Greatly Forgiven, Greatly Loved

Introduction:

Greetings!

The title of my message is greatly forgiven, greatly loved.

Today, I want to speak with you about Jesus being anointed with perfume by a sinful woman. She was forgiven for a great number of sins and therefore felt a great deal of love and worship for the compassion of Jesus and how the Lord honored her desperate cry for help.

While this scripture is familiar to many of us there is no denying its power and relevance not only during the time it was written but to each and every one of us today.

Luke 7:36–50 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. 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?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. 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.”

The Woman Anointed Jesus as an Act of Worship

The woman in this narrative hears that Jesus is attending a dinner in the home of a Pharisee so she invites herself and brings with her an extremely expensive bottle of perfume. This particular perfume was so expensive that is cost 300 denarii which was the equivalent on one year’s wages for the average person at that time. Said differently, this woman came to Jesus with her very best and presented it with genuine emotion and a pure heart.

Verse 37 tells us that this woman was a certain immoral woman from the city. While the Bible does not say what her sins were, and we cannot speculate it is clear that she does have a negative reputation. However, she does not let that stop her from coming to worship Jesus.

When sharing the gospel with others I cannot tell you the number of times which people say they do not come to church because they do not think they are good enough. I tell them that is like not going to the doctor because you are too sick. That logic just doesn't make sense. The more hurting a person is the more they need to see the great physician and receive their healing! Amen!

We can see this woman’s courage of entering the home of a Pharisee while he is hosting a party to honor Jesus is beyond bold and exactly what she needed to be doing.

Listen church in these last days we will see people from all backgrounds coming though our doors looking for answers and looking for love and when they do we need to show them Jesus by His word, His Spirit and His love! Amen!

Verse 38 tells us that this certain immoral woman entered the party knelt behind Jesus at His feet and started weeping. As her tears fell on His feet, she wiped them off with her hair. She then continued to kiss His feet and put perfume on them. Other Gospel accounts tell us she also anointed His head. The woman did not care who was looking or what they would say rather she was determined to honor, worship, and encounter the Messiah.

Her heart for Jesus is a perfect example to us today of how we are to worship. While worship is a comprehensive topic the point is that as Christians, we should all be seeking to encounter God in our lives. We should invite the Lord into all things, in our hearts, in our minds and in our conduct.

This woman demonstrates those very things to us when she comes to Jesus humble, broken and presenting her very best gift at His feet recognizing Him as Lord and the source of her healing which makes her grateful.

This woman honors Jesus with her humility and by anointing him with the perfume. Her intention was to meet Jesus and she came with a spirit of expectation and she also came prepared to present Him with her very best gift.

Listen to this preacher today you cannot honor God properly if you are not willing to humble yourself and give Him your best in every area of your life. And no I am not talking about being perfect because in this flesh none of us will ever be perfect but what I am saying is that we should make our best efforts to live invite the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s word into every area of our lives. Said simply and directly Jesus did not give us a partial salvation so we are not to give Him part of us but rather all of us. Somebody give Him praise!

Putting this principle into action can take time for some people but others may get there right away. So don’t compare your walk with someone else’s walk rather through prayer and the word honestly ask yourself if you really giving the Lord your absolute best or just what you feel comfortable with.

The next thing the woman does in her worship of Jesus is to have an emotional outpouring, a genuine moment, a spiritual and physical encounter. As I stated earlier she does not care who is looking. She does not care what anyone else thinks. She is not ashamed to worship Jesus and when given the opportunity to worship Him completely lets her guard down and is submissive, vulnerable and raw.

Often we come to church looking to get energized, get a word, or have an encounter with God which are all great things to do but my friends let me tell you if the people of God come to the house of God already prayed up, filled up and with a spirit of expectation we will see more powerful moves of the Holy Spirit and encounter Jesus in deeper and more meaning full ways in our services. I don’t know about you but I came expecting today! Give Him Praise!

Gratefulness Brings a Deeper Love in Christ

As the woman is anointing Jesus the religious leaders starts to doubt Him, so Jesus explains that people who have been forgiven much love much.

As the woman was anointing Jesus the Pharisee who invited him thought to himself if Jesus were a prophet, then He would know what this woman was a sinner and reject her. This stems from the Pharisee’s hardness of heart.

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?”

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

You see when we put our faith in Jesus all of our sins were forgiven. And while we all should know this fundamental truth there are others of us that realize that the depth of our sins were many and that despite our faults and failures that Jesus still gave His life so that we could have a love unlike any we have ever known.

Listen our checkered pasts should not be areas of our lives we shut off and never talk about. Yes, we stop sinful behavior and yes we should never glorify past sins but we absolutely should reflect on our lives before we came to the Lord and how He has saved us, blessed us and has given us a new life in Him.

Doing this makes us a more grateful people and helps us to develop a deeper love for Christ. In addition, our testimonies help give hope to the lost and the back slider through our witness of God’s redeeming grace! We are trying to reach people so we need to make it personal. Amen! Praise Jesus! Hallelujah!

Those Deemed Unworthy, Jesus Makes Worthy

The woman was not respected but rather looked down upon because of her reputation.

However, Jesus tells us in Matthew 26:13 13 “I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Jesus can take the unloved, the unwanted and the outcast and seat them at a place of honor.

So no matter what your background trust the Lord and keep trusting the Lord and Jesus will save you, sanctity you and fill you with the Holy Spirit!

His word will be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path and He will prepare a place for you in heaven with the Father and fellow believers.

Your past is not your identity rather by putting your faith in Jesus paradise in heaven is now your destiny! Praise the Lord!

Humbleness is More Important Than Pedigree

In verses 44-46 Jesus contrasts how Simon the Pharisee treated Him with how the sinful woman treated Him.

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.

Simon the Pharisee did not have a resource issue rather he had a heart issue. For example, he had water to wash the dust from the sandals of Jesus, but he was inconsiderate and did not offer it. However the sinful woman not having the resources used whatever she had and literally washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

The Pharisee did not give Jesus a proper greeting when He came either, but the woman did not stop kissing His feet.

Jesus concluded by telling Simon that he did not anoint His head with olive oil, which was a sign of respect in that culture, but the woman anointed Him with a rare and costly perfume.

Jesus demonstrates to us that He is more honored by people coming to him with a humble spirit and a repentant heart than about their background.

This woman was a social outcast, yet Jesus clearly and accurately points out several ways in which she showed more respect, and honor for Him than Simon who was the host of the event.

By Faith Our Sins Are Forgiven

As we discussed the woman did an immensely powerful and wonderful thing as she anointed Jesus however it was not her actions which lead to her salvation.

Rather, Jesus tells the Pharisee that though the woman’s sins are many that by her faith she is forgiven. It is because only by our faith in Jesus Christ are our sins are forgiven.

While yes we are called to live holy lives it is not our conduct that saves us but rather our faith that Jesus Christ is in fact the Messiah who paid the sin debt for the world.

As we discussed the woman did an immensely powerful and wonderful thing as she anointed Jesus however it was not her actions which lead to her salvation.

Rather, Jesus tells the Pharisee that though the woman’s sins are many that by her faith she is forgiven.

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.”

Because sins are only forgiven by repentance and putting one’s faith in Jesus Christ it is ever so important for us to share the gospel message both inside and outside the church.

There are a lot of people who grew up in church that think they are saved but have never actually put their faith in Jesus Christ. Sure they know some memory verses and are familiar with certain ceremonies or traditions, but they are still lacking the personal relationship of trusting and declaring Jesus Christ is Lord.

There are also many people outside the church especially in our times who either think they will go to heaven by a false belief or do not believe in anything at all. Though sometimes difficult if we share as we can when we can by the way we live, striking up a conversation or serving others we can have the honor to share the gospel with them and do our part to fulfill the Great Commission.

Our hope is that much like the women with the sinful past that on broken heart and bended knee the people we share the Gospel with also will cry out to Jesus Christ, receive salvation and heaven will be their home. Hallelujah!

The most important and beautiful moment we will ever witness or be fortunate enough to be a part of is seeing a person come home and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Putting your faith in Jesus is in fact the single most significant choice a person can ever make. It quite literally ensures the promise of the Lord that when this life on earth ends, we get to spend eternity in Glory with Jesus, the Father and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Heaven is a place where there is no more suffering and no more pain. It is a place with streets of gold and all of God’s people from every people group coming together to worship Him. Somebody give Him praise!

And while the promise of Heaven is our great reward it comes at a great cost. God Himself stepped out of glory to enter a world in which many people would not believe Him and many who would seek to destroy Him.

Christ preached messages of repentance and love. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and raised the dead to life. But instead of believing the signs which the Scriptures foretold or believing in the miracles He performed the hearts of many were hard towards Him.

Jesus was betrayed by one close to him, put on a mockery of a trial and then was tortured and crucified like a common criminal. Christ then defeated death, hell and the grave and arose victorious on the third day and is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. Hallelujah!

Jesus gave all of this not because of something that He did wrong because He is perfect and without sin. Rather, Christ suffered and died as an act of love so that we would not get what we deserve.

Once that fact is finally realized our love for Jesus grows deeper and there is nothing more we can do but fall down and worship Him and cry out with great emotion offering all we have to glorify Him.

We saw that today with the woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany. She knew her sins were many. She knew what people would say. But more than that she knew Jesus was the Messiah who came to save the world and she needed rescuing. The woman gave everything she had worshipping Jesus just as she wept at His feet and anointed His head with expensive perfume.

Conclusion

Jesus would endure much pain and suffering after this event. He would pray so intensely that his sweat became drops of blood as He cried out to the Father as noted in Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” And as the wind blew and the fierce crowds were forming, He could smell the perfume of the sinful woman who was saved as a reminder of all who need Him.

Then Jesus was taken to a mockery of a trial by the very people He came to save, and they beat Him and Peter denied Him and they sent him before the Romans. As masters of war and torture they continued to beat and bloody His body until His own mother could barely recognize Him. And as He suffered excruciating pain in His cell, bruised and bloodied, the wind blew, and He could smell the woman’s perfume and be reminded of all who need Him.

As He marched up the hill to Golgotha bearing the weight of his cross, Jesus was crucified and nailed to the tree. Hanging on the cross awaiting certain death the skies remained dark from noon-3:00 and as He hung there awaiting certain death the wind blew and he smelt the fragrant perfume of the women reminding Him that we all need Him.

And finally at 3:00 Jesus lifts His head and as recorded in Matthew 27:46 and shouts “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” And as He takes His final breath, the wind blows and Jesus can smell the sweet perfume knowing He did not labor in vain.

You see brothers and sisters if it ever really sinks in how much Jesus loves you and what He willingly did for all people than the world couldn’t possibly stop our praise!

And just like the woman in this story we would present our very best and fall at the feet of God being grateful for taking our place, rescuing us and giving us a new life in Christ! Hallelujah! He is worthy! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

So wherever you are in your walk with the Lord today, never forget that all of us have been greatly forgiven and therefore should greatly love Jesus who forgives us.

And if you are here today and you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior simply trust Him that He is who He says He is and that instead of a random occurrence in the universe you are handcrafted by a loving God that wants a relationship with you.

Ask Jesus into your heart and to be your Lord and Savior today and you too can have a peace and love like you’ve never known not only in this life but for eternity in heaven. If that’s you today as we prepare to pray come down to the altar and receive the blessing the Lord has prepared for you.

Prayer

Thank you for being here today and remember our joy is in Jesus.