone see me for who I am?  I feel like I am more valuable than what meets the human eye.  If I am valuable, then why don’t others treat me better?”  Since others did not confirm that she was valuable, she began to act out of her belief system that she was not valuable.  She longed for a beauty and esteem that she did not have. 

This woman had kept an identity that crushed her heart and that she could not cast off.  It took a Savior to unveil her true identity.  Jesus brought her back to the truth.  Through her faith in Jesus, she was the daughter of the King of the universe.  She was a secret princess.  Only ones with spiritual vision could see the real her.  However, the spiritual realm knew who she was.  Her beauty was obvious to them.

            During the adolescent years, young girls will try on different identities to see if they fit.  They try on new personalities and cast off others.  They scream the question, “Who am I?”  However, discerning one’s identity is not limited to the teenage years.  It is a lifelong process.  Identities can form that betray who we are in Christ.  Only when we start to discern our identity in Christ do we end the dangerous masquerade and begin to dance in the prince’s ballroom.

You and I put on our masks.  We cover who we are.  We put on our external face to the world.  One of my very closest friends in Bible study just shared, “You only get to see about 50% of me.  I keep the rest of me hidden.”  Yet, there is something deep inside of us that yearns to communicate at the deepest level with someone else. 

We long for someone to know us.  The real us.  For someone to know if we like red roses or daisies or if we are allergic.  For someone to know if we like a long bubble bath or if we get in and out of the shower quickly.  For someone to know our favorite song.  For someone to know when we are so desperately trying to keep our face together when all we need is some space to cry.  For someone to know what we dream our lives will be some day and never scoff at us.  For someone to know what’s behind that mask.  To know us.  And after getting to know us, to cherish us.

One of the greatest needs we have is to be known.  Some women guard their hearts and never unveil themselves.  Some women reach and grab onto anyone who they can leach onto.  We call them needy.  Teenagers shout at their parents, “You just don’t understand me!”  Women complain about their men, “He just doesn’t get it.  Why won’t he try to understand me?”  So many books have been written on this subject that they can fill the entire wall of the library.  Let’s face it girls, unless we have emotionally died, we want to be known!

Our God says to you and me, “I know you.  Don’t you remember I formed you in your mother’s womb?  I know when you sit and when you rise.  I know how you like your coffee – latte, cream, or none at all.  I know if you like a short shower, long shower or bubble bath.  I know how the corners of your mouth break into a smile.  I know your past, beloved.  I know what you did.  I know when you cried in your pillow to sleep when no one else was around.  I know your future, baby. I know how you will withstand this fiery trial and your faith will prove genuine as gold.  I know your “man” issues and how to solve them.  I know how to stitch your heart back together.  I know how to tell you to raise your children.  I know how to keep them in my strong hands.  I know what is happening inside your body right now.  I know how you will react to what is going to happen to you.  I know everything about you and I STILL LOVE YOU.”  Isn’t it wonderful that you and I are fully known and still loved beyond measure?