He Paid A Debt I Could Not Pay

He Paid a Debt I Could not Pay

When someone does something for you that is so wonderful you can’t even believe it, you can’t help but get emotional. Some people get so happy they cry? Excited! Jump for joy! Give a big hug? Kiss your whole face!

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt helpless and there was no way out? Perhaps you had a debt that you couldn’t pay or had a situation where your child might go to jail? At that point what can you do? You fall at their feet and beg for mercy!

I know when my daughter was in hospital many years ago, of course we all prayed for her. But I remember my mom making deals with God that if God would bring her out of the hospital that she would do this and that. When my daughter came out she was a different person.

What if someone pays a debt for you that you couldn’t pay or manages to get your child off scott free when it seemed there was no way out? What do you want to do that person. You want to kiss their whole face, right!

What if you had a super-hero in your presence but they were in plain clothes? Like superman without his glasses. How would you recognize him? If someone said that was him how would you treat him?

If you felt you needed help, you might beg him for his help.

What if you were a crime boss how would you treat this super-hero? You probably would treat him pretty poorly.

Luke 7:36-50

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Why would a pharisee invite Jesus to dinner? Ulterior motive?

Does the Pharisee want to ask Jesus how to be saved? Do you think he thinks he needs saving?

Pharisees believe they are getting to heaven by their so-called good works.

37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Feet? Now Jesus had probably been walking a lot that day and they didn’t wash his feet. Now if it was anyone else besides Jesus would you be kissing His feet?

What is she doing here? She is a horrible sinner, is confessing her sinful state, and she is begging for mercy. She believes by coming to Jesus and begging for mercy she will find mercy for her sins.

Have any of you come to that place where you realize that compared to that perfect person Jesus that you are horrible? Isaiah in chapter 6 stood before a perfect God and said woe is me for I am undone!

What would you do to try to receive mercy from Him? Would you do as this lady did?

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Have you ever met someone who has disdain for everyone around them. They think they are better than everyone else? That’s how the Pharisees were. Here, the Pharisee even thinks he is better than Jesus and makes fun of Him when the lady is kissing His feet.

Do you think the Pharisee knows the lady is begging for mercy but is just making fun of both Jesus and her? It’s a beautiful thing she is doing and this guy is trying to put both of them down for it.

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”“Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Jesus is showing through this parable that both the woman and Simon the Pharisee both have sin debts. This woman my have a bigger sin debt but even though we think we are not sinners, we both still are and still need saving. Some people convince themselves that they are without sin, is this true? Of course not, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Some think their sins aren’t all that bad so they’re OK - not so. Our idea of “bad” is different than God’s!!!