The Pitiful and Pious

Luke 7:36-50

Intro

A preacher walks into a bar.

The preacher notices a drunk sitting at the bar and he strikes up a conversation. "Hello sir, I was wondering if you have found Jesus yet." The drunk looks up and replies "Nope!" So the preacher grabs him by the collar and drags him out he door and down to the creek. He then quickly submerges the man into the water and says "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. Hallelujah!" The preacher pulls the man to the surface of the water and asks him if he has found the lord. "Are you trying to drown me." the man screamed but was cut off as the preacher submerges him again and continues the baptism. "Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented." The preacher pulls the man to the surface again and asks him if he has found Jesus. "I can't breath. I need air. Please sto.." but without hesitation the preacher plunges the man below again and continues. "Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented." Amen. The preacher smiled and looked down at the surface of the water and no bubbles were coming to the surface. He then dragged the drunk to the shore and began to perform CPR. After a few seconds the drunk coughed and spat up water. The preacher smiled and asked the drunk. "My son, have you found Jesus." The drunk looked at the preacher and said, "I looked everywhere under the water. I don't think Jesus is down there."

Read Luke

Three people

Simon

The woman

Jesus

Simon

He thought he was better than he was

playing corn hole (bags) with Katy

he didn’t see who Jesus was

“Through Scripture I came to the conclusion that I was prone on the one hand to think of God as less righteous than He is and myself as more righteous than I am, yet on the other hand to consider God as less compassionate and forgiving than He is and myself more compassionate and forgiving than I am. I had confused myself with God.” ― James Castleton, MD, Mending of a Broken Heart

he didn’t think it was necessary to repent

luke 18 we see the pharisee and the tax collector

God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

Loved little.

gave no water or towel gave no kiss gave no oil.

examples of hospitality

The woman

she understood who she was

“It takes courage...to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.”

Marianne Williamson

She understood who Jesus was

good teacher, prophet, healer, miracle worker

He was and is the second person of the Trinity. He is God.

He was righteousness in its most pure form.

She was repentant

Loved much

her hair and tears washed his feet

kissed his feet

gave ointment for his feet

Jesus

knew who They were

Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others, but a humble saint is most jealous of himself. He is as suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart. The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints…and to be quick to notice their deficiencies. But the eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home, and sees so much evil in his own heart, and is so concerned about it, that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts… Pure Christian humility disposes a person to take notice of everything that is good in others, and to make the most of it, and to diminish their failings, but to give his eye chiefly on those things that are bad in himself.

Thoughts on the Revival, Works, I:399-400.

📷Jonathan Edwards

knew who he was

never denied who He was

forgave much

closing

i feel sorrow for those of you who may still be stuck where Simon was.

you cant see that you think you are better than you are.

you cant see who Jesus is and why you need him

you have to look down on those pitiful souls who aren’t as good as you.

then there are those of us who have been saved, but we have some sanctification left to do in the area of self righteousness.

you know Jesus is, and what He did for you.

somewhere along the way you started thinking that your flavor of sin was somehow better than other peoples.

bird poop may smell better than pig poop, but at the end of the day it is still poop.

often times when we pursue those whom we think would be most desirable to bring to church

look at vs 34

our church should be filled with the outcast and unwanted

for those of you in this room who are maybe like this prostitute, and this is the first time that you are truly seeing Jesus actually loves you and wants you, and it is terrifying because maybe no one else has ever wanted you. maybe you dont fee like you deserve his grace and mercy, and I would say that you are right. you dont, but neither do any of the rest of us. i encourage you to come pray with me. I would love to walk you through what it means to repent and believe.