Save Me Too by Mary Grimm
A Meditation on Luke 7:36-50 and the celebration of brokenness:
Simon, Pharisee, “man of God” had the Teacher to his home. While he scrutinized his guest a woman crept in weeping. She touched the Rabbi with her sin stained hands. She kissed his dirty feet with tainted lips—an altogether disgusting display! Why didn’t he stop her, shrink back from her filthy impudence and rebuke her?
Then, with piercing eyes, the Teacher turned and looked straight into Simon’s heart, exposing what was hidden, and said, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” There were two debtors owing more than they could pay. The Master had compassion and forgave them both.
Now who do you think loved him the most? Simon supposed, and Simon saw, and Simon judged correctly. Then the woman was forgiven and left the house restored. But what about the other debtor?
A wise counselor once told me, “You cannot minister the gospel if you do not believe it for yourself.” If you do not know yourself to be the woman in the story, you may find – as I did in a moment of terrible clarity – that you are Simon. When this struck me, I could only cry out, “Me too! Jesus, save me too!
“So, Lord, pluck me from the lofty tree to which I’ve clung in pride and all the security of my knowledge of good and evil. Cast me to the ground where I must rot with all the other fallen fruit, lost in the leaf mold but not, not without a glimmering of hope: “Unless a seed falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24
“We celebrate brokenness as our responsibility in ministry among the broken.”
If we are to minister the gospel we must first believe it. We must daily cry out, “Save me too.” If the Healer is to reveal Himself through us, we must embrace, even celebrate, the reality that we are broken and in need of healing.
What this looks like in action is choosing to humble ourselves in the face of our failures and put the process of repentance, forgiveness, and grace on display.
He will keep digging as deep as you will let Him go. And every level will force you to choose again either hide within your pride and shame or put His Goodness on display at the cost of your image and the healing of your soul. Celebrate Brokenness.
About the Author – Mary Grimm, Translation/Literary Consultant in WMF PNG
Mary Grimm serves as a translation and literacy consultant with the Yamano-speaking communities in Papua New Guinea. After first sensing a call to missions during a youth trip to Mexico, Mary’s journey led her to Papua New Guinea in 2006, where she became deeply aware of the need for Bible translation. She returned in 2008 and felt God confirm this as her life’s calling. Mary holds degrees from George Fox University and the Canadian Institute of Linguistics. Since 2015, she has worked alongside communities to support vernacular Bible translation and lead local literacy initiatives. She is currently helping to launch a learning center in Port Moresby to provide educational access for children from low- and no-income families. Mary delights in thoughtful conversations, exploring nature with her husband Benjamin, and witnessing how language can bring light and dignity to a people.