Jesus, The One Who Forgives

Introduction

Good morning, please turn your Bible’s to Luke 7:36-50 that is Luke 7:36-50. If you are using one of the Bible’s scattered throughout the chairs that is on page 811 that is page 811. Luke 7:36-50.

We are back to the book of Luke were we will spend the rest of this year. However, over the course of the next 11 weeks I want us to consider the question. Who is Jesus? This question is asked in varying ways throughout Luke 7-9. It will be asked when Jesus calms a storm, cast our a demon, and in today’s passage it is asked as he forgives sins. This question has be asked in Luke’s Gospel before when Jesus heals a paralyzed man, and it a theme throughout the book as a whole. Yet, I want us as Redemption Hill Church to take the next 11 weeks really hone in on this question. Who is Jesus?

This is a question that everyone in the room should seek to answer and even re-elvauate from time to time. Who is Jesus? And how does the truth of his identity impact your life. How does it impact my life. If this is not a one and done kind of question. See, once you discover the truth about Jesus. That is his the Son of God who came to save sinners through his death and resurrection it sets you on a life long journey to unpack all that entails. The identity of Jesus, is a truth that impacts us everyday. As we take the next 11 weeks to answer that question we will see that Jesus is the one with the true word from God, the one who rules over the natural world, the one with power over demons and death itself. He is the one who sends, he is the one who provides, and is the Christ the Son of the Living God! What an exciting 11 weeks we have ahead of us.

Today, we turn our attention to the reality that Jesus is the one who forgives sin. And as we do this, I want to point out four observations from our text. 1. Sinners are Drawn to Worship Jesus. 2. Self-Righteousness Blinds Us to the Truth 3. We Love as we are forgiven and 4. Jesus forgives those with faith. 1. Sinners are Drawn to Worship Jesus. 2. Jesus Knows of Our Sin. 3. Sinners Love in Proportion to their forgiveness and 4. We are saved by Faith. Let’s read our text together this morning. Luke 7:36-50

Sinners Are Drawn to Worship Jesus v. 36-38

Luke 7:36–38 “One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”

Jesus is invited into the home of a Pharisee. So far, Pharisees have only been hostile to Jesus in the book of Luke. They were religious teachers who did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and they were jealous of Jesus’ popularity with the people. But, this Pharisee, a man named Simon is willing to have Jesus into his home. Jesus accepts the invitation and reclines at the Pharisees’ table. The table would be on the ground and Jesus and would be laying on his left side, leaving his right hand free to eat with.

As Jesus reclines and eats, a woman who is a known sinner is standing behind him. She has learned that Jesus is in this home and reclining at the table, so she brings in an alabaster flask of ointment. This flask would have been of extreme value. Typically, something like this would have been inherited. Purchasing an expensive perfume like this would have a good way to invest your money. This women, brings what is probably her most prized possession with the plan to anoint Jesus’ feet with it.

Imagine the scene, she knows who’s house she is going to. He is a Pharisee, a religious leader. And she is a sinner. Now, we don’t know what her sin is. Some speculate she was a prostitute, others that she worked for the Roman government in some way, maybe she was divorced, maybe she drank too much, maybe she slept around… We don’t know. We just know that her sin public in nature, and that in her cultural setting it was considered a “big” sin. It is public enough and grievous enough that she is a labeled a sinner. The Pharisee knows and she knows it. And yet, there is something about Jesus, that makes this woman, this sinner, enter the party. She learns of Jesus’ presence, at some point she gathers her most prized possession, and she enters the home.

She would have needed to inquire of Jesus’ presence and identity. This is not like our modern times in which the images of famous people are everywhere. If Ben Affleck walked into RHC you would all know it was him, because who have seen his photo. Watched his movies, and anyone uncertain would pull out their phone and do a quick google image search. But, this woman can’t do that. She has to learn that Jesus is in the house, and that Jesus is reclining at the table. She stands there with perfume in her hand and stands behind him. She is near his feet and she begins to weep.

We don’t know what she weeps. It is for joy at finding him, is it in shame from her sin? Perhaps it is a mixture both. She comes to his feet as he reclines at the table and weeps. Now, I want to see something about this sinner. She is not only drawn to find Jesus, she is drawn to worship Him. That is she is drawn to honor him. She has brought her most prized possession and she intends to pour it out all on Jesus. But she notices something… Jesus’ feet have not been washed. He has be dishonored by Simon, his host.

The Jewish custom was to show honor and respect to your guest by washing their feet when they entered into your home. And as she stands behind him and weeps she recognizes the offense. The dishonor that has been shown to Jesus because his feet have not been washed. And this sinner, drawn to Jesus, is drawn to see him honored even if it cost her, her own dignity. She has no water, but does have her tears. She has no towel, but she does have her hair. She is driven and zealous for the honor of Christ. So, she begins to wet his feet with her tears and wipe them their with her hair. The dirt and grime from dusty roads being removed from his feet and taken into her hair. She honors him, by cleaning his feet and continues to pay homage by kissing his feet. She takes her ointment, this expensive perfume and anoints his feet with it.

Can you imagine the scene? A dinner party at a Pharisees house, people are reclining at the table, eating, drinking, and being merry. Feeling good that you are an invited guest by a Pharisee. And here comes this uninvited sinner, weeping, wiping tears from her faces and wetting the feet of Jesus. Using her hair as a towel. And as she weeps and kisses his feet, you would notice the mud her face, in her hair as the dust of Jesus feet mixed with her tears. The room fills with the smell of her perfume as opens the alabaster flask. A gift, she will never get back poured on to the feet of Jesus. What comes over you? Are you ashamed as you realize no one washed his feet? No one has greeted him with a kiss, no one has anointed his head with oil. He has not been honored, until the sinner came in and out did them all in honor.

T/S- None of this happens. You see in order to see the scene with clarity you must see Jesus clearly. And to do that you must see your sin clearly. Simon, is blind to the truth of the situation. He is self-righteous and his self-righteousness blinds him.

Self-Righteousness Blinds Us v. 39-40

Luke 7:39–40 “Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Simon, the Pharisee who invited Jesus, sees this woman weeping and washing Jesus’ feet and instead of seeing his own failure, he accuses Jesus of being a false prophet. He claims that if Jesus were a real prophet then he would know what sort of woman this is, who is touching him. No real prophet would let a sinner like this touch him. Blindness. This man is blinded by own arrogance and self-righteousness. He is so clueless, that he assumes the problem with the situation isn’t his hosting ability. It’s Jesus. Jesus doesn’t have a clue who he is letting touch him.

I pity Simon. This is so utterly stupid. I’m sorry parents if you don’t like that word, kids don’t say it if mom and dad tell you not to. But the Bible uses the word stupid sometimes and sometimes it is just appropriate. This is one of those times. Simon’s words are just flat out stupid. He doesn’t know that Jesus is the prophet of all prophets. He is the prophet that Moses said would come and be the true and great prophet. And Jesus is this prophet precisely because he will allow sinners to touch him. Simon doesn’t see, one the best, most honorable, most breathing taking, mind blowing, beauties of the Christ. One of the most awe-inspiring things about God is that he allows sinners into his presence. He lets sinners, sit at his feet and worship him. God allows people like me and you to honor him, and in doing so. He honors us. In this story we read of 1 Peter 5:6 playing itself out. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” The sinful women is more righteous than a Pharisee, because she has eyes to see who Jesus is. He is the one to whom all glory, and power, and honor is due. Simon, has not honored the most honorable guest he has ever had. So, an uninvited woman of lower social status, a sinner, comes to the table and gives Jesus the honor he is due.

How often does our self-righteousness blind us from the truth? How often are we so convinced we are right, when in reality we are just self-righteous Pharisees who have failed to honor Christ.

You see, this woman can see who is due honor, because she has an honest view of herself. She knows that she is a sinner, forgiven of much. Jesus, rich in mercy and grace speaks to the self-righteous Pharisee.

The Knowledge of Sin, Frees Us to Worship v. 41-47

Luke 7:40–47 “And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.””

Jesus confronts Simon, but with a gentleness. Jesus doesn’t just write this Pharisee that has said something so foolish. He speaks to Simon and tells him a parable. Simon, addresses Jesus as teacher, and maybe in Simon Jesus has a listening ear. Jesus, as the kind teacher that he is tells Simon a parable about two debtors. One who owes about two moths of wages, the other who owes a little over 2 years of wages. He tells of how their moneylender forgave the debts of both debtors. He then asks the question. Who will love the moneylender more? Simon answers rightly and says, I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the larger debt.

Jesus turns and looks at the woman. Yet, he continues to speak to Simon. He uses the sinful woman as a living parable. And he explains, Simon I came into your house and you did not wash my feet, you gave me no kiss, you did not anoint my head with oil. But she has wiped my feet with her tears and hair, she has not ceased to kiss my feet, and she anointed me with ointment, or expensive perfume. Jesus explains, her sins are many, but they are forgiven for she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.

Now, Jesus is not saying, the key to loving me is sinning a whole bunch. Go out and sin as much as you can. Then I can forgive you of all that sin, so that you will love me whole bunch. You see, Simon, though a Pharisee has plenty of sin, that needs forgiven. He has all the sin he needs to be forgiven of much and therefore love much. This story is not about amount of sin, but about awareness of sin. It is about our perception of ourselves.

It is true, that those who’s sin in public and grievous maybe more apt to see the depth of their sin. However, there are many who sin grievously and publicly but are not like this woman. They do not show remorse, they do not seek after Jesus, they do not weep at his feet and honor him their most prized possessions. There are also those who grew up in a Christian home, have what sometimes call a “boring testimony” and deeply love their Lord. The point isn’t that there a good people and bad people and only the bad people can be really loved by Jesus. The point is that all of those who are aware of their sin, see that they have been forgiven of much.

Simon, measures his sin according to how it compares with the sins of other men and women. The sinful woman, just wants to sit at the feet of Jesus. And at the feet of Jesus all men and all women must come to reckon with the truth about their sin. We have all sinned much. But do we see ourselves a great sinners in desperate need of Christ. Or do we see ourselves like Simon say himself.

Simon saw himself as a Pharisee. A good man in his own right. The kind of guy who can invite Jesus to a house party, and if he doesn’t get his feet washed what’s the big deal. Jesus should just be glad I invited him in. Simon keeps Jesus at arms length. Jesus is invited to the house, but he isn’t given the seat of honor. He isn’t esteemed as someone that deserves clean feet, a welcoming kiss, or oil on his head. Jesus is treated like a lesser guest not worthy of much attention.

Is this Jesus’ place in your life? You buy Bible verse plagues from Hobby Lobby, maybe pray before dinner sometimes, but is Jesus really reverenced in your home? You take the kids to church because you want to have good morals, but is Jesus the Lord of your life? You homeschool your kids, you know what the word expositional means, you found our church on the right website, you read the right books, you watch the right preachers, but no one in the church knows your deepest struggles. Maybe even you don’t know your deepest struggles. Are you serious about battling your sin? Are you seeking to honor Jesus? Are your prized possessions ready to be poured out at his feet. When you notice that in your life his is being dishonored are you so zealous for his glory that you would get dust on your face as you used your tears and hair to wipe his feet?

Or do you look at Jesus and say, “I would be happy to have him at my birthday party, just as long as he doesn’t cause a scene. Just so long he doesn’t mess up my Sunday afternoon nap, my career, or my retirement plan. I mean, I love having Jesus at the table. But do I really need to be at his feet?

Those who have been forgiven of much, will love much. What you are willing to lay at the feet of Jesus, is a reflection of your perception of your salvation. How valuable is the saving work of Christ. For this woman, it was worth ridicule from a Pharisee, mud on her face, and her most prized possession. She was a sinner. And she loved her savior.

By faith her sins were forgiven.

We are Saved By Faith v. 48-50

Luke 7:48–50 “And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””

The sinful woman of Luke 7 puts faith on display. She takes real risk to get to Jesus. She knows she will not be welcome in the Pharisees home. She knows that the host will not think she is worthy of being allowed to touch him. Yet, she learns that Jesus is there and she goes anyway. She lowers herself at the feet of Jesus and does everything she physically can to ensure his feet are washed. She brings her most prized possession and anoints him with it. This all requires faith. She must be convinced that Jesus is worth all of it. The shame, the ridicule, and the money.

If there is no risk, that it doesn’t take faith to do it. She risks it all, and Jesus assures her that it was all worth it. Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace. Go, knowing you are forgiven. It was risky, but she went to the right place… the right person in order to receive the forgivness of sins. And we too canreceive this forgiveness by faith. A faith that is requires risk.

If you have ever to been to a high ropes course, perhaps you have seen a obstacle called the “leap of faith”. It is usually the last part of the course. When you do a high ropes course you put on a harness and helmet, because if you fall there is real danger. The course will take you 20-30 feet in the air as you do various things on the course. But the “leap of faith” is an obstacle in which you clip your harness to a mechanism directly about your head. You are typically 20-30 feet in the air on a very small platform. The mechanism is designed so that when you leap or jump the platform is allows to free fall for just a couple of feet. Then it catches and slowly lowers you to the ground. The obstacle is fun, because for a moment you feel like you are falling 20-30 feet. You must place your faith in the mechanism to do its job.

Now imagine, we let a bunch of helicopter moms design the leap of faith. You know the moms who won’t let their kids take any risk. They would build the platform 3-4 feet in the air, place a bunch of safety foam at the bottom and then maybe let their kid jump. That version of the leap of faith, would be better named the skip of total safety. It requires no faith, because it requires no courage.

The sinful woman never says, Jesus I believe in you. Her actions though, speak for her. She has to be completely vulnerable in order to make it to Jesus. She has to go to a place where she is not welcomed, she weeps at his feet, gives up her most prized possession. She goes to Jesus believing he can and will forgive her. Faith necessitates risk.

So what about us? What does it mean for us to be saved by faith? What risk do we take in following Jesus? Is there is any real danger in we don’t follow him? In following Jesus does he operate like the leap of faith mechanism? If that mechanism fails, you are going to get seriously injured. If Jesus doesn’t pull through for you, what will happen?

The answer to that question all hinges on your understanding of your own sin and nature of God. If you think you’re a pretty good person and God would impressed with you as you are. Then you’re just going to invite Jesus to the party. But if you know you are a sinner, who cannot save themself. If you know that if Jesus doesn’t pull through for you then you are going to spend an eternity in Hell. Just having him at the party isn’t enough. You see, when we see ourselves as sinners, we know that we NEED Jesus in order to be saved. We NEED Jesus in order to be forgiven. We know that without him, we have no hope. And with him we have the fullness of joy and the promise of heaven.

Conclusion

And if you know that, then we will worship him. We will do all that we can in order to see him worshipped and honored. Who cares about earthly possessions or what other people think about us. If God himself accepts us, and if heaven is our future home? We can lay it all at the feet of Jesus, because we know that He is our portion and our prize.

So, this morning will you take a leap of faith? Will you give your life to Christ today? Will place your faith in Jesus to save you, because only he can. He is the one that lived a perfect life, died in your place, and rose from the grave. Come and sit at his feet, place your faith in him to save you. Follow him and be baptized, join a church, confess your sin to a mentor, give generously to kingdom work, risk ridicule and share the gospel with a friend of co-worker, take a stand against evil, invite a neighbor to church, pray out loud with a struggle friend. All of these things in their own right are risky. But they are display of faith, the faith in Jesus that saves us. Let us love much, because we have been forgiven of much. Let’s pray.