Go In Peace
Today’s passage records the story of a woman. It is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness. It is a story of thankfulness, of faith and of hope. Do you take the time to remember what God through His Son has done for you? He loves you so much. He loved this woman so much. And her response to His love should touch the heart of each of us today.
Luke 7:36-50
As we consider the story today we will look at three things. We will look at her fall, her faith and her forgiveness.
In verse 37 the Bible tells us she was a sinner. This is repeated as the thoughts of Simon the Pharisee are given to us in verse 39. The contrast between verse 37 and verse 39 is the fact that Simon knows her to be a sinner, meaning she is a woman that has a reputation. Possibly a prostitute and at the least an adulteress. Jesus knew who she was and in His example to Simon compared her to the one who had the greatest debt. And then there was the ointment. The fact that it was carried in an alabaster box meant that it was very expensive and most likely was a tool of her former trade. It’s fragrance being used to lure men into her bed.
Now do not take this example that God has given us to mean that one person’s sin is greater than another’s. In God’s eye, sin is sin. Jesus died on the cross for all sin from the least to the greatest. I am not to compare my sin to your sin and you are not to compare yours to mine. Rather, measure your sin against the righteousness and the love of Christ and then you can put yourself in this woman’s shoes. She was indeed a fallen woman, as is the estate of all of mankind. We are people with much to be forgiven. We are a people that owes much by way of a sin debt. It’s unfortunate that so many churches have cheapened the price of sin. Some have altogether done away with what they call a bloody religion. But we need to realize the great price of our sin.
And now we come to faith. Did you ever wonder how this woman came to be in Simon’s house? I did. Can you imagine if I overheard one of you inviting someone over to your house for lunch and I just showed up? And what if my neighbors came along? And the rest of you, why don’t you come along as well? That would be quite strange wouldn’t it? But the Jews had a custom, if someone had invited a dignitary or other special guest who was of interest to the public, other dignitaries could invite themselves. But there was also a place for the beggars and those with special needs to come hoping to meet and present their request or get a hand-out from this special guest. This is how this woman came to be in Simon’s house. She came by faith, having heard of this Jesus and believing that He as the Son of God could forgive her sins. Without an invitation, without any greeting from Jesus or Simon she entered the house. She came with no concerns as to who would see her or what they would think of her and she began to worship Jesus, all by faith.
Jesus began to teach Simon a lesson about love, respect, faith and honor. As He speaks to Simon He is looking at this woman. He begins with the act of her washing His feet. It was a custom, particularly if the guest was one of honor for the host to have his servants wash his guest’s feet. Simon has not done this for Jesus but Jesus says that this woman had washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. By the way, this was not the kind of crying that you sort of fight back when you’re watch Old Yeller and they have to shoot him because he got sick. Verse 38 tells us she was weeping. That means she was sobbing. Think of a mother who stands by the casket of her little son or daughter, she weeps and sobs for her little child. This woman’s tears, her weeping was over years of regret. They were tears of pleading, in faith, to the one she knew could forgive her of those sins. They were tears of godly sorrow, of heartfelt and true repentance.
And then in faith, she kisses His feet. Not once, but He says continually since she got here. The Jews had three types of kisses. One was a kiss of greeting, as we would say hello and greet each other with a handshake. One was to say good-bye. But the third was reserved for a dignitary or someone of grandeur, a person of importance. From the moment this woman laid eyes on Jesus she never ceased to worship Him and she showed that love and adoration by kissing His feet.
And then there was the oil. Usually this was poured upon the head of a guest at ceremonies. It was usually a cheap or common oil, not the kind carried in an alabaster box. And she poured it not on His head, but in humility poured her great gift upon His feet. So many people come to Jesus with a pretty high estimation of their own worth. They offer Jesus their important and valuable time, they offer Him some of their wealth. Look what I have to offer Jesus. There’s a story in the Bible about a rich man who came to Jesus one night. Read His story and see how that turned out. But this was not the case with this dear woman. She placed no such high value on her gift, she simply presented it in humility, in faith.
She had great love and great faith for Jesus and it showed in her actions. There was no desire on her part as there is in the lives of some today to wait till they are more ready. She did not wait until she’d had a little more fun, or until she’d lived a little more. She didn’t wait until she’d made more money or until no one was watching. She loved Him and in faith knew what He could do for her.
There’s no question that this was a woman of reputation. A fallen woman we would say, but she was a woman who came to Jesus by faith. And now we will see her forgiveness. In verse 47 Jesus states that her sins are forgiven her. In verse 48, so that there will be no doubt of what He is saying or who it is that is forgiving her sins He says Thy sins are forgiven. And then as the murmuring begins, as the gossip begins to fly around the table He sends her away telling her Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace.
John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible used the following words to describe what Jesus’ words meant to this lady. Go in peace; of conscience, and serenity of mind; let nothing disturb thee; not the remembrance of past sins, which are all forgiven, nor the suggestions of Satan, who may, at one time or another, present them to view; nor the troubles and afflictions of this present life; which are all in love; nor the reproaches and censures of men of a “pharisaic” spirit: go home to thy house, and about thy business, and cheerfully perform thy duty both to God and men; and when thou hast done thy generation work, thou shalt enter into eternal peace and joy.
These same words ring true for all who come to Jesus. Go in peace. Go in peace! Thy sins be forgiven thee, go in peace. Today’s message comes with a great promise to all those who have come to God by faith in Jesus Christ, go in peace. But I also believe it calls me to ask two questions which each of us must answer. Have I trusted Christ by faith? Jesus does not send the woman away saved by the good that she has done but by her faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us… The first question that must be answered this morning is Have you trusted by faith Jesus Christ as your Savior, believing that He died for your sins, was buried and rose again. If not, call on Him today. Romans 10:13 says For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The second question that must be asked is Does my life show my love for what Jesus has done for me? Does my life show my love for what Jesus has done for me? Not comparing my life to any one else’s. Not compared to what this brother has done, or how he has lived his life. But can I honestly say that my life reflects a love for what Jesus has done for me?
