Fan Or Follower? Series

Fan or Follower

Luke 7:36-50

January 22, 2023

If Debbie and I invited you to our home, you would expect us to welcome you into our home. You would expect we would take your jackets, hats; and if there was snow on the ground, we would show you where to put your shoes or boots.

Most likely you would expect us to offer you something to eat and drink.

NOW, have you ever been in a situation where the guest didn’t do as they were expected? Maybe they didn’t know what to do, but most likely, they just didn’t do what was normal and expected. We could guess the reasons why, but we won’t.

Well, that happened to Jesus. And we’re going to look at this story from the gospel of Luke to see what was going on and what the expectations were and how they were strangely resolved.

Remember, we’re in a series called FAN or FOLLOWER. The series is all about asking ourselves if we’re fans, enthusiastic admirers; or are we followers of Jesus? Last week, we learned the Hebrew word TALMID. Are we followers / disciples of the teacher, who is our Lord and Savior?

So, let’s get into the word and see what’s happening in Luke 7. I’m going to read the entire passage, because we need to hear the story in its entirety. We’ll start in verse 36 - - - -

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.

37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,

38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,

He would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50.

42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

44 Then turning toward the woman He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?

I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven — for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

48 And Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

50 And Jesus said to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Let’s recap . . . Jesus is invited to a dinner at Simon’s home. Simon is a pharisee. He knew the customs, traditions and social protocol. Yet, Simon didn’t do what was normally done for a guest upon their arrival, but this was not just any guest, this was a teacher, a rabbi. Not to mention, the Messiah. So, you were to treat them with greater reverence and hospitality.

In a few minutes we’re going to go into a little more detail about something which will help us to know if we’re a fan or follower. But let’s look deeper at this story.

When Jesus entered the home, it was customary to give your guest a kiss. It meant they were accepted into the house as a welcomed guest. There was also a sense of reverence for an esteemed person who entered, such as Jesus. There was no kiss.

Then Simon didn’t wash Jesus’s feet or even have someone else do it. That was unheard of for guests. You always made sure their feet were washed. Their feet were dirty. When they would sit down to eat, they sat reclining on the floor with their feet pretty near the table.