Woman of the City Luke 7:36-50

300 Illustrations for Preachers Lost People Walk in Circles

A study published in the journal Current Biology in 2009 provides the first empirical evidence that humans do indeed walk in circles when they have no directional landmarks. “The tendency is so strong, in fact, that when volunteers are blindfolded, they virtually never travel more than 100 yards from their starting point, no matter how long they are given to walk.”

The same thing is true of people who have no landmarks to guide them in life. People without Christ need someone to remove their blindfold and share the way to him.

-Jesus finds and forgive sinners who pursue Him with obedient faith

I. A Lost Woman Seeks Jesus vv. 36-38

In the story we are looking at this morning, Jesus is out and about, having accepted the invitation of Simon the Pharisee to eat at his home

Jesus is intersecting with people in the course of their ordinary lives; He is not limited to the synagogue

Even the mundane sharing of a meal is an opportunity to see the character of Christ and the nature of His Kingdom on display

In the middle of the meal, a notorious woman comes looking for Jesus

She is a noteworthy sinner; while we don’t know what her sin was, she was marked out from the rest of the community by it

I think the contrast here is important: On the surface, it looks like Jesus is on the inside of the house with the righteous and she is on the outside looking in. What could this woman have to do with Jesus?

It turns out that the answer is that she has everything to do with Jesus!

She goes to His feet and begins to lavish ointment, tears, and kisses on them

This is a shocking scene for the Pharisees and it is humbling for us

This woman willingly lays down her possessions, her pride, and her passion at the feet of Jesus

We will see that this lost woman is lost no more; Jesus found her and forgave her and she is living a new life on the other side of that forgiveness

What does it look like to be “found” by Jesus?

It’s a life of gratitude and worship

It’s a life of giving and service

It’s a life of love for the one who set you free!

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me."

II. A Lost Pharisee Questions Jesus v. 39

Immediately, Simon shows his own heart towards Christ:

Rather than observing this scene with an attitude of wonder or admiration or even acceptance, Simon begins to criticize Jesus

How could any great prophet let a woman like this touch Him? Surely, Jesus must not be the great man of God that Simon had thought

It’s interesting to me how Simon takes offense to Jesus:

He’s willing to listen to Jesus teach and talk about a Messianic Kingdom and principles for righteous living

However, when it is time to intersect with sinners, Simon wants out!

We can give Simon a pass here if we want and assume that he is just trying to be discerning, but Jesus doesn’t

The skeptical, critical spirit of Simon here masks a much deeper issue

Simon has never been found by Jesus; the “righteous” man continues in his own sin

Revelation 3:17–18

[17] For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. (ESV)

III. Wisdom is Proven by Action vv. 40-47

Last week, we heard the words of Jesus: “Wisdom is proven by her children”. It’s a way of saying that wisdom is demonstrated by the actions of a transformed, believing life

Jesus will draw that contrast out with a story about two debtors, one who had been forgiven much and one who had been forgiven little; the size of their forgiveness was proven by the size of their response!

Think about the comparison between Simon and this notorious woman!

The Woman:

Knows her sin and acknowledges it

Recognizes her need for a Savior

Pursues Jesus wholeheartedly

Responds to Him with devotion

Simon:

Is ignorant of his own sin

Does not see his need for a Savior

Shows moderate interest in Jesus

Responds to Him with indifference

If we want to know where each of these people stand with Jesus, consider this: Simon cannot be bothered to even be a good host to Jesus; the woman is kissing His feet

I think we all have to be asking the same question: what does my attitude towards Jesus say about my relationship to Him? Do I live like one whose been found and forgiven?

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Spiritual Growth, Evidence Of

We have all been driving down a highway and noticed bright orange signs that state, “BEGIN CONSTRUCTION” and “END CONSTRUCTION.” One thing about these signs is that they tend to remain around long after the construction work is over.

If one of us were to announce that—for the time being—God’s construction in our lives was going to be halted, would our friends say, “I didn’t know any construction was going on”?1314

IV. Jesus Finds and Forgives vv. 48-50

The story closes with an important statement.

Jesus tells the woman that her sins are forgiven

Why does He say this? Is it because He feels so honored by her outpouring of devotion?

No, I don’t think so. I think it’s simply a declaration of something that had already taken place

This faithful devotion is not the cause of her forgiveness, but the effect

Now, for anyone who will pay attention, she is no longer defined by the shame of her past but the faithfulness of her present

She was lost, but now she’s found

She was a prisoner, but now she’s free

There is a new life available if you will believe the One who wants to give it to you.

We started this story with a woman looking for Jesus, but she could only find Him because He had already looked for her; our Lord is pursuing people and today He is pursuing you. Will you be found and forgiven today?

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Rejection Of

A certain atheistic barber was conversing with a minister as they rode through the slums of a large city. Said the unbeliever, “If there is a loving God, how can he permit all this poverty, suffering, and violence among these people? Why doesn’t he save them from all this?”

Just then a disheveled bum crossed the street. He was unshaven and filthy, with long scraggly hair hanging down his neck. The minister pointed to him and said, “You are a barber and claim to be a good one, so why do you allow that man to go unkempt and unshaven?”

“Why, why …” the barber stuttered, “he never gave me a chance to fix him up.”

“Exactly,” said the minister. “Men are what they are because they reject God’s help.”