Love Him More

Being Loved

Intro: What does it mean to be loved? What is love baby don’t hurt me? or What’s love got to do with it? Or Love - “what it really means to love” because Jesus love will stay and he has shown us what it really means to love. This love is a mystery. Mystery is something that is difficult to understand or even explain. That is the kind of love God gives us and has shown us. Paul knowing the power of this mystery prays for understanding of who great God’s love is toward us:

Ephesians 3:16–19 NLT

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:16-

If you do not know this love please allow me to introduce you to this love. This love has been around since the beginning of time. Love is before time and will be around after time because God is love and in the beginning God!

Know that love came down.

Know Jesus came for the sinners.

Jesus came for the lost.

Jesus came to help all who call on Him.

Love came down to heal the broken hearted, release the captives, and rescue the poor. Love is our medicine, our remedy our help. Do you know love?

Luke 5:31–32 NLT

31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

2. Jesus love moves him to go near those who need him most.

3. Jesus shows us that love heals multiple wounds.

Love is a personal touch that makes the difference.

We all need a little TLC some tender loving care. You know it wasn’t just mom’s chicken noodle soup that nursed you back to health, but it was her TLC and the chicken noodle soup. Studies show how babies perish from lack of touching even if they are properly nourished from Psychology Today article Touch Empathy. It is that parent’s kiss of the boo-boo that makes the pain go away. It was that hug that released the stress. It was that hand on the back that slowed the heart down. It was the presence in the room that changed your countenance. It was that voice from that call that put a smile on your face in a dark time.

How the loving touch of God in our life has changed us and gives us power how God has changed us by his presence in our life in many different ways.

Our text shows us how Jesus touches us.

Let us look at our text for today in Luke’s gospel chapter 7 starting at verse 36. Let us take note of the characters and their description and relationship to Jesus.

Luke

Luke 7:36–40 NLT

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” 40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

People in the text

This event happens after the sermon on the plain and the confirmation of being the Messiah to John The Baptist disciples. Jesus also challenges the pharisees in their rejection of the ministry of John (lUke 7:24-30). This invitation from this Pharisee is similar to the event in to the other gospels ; ; . In this account one Pharisee requested Jesus to dine with him. This event suggest to be a big ordeal and a event known in the community. Pharisees are people known in the community because of their power and influence.

The identity of this pharisee is not given at first, but in we find his name is Simon.

Jesus at this time is known for his teaching and healings. The test of him being a true prophet is still in question (see ).

The next person introduced in the text is an immoral woman, a sinner. Her notoriety has preceded her. She is known by her sinful lifestyle but the love of Jesus brought her near. Love draws and brings us closer to the Lord. She possesses an alabaster vial of perfume. Yet we come to know her because of how Love has impacted her life.

Love gives you courage.

When you are loved and know that you are loved it emboldens you to do things you normally would not do. When you are loved you will show up when you are at your best and when you are at your worst. Think how you have family members that embarrass you but because they know you love them they show up anyway.

Love leads us to God’s presence.

Love shows us that Our past is not able to keep us from God.

Love reminds us Jesus has come for the sinners.

Love is shown in forgiveness

Luke 7:41-

Luke 7:41–42 NLT

41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

God loves to show his mercy in forgiveness

God’s love is shown in how he has forgiven us. Love came down to show us the way. God’s love shows us how he would rather show us forgiveness than his wrath. The Lord is full of mercy and his love never fails.

Psalm 103:8–10 NLT

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

Jesus shows us how great is his love in how much he forgives.

Psalm 103:9–10 NLT

9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

Psalm 103:9-10

We can not out sin God’s grace. God’s love is that great for us. Jesus is telling this kingdom principle in this parable of the two debtors. One lesson is how to see the kingdom at work with out judgment. Another lesson is that Jesus has come for the sinners and knows our issues. Another lesson is that love is a strong response from forgiveness.

One owed 500 denarii/silver.

One debt would take some time to repay.

A denarii was a days wage.

One owed 50 denarii/silver.

Could repay a lot quicker.

Not in debt a long time dealing with a lot of stress.

Forgiveness is to cancel a debt.

God’s love is shown in how he has forgiven us. Love came down to show us the way. God’s love shows us how he would rather show us forgiveness than his wrath. The Lord is full of mercy and his love never fails.

Who loves more?

Luke 7:43 NLT

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said.

Luke 7:43

The one who has been forgiven much. Those who love little have been forgiven little and think they are better than they really are. They sit in a seat of judgement and judge others. Jesus sits in a seat of mercy and gives mercy to those who come to his feet.

Come to Jesus

Luke 7:44–50 NLT

44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t 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 didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

:44

The woman came to Jesus because she has been forgiven. She comes to worship the one who has forgiven all of her sins. She brings her offering to Jesus. She is so emotional it leads her to weep over his feet. She breaks the alabaster jar and anoints Jesus with the oil as she weeps and wipes his feet with her hair.

Jesus’s parable contrast the host and the woman. The woman has treated Jesus with more respect and gratitude than his host. The host offered nothing to Jesus, but the woman has not stopped in offering Jesus her love and affection.

How did she come to Jesus? Why?

How did Jesus receive her? How has he recieved you?

Love the God who forgives all our sins.

Jesus Christ can forgive all your sins. Surrender to him and allow him to use you.

What does it mean to you to have your sins forgiven?

Love knows healing fixes what has been broken.

What does it mean to have peace in yourself and with God?

How do you show your love for God?

You today can know the power of God’s grace and mercy. Surrender to the Lord’s power and open your heart to be changed by the Lord.