True Love Series

Note: This message came from a series of messages by Doug Small

Title: Building a Bridge to the Community - True Love

Theme: True love, action

Text: Luke 7:36 - 47

Introduction

Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him (Religious leaders) to eat with him (Jesus). And He (Jesus) went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat (he reclined, as shown in the picture). 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, (how did she know Jesus was in the house?) brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil (if you lived in the ancient middle east you would have lived with the door way facing the street, because of the no air you would have kept the door open, you would be the talk of the town, people would gather at your door, this is what this woman did, she comes into a house that she would not normally been welcome in, most of the time she would pass by to the other side but on this day as she was walking something was drawing her in, something or someone named Jesus, the presence of Jesus in the house, overcomes her fear of intimidation and rejection of Simeon, she comes into the house and no one notices that she is there, she begins to press her way in to get to Jesus, she takes risks here, people move around until she gets to Jesus, she is standing behind him), 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash (wet) (kneeling) His feet (nasty, dung stained feet, it would have been a necessity for a person to wash their feet, first Simeon could have done it or at least provide a servant, to the minimum provide water and a basin, he does none of those things he will not wash the feet of Jesus, he exposes Jesus and places him in a tough situation, forces Jesus to the table with dirty feet, it bothers this woman) with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head (she let down her hair, this changes the scene, she wipes the feet of Jesus); and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil (she is worshiping him, the room is filled with the fragrance of perfume). 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him (falling all over him), , for she is a sinner." 40 And Jesus answered (Simeon doesn’t say a thing out loud but Jesus reads his thoughts) and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." 41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred silver pieces, and the other fifty. 42 "And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? (Simeon’s charge) I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 "You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 "You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 48 Then He said to her,

God’s focus on Love

Matthew 22:36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, " ’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.