We read in Jonah 4:4, “Then the LORD said, "Do you think it is right for you to be angry?" (ERV)
The God who created heaven and the earth asked Jonah the prophet, if he thought it was right to be angry with Him, very much like a parent would enquire of their child, who is upset with them. Our God is not one who is concerned about a few people, but He is a God who is interested in the affairs of all of mankind. Jesus Christ came into this world not to save one group of people, but that all of mankind should attain eternal life, and that none should perish.
A glimpse of heaven
In the book of Revelation which is the last book in the bible we read thus in Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” (ESV)
This is a magnificent sight in heaven where people from every nation, tribe, peoples and languages are found standing before the throne of the Lamb of God. All of them are dressed in white, and have palm branches in their hands. Our God is the God for all nations and peoples all over the world, and it is his desire that not one should be lost.
The church at large is a small picture of this glorious sight that we can see in heaven. Therefore, the church should be a place which is open wide to receive all sorts of people. Sadly, the church is divided, and we have exclusive churches for people from different regions, languages and people groups. These divisions have made us question if we are indeed the church of God as we were called to be.
God’s desire for all mankind
Peter speaking about the heart of God and His desires for humans, explained it this way in
2 Peter 3:9 … “God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.” (CEV)
The city of Nineveh was part of the Assyrian Kingdom, and these people were against the people of Israel. Anyhow, it was God’s will that people in that city too should not be destroyed, but that they should be saved. It is therefore important that we fully comprehend about the God whom we believe in. He is a God who is over all, and loves all people irrespective of who they are. The Kingdom of God has as its representatives, people from all over the world, every nation, tribe and language, all of whom will also be found in heaven.
God was so gracious and merciful to the people of Nineveh that He sent His prophet Jonah with a message to them. The message that Jonah preached was that there was impending punishment on them because of their sins and wickedness, if they did not repent. Not only was God merciful to the people of Nineveh who repented, He was also gracious to Jonah though he decided to walk away in disobedience. God sent a fierce storm just to stop Jonah, and get him back on track. If God intended, He could have done away with Jonah, and found someone else to fulfill the task. Interestingly, God also prepared a big fish that could swallow Jonah, keep him safe to be vomited out onto the shore. Woefully, Jonah forgot all the goodness and mercy that he had received from the hands of God.
Many people have a wrong notion that God has certain expectations of them, and is depending on them alone, as though there was no one else He could count on. Let us remember that it is God’s grace that He has chosen us, and even when we fail to fulfill God’s purposes, He still chooses to give us another chance.
An attitude of gratitude
There are so many like Jonah who quickly forget all the wonderful things that they have received. The people of Israel are an example for this. They had experienced God’s mighty power as He crushed the power of the Egyptians, and delivered them to freedom and safety. Nonetheless, these people were constantly grumbling and murmuring against the Lord. In spite of this the grace of the Lord did not fail them in any way. We must constantly recount the blessings of God in our lives, and keep thanking Him for the same.
The Psalmist says this so aptly in Psalm 103:1-2, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,” (ESV)
Jonah forgot all the benefits he had received from God, and was angry with God because He relented from destroying the people of Nineveh, and instead extended His compassion on them. If you think about it, Jonah thought he was better off than the people of Nineveh. Also, Jonah was lenient on himself, justified what he did, but wanted harsh judgement to be meted out to the people of Nineveh.
Have you noticed how we so often think that others deserve the hardships and difficulties they face, and yet when we are challenged with those same difficulties, we question God and wonder why we have to face such trials? Those of us who have been beneficiaries of God’s mercies, should be ready to show others the same kindness. If God were to hold us accountable for all our sins, none of us would be alive. It is the grace of God that opened the door for us to receive His mercy and forgiveness. We must realize that it is our duty therefore, to willingly forgive others and extend to them the mercy that we ourselves have received. How often we too are found guilty of passing judgement on others. Let us be grateful to God for His mercies, and be ready to pass on this grace and kindness to others as well.
The invitation to Jesus
One day a Pharisee invited Jesus to his home. We read in We read in Luke 7:36, “A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, and Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat.”(GNB)
The Pharisees were mostly those who had double standards. Outwardly they appeared to be spotless and perfect, but inside they were far from God. Jesus often condemned these Pharisees for their duplicity.
In Matthew 23:13-36 Jesus spoke against them strongly and used the words, ‘woe to you’ almost seven times. Those who hear it will squirm, but Jesus condemned these men for their hypocrisy. It was one such Pharisee who invited Jesus to his home and Jesus willingly went. Though Jesus did not approve of their behavior, He did not reject them, but was willing to associate with them and loved them. We also read about Nicodemus, another Pharisee who met Jesus at night. Jesus readily met and spoke to him.
The uninvited guest
As Jesus sat down to dinner in the house of that Pharisee this is what happened.
We read in Luke 7:37-38, “In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house, so she brought an alabaster jar full of perfume and stood behind Jesus, by his feet, crying and wetting his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume on them.” (GNB)
There were many guests at that home of the Pharisee along with Jesus, and it was at this time that a woman entered into that home. The woman was identified as a sinful woman who lived in that town. If we think about it from the woman’s perspective, she was probably crushed and weighed down by the guilt of her sinful life. She had a bad reputation in that town, but deep inside her heart she was penitent, and wanted to be rid of her sins. Somehow she realized that if she could approach Jesus, He would accept her, and would be able to set her free from her sinful ways.
Interestingly, what the religious leaders in Jesus’ day could not comprehend about Him, ordinary people were able to do. I am certain that this woman would have been in much dilemma whether she should go to Jesus or not, but there she stood at the feet of Jesus in repentance and tears.
As children of God doesn’t matter how much you have messed up, never ever doubt that God will accept you. If you come to the Lord He will never let you down, but you need to have the faith to believe. Remember the time when Jesus walked on the water, and Peter asked Jesus that he too wanted to do the same. Jesus never rebuked Peter, but lovingly gave him a chance to walk on the water, just as He did. Peter actually did walk on water like Jesus, but when Peter looked at the tumultuous waves, he was shaken in his faith, and began to drown. Even then, when Peter called out to Jesus, we find that Jesus did not reprimand him, but lovingly lifted him up, and brought him to safety. We have a God who always lifts us up, strengthens us, and one who will never shun us. There is no way one can compare or comprehend God’s amazing love.
The unexpressed thought
When the Pharisee who saw the woman at the feet of Jesus this is what he thought.
We read in Luke 7:39, “When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, "If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives!" (GNB)
The reason that the Pharisee invited Jesus to his home was because he thought Jesus was a prophet. The Pharisee therefore could not understand how Jesus allowed a sinful woman to touch Him. Probably the Pharisee compared himself to this woman, and considered himself far more righteous than she was. Moreover, he also began to doubt if Jesus was truly a prophet as he has reasoned. Interestingly, Jesus perceived the thoughts of this Pharisee.
Every time we look down on someone and judge them, we can be certain that we are putting ourselves far above them. Also, we are no one to judge another, as no one can fully understand the heart of another or the circumstances that they go through. Only the Lord knows the entirety of another’s situation. When we judge another with our limited understanding, most often we will be faulty in our judgement. Remember then that when we pass judgement on others, we are in a way taking on the role of a judge that is due to God alone. Oftentimes we may not speak, but in our thoughts or actions we express what’s going on inside.
The story Jesus told
This was Jesus’ response to the Pharisee as recorded in the verses below.
In Luke 7:40-43, we read, “Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Yes, Teacher," he said, "tell me." "There were two men who owed money to a moneylender," Jesus began. "One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. Neither of them could pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Which one, then, will love him more?" "I suppose," answered Simon, "that it would be the one who was forgiven more." "You are right," said Jesus.” (GNB)
Jesus spoke about two who were in debt, one owed five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty silver coins. The important truth that Jesus was re-iterating was that the man who thinks he is good may be likened to one who owed fifty silver coins, and the one who is really bad may be likened to one who owed five hundred silver coins. Nonetheless, the fact remains that both of them were in debt. One who owed fifty was unable to pay back, and the one who owed five hundred was in the same boat. This was when the man decided to forgive both of them of the debts they owed.
Every time we sin we become debtors to God, and no man can cancel these debts however hard they try. All of us who are on this earth do wrong in many ways, and this makes us debtors to God. Only the Lord can help us be forgiven and freed from this debt, and no human effort can achieve this for us. God is the only one who is ready to forgive us when we come to Him.
The things the woman did that the Pharisee didn’t
There were three important truths that Jesus taught this Pharisee which is recorded in the verses below.
We read in Luke 7:44-46, “Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your home, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came. You provided no olive oil for my head, but she has covered my feet with perfume.” (GNB)
The first thing Jesus said was that the Pharisee did not give Him any water to wash His feet. In those days as people walked through the wilderness, which was filled with sand, their legs would get dusty. It was therefore a custom that when a guest arrived that the host would give them water to wash their feet. The second thing they did was to kiss the guest, and thirdly they would anoint the head of the one they sought to honor with oil. When the Pharisee thought poorly of the woman, and looked down on her condescendingly, the Lord had to remind him of his own failings.
On judging others
Read the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-3, “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye?”(GNB)
The Lord was forthright to remind us that we have no right to judge others, because we too will be judged the same way.
Think about the number of times in a day when we pass judgement on others. We forget the fact that when we judge and condemn others this way, we too stand guilty before God. This is a tough one for most of us because we tend to judge often by external appearances.
God reminds us to be cautious with our words, especially in these days when anyone can share their views freely on social media. Without having a complete understanding of a situation, so much of faulty information is being shared these days, unlike days gone by. Those who do so don’t care to find out if what they are sharing is authentic, and are also unconcerned about the hurts they cause others. By running others down, many are trying hard to gain cheap popularity. The sad thing is that not only does this happen in politics, but even in the church. None of us has the right to pass judgement on another, so let us stop finding fault with others. Some of the words that are being used are harsh and inappropriate too. The Lord reminds us that the measure that we use for others is the same measure that we will be judged with.
Show mercy instead of judgement
Let me conclude with these words of Jesus from Matthew 5:7,"Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!” (GNB)
If we are merciful to others the Lord will show mercy to us. Let us seek God, and ask Him to grant us this ability to merciful to others instead of being judgmental.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
