Thursday, April 17, 2008

 

Unconditional Love Series

 

Luke 7:43 “Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” 

 

Remarkable Forgiveness

 

Simon was an important Pharisee.  He was a respected Jew in his town and had been impressed with Jesus as a celebrity.   He had heard Jesus preaching and been very impressed with the large number of people who followed Him.  Simon invited Jesus to his home along with a large number of other people.   That luncheon was a very nice social gathering with many important people present.  

 

During this nice social gathering a completely distraught woman crashed the luncheon. This woman (the sinner) was notorious.   She had lived a life of complete freedom in a morally restrained society.   She liked men and had used them to get what she wanted.   The perfume she brought in was an incredibly expensive commodity.   As she saw Jesus she broke down in tears and anointed his feet with the perfume and her hair which had become unbound fell all over his feet.   The room full of people were aghast.  They all realized what kind of woman she was.  Simon, the Pharisee, “Mr. Perfect” said to himself, “If Jesus indeed were a prophet he would never let this sinful woman touch him in this way.”  

 

Jesus said to Simon, “I want to tell you something.   Two men owed a money lender - one a relatively small amount, the other a huge amount.   The money lender forgave both men the debts.”  Jesus asked Simon, “Which one would love him more?”  Simon said, “I presume the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”  Then Jesus said, “Do you see this woman?  I came in your house and you did not provide for me the customary greetings which are given in courtesy and yet this woman has lavished on me this expensive token of her love and courtesy.     Then I tell you Simon, her sins are many and she had been forgiven much and her love for me is great because her sin is great.  Then Jesus looked at the woman and said, “Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace.” 

 

When we think of the act of forgiveness maybe it is in our great need for that forgiveness that we discover the true significance of God.   I would rather think sometimes those who have always been in church forget about great needs people have and when they experience Jesus in fullness that experience radically changes them.  When Christ forgives people and their sins are many, their love for him is very passionate.   Regardless of who we are, if we ask for forgiveness, God so grants us that forgiveness.  

 

The woman that day understood the power of Christ to forgive.   I wonder if we understand how much He has forgiven all of us.  I have known people like this woman in the understanding of their forgiveness their lives become remarkable.   Perhaps there is a place where we all need to experience this level of forgiveness so that we can encounter this much love. 

 

Prayer:  Dear God, help me to feel the passion of forgiveness.  Amen.