MUCH FORGIVENESS, MUCH LOVE!

Luke 7:36-50 TLB

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for lunch and Jesus accepted the invitation. As they sat down to eat, [37] a woman of the streets-a prostitute-heard he was there and brought an exquisite flask filled with expensive perfume. [38] Going in, she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping, with her tears falling down upon his feet; and she wiped them off with her hair and kissed them and poured the perfume on them. [39] When Jesus' host, a Pharisee, saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, "This proves that Jesus is no prophet, for if God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman this one is!" [40] Then Jesus spoke up and answered his thoughts. "Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you." "All right, Teacher," Simon replied, "go ahead." [41] Then Jesus told him this story: "A man loaned money to two people-$5,000 to one and $500 to the other. [42] But neither of them could pay him back, so he kindly forgave them both, letting them keep the money! Which do you suppose loved him most after that?" [43] "I suppose the one who had owed him the most," Simon answered. "Correct," Jesus agreed. [44] Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look! See this woman kneeling here! When I entered your home, you didn't bother to offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. [46] You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has covered my feet with rare perfume. [47] Therefore her sins-and they are many-are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love." [48] And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." [49] Then the men at the table said to themselves, "Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?" [50] And Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

 

These verses of the bible has potential for so many other titles, it could have been called “the forgiven woman,” “a sinful woman” “the extravagant repentant woman,” “a sinner,” or anything else. Whatever the reason, this woman remains unnamed, yet the only one ever mentioned in the bible who showed her gratitude in the costliest way, to anoint Jesus. If you’ve ever received a gift that you didn’t think you deserved, you may understand more than most what that feels like and how sometimes we may even want to reject such gifts because of the exorbitant price tag or the gift giver.

God does things for us daily and just like the nine “other” lepers in Luke 17, we don’t return to say thanks or bring a gift for the giver of all gifts. Yet, this “sinful woman” who couldn’t afford it, came back with not just words of gratitude but a very costly gift to show her appreciation. Have you ever received a gift you didn’t feel you deserved? How did you manage it?

This woman was so grateful for God’s mercy that she was willing to humble herself and show her appreciation by cleansing and kissing the feet of the Master.

Romans 3:10- 23 says we are all sinners. Each of us has done things we are deeply embarrassed about and things we want no one else to know. No one is righteous, no, not one, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And because we struggle with sin, we all need forgiveness. And when we seek forgiveness, we always find it in and with the Master. From the onset of this chapter, we see Jesus violating all kinds of social taboos to reach out to people: he broke down social barriers in verses 1-10, he broke down economic barriers in verses 11-17, he broke down religious barriers in verses 24-35, and in our section, he broke down moral barriers in verses 36-50.

What an honour to serve a Savior who doesn’t care who we are but is willing to help us regardless of who we are.

Simon, a Pharisee, invited Jesus to dinner, and during the meal, a woman slipped into his home, stood at Jesus’ feet weeping, and washed Jesus’s feet with her tears. She then used her long hair to dry it off. When she was done, she poured fragrant oil over his feet. In effect, she “worshipped” Jesus with her gift! But Simon, the host, had unlikely offered the Lord anything in gratitude besides the meal. Like him and many others today, we observed what goes on around us, what others are doing for Jesus and judge them. We also may think that if Jesus was a good prophet, He would know what kind of women (and others like her) she was and not allow her to get near him.

Jesus, on the other hand, knew exactly who the woman was, just as He knows exactly who you and I are. He also knew what Simon was thinking. A Sinner doesn't often mean a non-Christian, but someone who openly lives in sin like the woman in our text. Some of us professing Christians are, sadly, more “sinners” than the unbelievers around us.

Regardless of what you’ve done, the kind of life you’ve lived or still lives, Jesus is hoping desperately that you’ll recognise your worth and His love and sacrifice and come to Him as this woman did. Let’s not forget her “gift,” a gift that to men was too costly to be offered to the Lord but showed and exhibited her love and gratitude to the Master for His redeeming grace. Like her, what have you got to offer the Lord for saving you? Your tears? Accepted! Your hair, maybe but mostly your heart would do as well as anything you want to offer Christ. Give me (Him) your heart declares Proverbs 23:26. Would you?

REFLECTION QUESTION

-        Like the sinful woman, what costly or sacrificial “gift” can you offer to Jesus today as an expression of your gratitude for His forgiveness?

-        In what areas of your life do you need to humble yourself before the Lord, acknowledging His mercy and your dependence on Him?

-        How does remembering your own past sins help you extend grace and compassion to others, just as Jesus did in this story?

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, Jesus for seeing past my past and into my future. Just as you forgave this woman's sins, do the same for me too in your name I pray. Help me to always return with gratitude for your goodness towards me. Amen.

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