The Silent Voices

Luke 7:36–50 (KJV)

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

The Setting

What was it like at at table with Jesus?

Can we paint a picture of the general scene like a celebration dinner we would know - conversation pockets around, the clanging of dishes, laughter, decibels increasing as people try to be heard above the din?

A vivid backdrop to contrast the silent thoughts of Jesus, Simon, and the sinner.

Describe:

- the din, the clamor; religious bustle

The Major Event of this Story is an Aside to the Feast

A light is cast onto three characters in the shadow of this dinner scene.

First, Notice Mary

She was a Sinner (perhaps a prostitute)

She heard about where Jesus would be, and came came to where Jesus was

She slipped in quietly without pomp or ceremony; she did not make a grand entrance.

She stood behind him weeping, and began washing his feet with her tears

She brought an alabaster box of ointment - a costly fragrance

It’s hard not to notice the fragrance of pure and humble worship.

Also, Notice Simon

He was the a Pharisee - reputable, pious, intrigued by this Rabbi Jesus

He was the host of this feast, and no doubt in the center of the fracas

He noticed Mary

He said some things to himself

He harbored judgment and condescension

Jesus sees it all

I wonder if Jesus was a talker. Many men of God I know, teachers and prophets, are not the talkative types. Jesus' recorded words are precious, but they are not idle chatter. Did he speak, but without something to say?

Both of these got Jesus’ attention.

Jesus is an assessor, sizing it all up.

Jesus has a way of cutting through the chatter and clamor, and paying attention to what’s really going on.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

Jeremiah 17:10 KJV

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Simon was silent, but he was judging

Jesus was silent, but he examined character

The sinner was silent, but worshipped

Jesus was silent, but he examined motive

Jesus broke the silence with perspective, and forgiveness.

Finally, the rest of the table begins to speak within themselves

Lk 7.49 “And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?”

The question may be critical or curious; what’s in your silence?

Lk 7.50 “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

But Jesus continues to restore the worshipper.

Pay Attention to the Silent Voices!

Turn down the noise

1 Corinthians 14:10 KJV

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

What kinds of voices dominate our everyday life

Friends, peer pressure

Works demands

Family pressures, spouse, children, parents, extended family and all the drama

Cultural voices - media, news, (turn the tv off, actually, get it out!)

Bustling and hustling

Communication demands

And what about the clamoring inner voices

Worry and Fear

Pride and Prejudice

Questions or doubts

What is the silence communicating?

-- should have/did know what Simon did

-- he sees more than you might suspect

- The sinner, a repentant worshipper

What voices occupy that void?

Hebrews 4:12 KJV

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It’s in that stillness that we can hear the voice of God.

Why are we uncomfortable with stillness and solitude?

- oh, I know: we're social creatures, crested for relationship and needing each other

- but we're also (first?) called to communion with God

Silence really isn't very quiet. Below the din, there are voices, unspoken, but easily heard to those who would listen?

Where are the times in our life when we turn the clamoring voices down, tune out the relentless demands, and attend to the quiet voices that get Jesus’ attention?

Regular times of prayer and devotion are essential to connecting with the Lord.

1 Kings 19:9–18 (KJV)

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Elijah was ready to list his reasons to God for being where he was

Jezebel’s voice threatening his life

His own voice accusing him of loneliness and isolation

Ahab calling him the one who troubled Israel

Now, the activity without swirled

The LORD passed by in each of these cases

But he was not in the wind

He was not in the earthquake

He was not in the fire

Finally, a still, small voice 1 Ki 19.12-14

Notice, Elijah’s reason is the same, but the tenor is very different

He hears from God

His perspective is corrected by God

Take me to the secret place.

Psalm 91:1 KJV

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

As the external voices are filtered out, an inner voice becomes louder and more clear.

It's not that our inner voice waits while the other voices clamor; it just so easily gets drowned out by the clamor.