Two Encounters with Jesus

Introduce the Series

Lent: “Fortieth”

Time of preperation before Easter

Gospel of Luke:

Companion of Paul

Author of Luke/Acts

Consults eyewitness accounts to show How the story of Jesus fulfills the story of God and Israel and the whole world.

In the middle of the first half of the Gospel Luke tells a series of stories that act like a manifesto of an upside-down kingdom.

There are six encounters people have with Jesus at his feet. Over the next several weeks, as we lead into Easter, we will be looking at each of these encounters.

The Sinful Woman

The Pharisee: Simon the Leper

Possibly the same Pharisee that Jesus healed of Leprosy in the Gospel of Matthew

It was considered virtuous to invite a teacher over for dinner; especially if that teacher was from out of town and had just spoken at the Synagogue. This was more of a banquet with many guests rather than a private meal.

It was considered virtuous to invite a teacher over for dinner; especially if that teacher was from out of town and had just spoken at the Synagogue. This was more of a banquet with many guests rather than a private meal.

The Woman: Prostitute?

Feet

Issue of Hospitality-Washing a guests feet

Ritual cleanliness

Authority…Forgiveness

To fall at someone’s feet was a sign of reverence and submission

The Parable: It’s about them...

Your Faith has saved you…Who Says?

Only God had the authority to forgive sins. Since Israel’s religious leadership did not regard Jesus to be Yahweh’s Messiah—who could speak with the authority of God—they considered His words blasphemous. In their minds, Jesus was usurping a role that belonged only to God.

Two Encounters…Who are you?

Simon comes to this detached. He sees Jesus with just his head. There is no heart knowledge…no heart need for Jesus.

The woman comes with her whole self.

Lets put it another way...

They both believe in Jesus, but that’s not where the real difference is between Simon and the woman. The difference is in their hearts. Simon comes to this encounter detached…with his head only…with high moral character that can be worn as a badge of honor.

She comes with her whole heart.

Simon tries to control the encounter while the woman gives Jesus control...

“The thesis is that if you’re not living a life of sacrificial love, if you don’t have a heart filled with peace, if you don’t find it easy to love messed-up people, if you don’t find it possible to enjoy your life, content with a peace of God, if instead you are critical all the time, you’re complaining all the time, you’re feeling sorry for yourself all the time, you’re finding fault in everybody else around you all the time, it’s because you don’t understand the gospel. You may think you do, but you don’t.” -Timothy Keller

At the Feet of Jesus we can find Goodness, mercy, and Grace. At the feet of Jesus we can find love, transformation, new life.

These next several weeks, I want to invite you to encounter Jesus at his feet. How you encounter him is up to you. It is up to your heart. Some of you will just encounter him with your head and that will be it…and you will truly miss him. Some of you will meet him with your heart for the first time. Some of you will meet him all over again.

Come and sit at his feet...