Defying Labels: From “wicked” to welcomed at the table

Stories are how humans grasp meaning and make sense of the world. This week’s sermon on the movie Wicked reminded me of a story in Luke 7 where Jesus helped people see past the labels others put on someone’s life.

Jesus enjoyed a good meal and allowed these casual table times to bring about His most significant teaching moments, changing perspectives, and giving the self-righteous some spiritual indigestion.

Luke 7 describes a dinner party hosted by Simon the Pharisee. These dinners weren’t exactly private. Townspeople could linger and listen.

As they were dining, a woman with a sinful reputation walked in, crossing the invisible “you-don’t-belong-here” line. Everyone knew her reputation. She had the label of a sinner, and Simon was quick to judge.

But she wasn’t just a desperate sinner trying to get Jesus’ attention. She was likely already a follower, someone who had encountered His forgiveness and came to honor Him.

While watching the dinner unfold, she noticed something Simon had ignored: Jesus was not being honored. Simon hadn’t offered Jesus basic hospitality - no water for His feet, no kiss of greeting, no oil for His head. The woman couldn’t let the insult slide. She brought expensive perfume, wept at Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. It wasn’t for show; it was love and gratitude overflowing.

Simon and the others were appalled. But Jesus told them, “Her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown” (Luke 7:47). 

Her care for Jesus was a response to grace she had already received, and Jesus was going to make sure everyone knew her real story.

Simon muttered to himself, “If Jesus were a prophet, He’d know what kind of woman this is.”

Then Jesus, without missing a beat, answered Simon’s thoughts out loud, responding with a short parable about two people forgiven of debts, one small and one huge. 

“Who would love more?” He asked. Simon reluctantly answered, “The one forgiven more.”

Then came Jesus’ mic drop: He turned toward the woman, but spoke to Simon, “Do you see this woman?”

Jesus turned toward her, but kept talking to him.

But Simon saw only a problem, a reputation; a story of wickedness. 

Jesus saw her soul; her pain, her transformation, her love. Jesus was asking something deeper: Do you really see her or just her label? 

Jesus wasn’t focused on the woman’s sins. He was focused on her story.

Jesus saw her. Simon missed everything!

He threw a dinner party for Jesus, and missed Jesus.

Then Jesus restored her dignity: “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

To the crowd, He pointed out what she did because that’s what they could see.
To her, He pointed out her faith because that’s what only He could see.

Her label no longer defined her.

We still live in a world quick to assign labels. “Enemy.” “Sinner.” “Problem.” But Jesus invites us to see people the way He does: to hear their stories, notice their souls, and offer mercy instead of judgment.

Jesus saw the woman. He saw Simon. He sees me. He sees you.

He wants us to see too.

See Him. See others. 

See past the labels to the soul.

Luke says, Jesus “gave sight to many who were blind”. That can be our prayer: “Lord, open my eyes to see what You see.”

Looking Beyond the Label:
    • Who in your life do you tend to see through a label instead of their story?

    • How has Jesus helped you experience the kind of grace that leads to overflowing love?

    • What practical step could you take this week to “see” someone the way Jesus does?