36One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. 37Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume 38and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him."
40Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? Tell me."
41"Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. 42Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?"
43Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most."
"That’s right," said Jesus. 44Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. 45You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. 46You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. 47Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."
48Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins."
49That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!"
50He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
Luke 7:36-50 (MSG)
What could Jesus do with Sinful People?
I think we all know the answer to this question. It is so simple, He would accept love and forgive the sinner who comes to Him. This is so simple, yet it still escapes us at times... Let us revisit what happened in this story...
Jesus could have…
1. Rejected the woman with the questionable morals/past. It sure didn’t look “right and proper” at all. Did He condemn?
2. Recoiled at the sight of the woman letting down her hair – that’s truly taboo in polite company. It’s a prostitute manoeuvre, to let down the hair and using, the perfume, gasp, that’s the tool of her trade. Did He recoil?
3. Responded the way the Pharisee did (v.39) Did He?
4. Reproved the woman, and so saved face, and not be subjected to criticism (v.49) Did He?
5. Remonstrated the woman, “why waste the perfume?” Did He?
But what really happened is this…
A. Look at what Jesus did…
1. Received her when no one gave her a thought.
2. Responded to her love and tears of joy, when everyone distanced themselves with a convenient label (v.39)
3. Recognized her need and said “I forgive your sins” (v.48).
4. Rejected the labels the evaluation of the “elite” (v.49).
5. Restored the woman “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (v.50).
47Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."
The emotional outpouring of gratitude according to Jesus is totally cool to Jesus, not to the elite, but it sure was cool for Jesus. Jesus loved the woman and her response to Him and His reception of the worship and thanks shows us God is to be believed that He came and seek and save what is lost! Can you see how it is so awesome of Jesus to remind the Pharisee the impressiveness of this notorious woman’s gratitude…
"Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. 45You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. 46You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume
Remember what the Bible said…
16"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 (MSG)
By George, I think this woman has got it!
Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV)
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
See what God enjoys… does He not enjoy worship, showing that He is kind, just and totally merciful…
24If you feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshiping me, the LORD.
What I like best is showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth. Jeremiah 9:24 (CEV)
31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?
33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us. Romans 8 (NLT)
A series of rhetorical questions is asked… trying to bring home the point… because of who Jesus is what He has done through the cross, there is no condemnation, no rejection, no accusation, and if you feel there is rejection, there is guilt, felt condemned others, looked down, labelled others, just confess it now
Can you see that this is totally cool to Jesus to respond with gratitude for His forgiveness? True heartfelt response to His kindness, justice, mercy???
If we want the heart of God to be broadcasted from this place, I believe we must become like our God, like our Lord Jesus, who enjoy the outrageous worship style of broken down but grateful harlots who enjoys the forgiveness of sins through Jesus!
If we want the heart of God we must reject the “elitists” attitudes that can so easily creep into our hearts, without knowing it, we have rejected as we label others as hopeless, instead of getting involved in their lives, praying for them and gently showing the kindness, justice and mercy that God just enjoys showing.
If we want the heart of God to be felt deeply, we must come back to Jesus, knowing everyone is a sinner, before Him we are nothing, all human deeds and righteousness is nothing to a holy God, but He doles His kindness and justice and mercy when Jesus died and absorbed in Himself all the sins of the world.
Oh it so, so easy to label others – and so conveniently go about our business, if we do that, we become less human, less compassionate, less loving, less like God…
Can we live without the labels? But our world loves labelling – they even kill for it. Perhaps you remember kids killing kids for a pair of Air Jordans? All because of a Label “Air Jordan”? Got a pair, makes you feel good… Max out your credit cards… get the latest PS 2 games, label those who don’t have it as “losers,” get the latest pair of designer jeans that hangs down to your knees and God forbid that it comes from Superstore, get the $1000 haircut that the cool people like Hollywood stars have then you’ll be the envy of everybody… As we label… any bit of humanity, compassion we have left, dies a little more… serving the Machines of Human Progress, Commerce, Technology without giving a look at how others must be suffering… because we just want to be “normal”. Why we like labels – fear? Fear of rejection, looked down by others who don’t wear Armani or drive a Benz?
B. If we want ourselves or this church to grow in Christ-likeness, we must become daring…
Dare to get involved with people who don’t look right… forget the labels, chuck it away, dare we risk fear?
Dare to get messy when their tears flow… For most people, it’s uncomfortable to be with people who seem to have lost it emotionally, there is tendency to want to get things back to “normal”, so we don’t really allow be to be, to feel, to experience deeply felt emotions, “pull yourself together”, “now don’t get angry…” “this hurts me more than it hurts you”
Dare to get labelled by others as condoning loose morals and behavior. Look at Jesus at how they labelled him “a glutton and drunkard and a friend of the worst sort of sinners.” He dared to violate social taboos in order to help people have a heart for God. He would reach out to those marginalized racially, economically, religiously, morally.
Dare to be the gossip and center of discussion of people talking behind your back like Jesus (v.49)?
Dare to be frustrated at other people’s lack of compassion and how they brand you as a fraud, a hypocrite, who can do no right…
REMEMBER THIS WELL: Jesus DARED!
31 “How shall I describe this generation?” Jesus asked. “With what will I compare them? 32 They are like a group of children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you weren’t happy, so we played funeral songs, but you weren’t sad.’ 33 For John the Baptist didn’t drink wine and he often fasted, and you say, ‘He’s demon possessed.’ 34 And I, the Son of Man, feast and drink, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” Luke 7 (NLT)
To those of you who struggle today, got a load guilt, ashamed of the past, feel labeled, condemned already, well you’re in great company, the greatest company, Jesus - You can unload it today. "I forgive your sins "Jesus says to you!
And if you receive this offer of forgiveness… say to God
“Father God, I thank You that You forgive me. I received Your forgiveness today. I want to come clean. You died for my sin and I now give You my heart, my life to serve You. Take over my life, God. Amen.”
A simple sincere prayer like that, and God will have mercy on you!
6 Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NLT).
C. Points of Action.
1. GROW: Receive Jesus continually with gratitude…
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Col.2 (NLT)
2. REJOICE: Let joy permeate your whole being. Look at how that woman rejoiced over Jesus, and how Jesus enjoyed it even if it was not well-scripted, it is really OK to gush over Jesus… Or is our manner of disgust, disapproval, self-importance?
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phil.4:4-7 (NLT)
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5:16- 18 (NKJV)
3. ACCEPT: Resolve to not label people. Love first, ask questions later. Do not shoot first! Look at Pharisee’s attitude, he questioned Jesus’ motive, questioned whether He is the real deal, he questioned how Jesus handled the woman? He has no room to accept people. Let others label,you cannot control their mouths but you can control yours, make a choice today to not label !
4. COMPASSION: Involved in needy people’s lives.
14 Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? James 2 (NLT)
5. ENJOY: Do unto others what God enjoys doing? What I like best is showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth. Jeremiah 9:24 (CEV)
All throughout the Bible,the story of God is what would God do with obviously flawed people? The answer is amazing – he would love them… where sins abound grace abounds, love does cover a multitude of sins… and Jesus died proving it!
