I Dared To Go To Simon's House

Recommended Tune: Shepherds' Pipes CMD, by Annabelle McClelland Gay (1952)
Alternate tune: Kingsfold

I dared to go to Simon's house
for Jesus would be there.
I did what I had longed to do.
I bought a gift most rare.
With money saved from my past life
I bought this sweet perfume,
held in an alabaster jar
its fragrance filled the room.

I dared not look at Simon's face,
for he knew of my sin.
I saw my Master's blistered feet,
and I knelt down to him.
I washed his feet with burning tears
and dried them tenderly,
I had no towel so used my hair ...
then Jesus set me free!

Now Simon doubted Jesus' words
but Jesus told him this:
You did not greet me as a guest.
You gave me not a kiss,
but she gave me both kiss and tears,
and though her sins were rife
I say to her: "Now go in peace;
your faith has saved your life."

I left the house and cut my hair.
(Could I such love repay?)
I shared the money with the poor,
and vowed to live God's way.
May we learn from this woman's faith
how we, like her, can dare
to trust the power of selfless love ...
show others that we care.

Edith Sinclair Downing's photo, biography, contact information and links to additional songs and choral music are available on the Discipleship Ministries website.

Copyright © 2007 Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. Permission to copy this text for use in a church bulletin, etc., must be obtained from Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. unless the church has a license from CCLI, OneLicense.net, or LicenSing.