Jesus Said Your Faith Has Saved You, Go In Peace 2/11/18

Transcription

1 Jesus Said Your Faith Has Saved You, Go In Peace 2/11/18 -Intro: -One of the most dramatic, holy moments of grace and forgiveness takes place in today s story. -The story is so moving and so holy that to disturb it seems irreverent. -But we must. -What Jesus says in this grace encounter is too good not to understand. -Luke 7:36-50 (NLT) 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. -There are 3 principle characters in this story. -Jesus the Prince of Peace, Simon the Prideful Pharisee and the unnamed Penitent Prostitute. -There are others in the room but these are the main characters Here s what we know about this story:

2 (1) The story starts out saying that one of the Pharisees asked Jesus over for supper. -This was not to kindle a friendship or make truces. -NO. This was to size Jesus up and declare Him to be false once and for all -The intention was evil as you will see as we progress. (2) We also know that a certain immoral woman was also there. -Immorality someone who is devoted to sin makes sin their business -This woman is a prostitute, well known in the city. -She is probably heavily disguised. -No truly righteous man would dare to let her enter his home and defile it. -Background: Courtyard with open rooms surrounding it. -Common for people, not invited to take part in lively conversation. -Evening meals were often public affairs. -This particular woman had enquired about the whereabouts of Jesus. -She was there to meet Him and was waiting on Him when He arrived. -The text tells us that at the end of the passage. (3) She s carrying with her an alabaster jar of perfume. -This is probably something she used in her chosen profession in order to stay perfumed for her next customer. -Alabaster meant that it was made with a particular type of marble quarried in Egypt. -This is what made it valuable. -What were her intentions? I. GRATITUDE -This is not her first encounter with Jesus as we are told in the latter part of the text. -She has heard Him speak before about the grace and forgiveness of God that is freely given and that doesn t have to be earned. -She has believed His Word and she is here in this moment, coming to show her deep gratitude in worship to Jesus. -She knows in her heart that she is a forgiven woman. -No doubt there were tears in her eyes as she entered that room where Jesus was going to be. -Jesus had rescued HER. -He knew her fully and still chose to LOVE her. (Gospel) -She was overwhelmed with gratitude and filled with emotion. -What was she going to do with the jar of expensive perfume? -Offer it as a gift the only costly and precious thing that she has?

3 to her? -Anoint his hands and head with it to recognize His immeasurable worth -We don t know for sure. -We do know that she is there in that place to openly declare her thanks, praise, and worship to her Savior that has forever set her free from the shackles of sin and shame. -Ibn al-tayyib writing in the 11 th century from Baghdad says about this passage: There is no doubt that the woman previously heard the preaching of the Christ and was deeply moved by it and believed and repented and was anticipating a chance to make visible her thanks to the Christ and to confirm forgiveness for her sins and the salvation of herself. (Kenneth Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, p242) Here s the question that must be answered: What was obviously missing in this dinner inv? -The honoring of Jesus by His host, the Pharisee. -Luke 7:36 (NLT) One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. -Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat (Literally reclined...explanation) -I want you to read a pause in between went to his home AND sat down to eat -Because there is a big pause at that point. -What should have happened as Jesus entered the home? -For that you have to know Middle Eastern culture. -3 things. (1) Water to wash feet (srvnt-unlace sandals-wash and dry dusty feet from day) (2) Kiss of greeting (on both cheeks especially for an esteemed guest as this) (3) Oil of Refreshment/Anointing (on the top of their head-soothing aroma that scented the entire dining room). -Yet, Jesus receives NONE of these. (All the traditional courtesies that we always done were not done). -It wasn t that they were just forgotten or overlooked. -They were intentionally not done. -In front of a watching audience assembled around the perimeter of the room and in the courtyard. -Everyone knew the dramatic insult that just happened. -By every right, Jesus (with all the people watching) had the right at that point to say: - I see that I am not welcomed here and storm out! -It was a highly rude and calculated INSULT. -They intentionally dismissed the Son of God.

4 -But Jesus does not do that. -He goes in and reclines at the table Who s in the audience watching all of this unfold? -The certain immoral woman who came in for the express purpose of lathering upon Jesus the worship and gratitude and thanksgiving and praise that was due His name. -She s there with a heart of worship. -She s heard His message, believed and has been changed by Him. -Her intentions change after she sees this: -She goes from GRATITUDE to: -GRIEF -She was so upset and so broken over the fact that Jesus was not honored in that place. -She knew that Jesus, the Messiah, had been robbed of worship. -She knew that the religious leaders did not see Him as He should have been seen. -And she was grieved. -She knew Who Jesus was. -She knew Him to be God in the flesh, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the One Who rescues and saves and loves and Who is near. -And she was grieved that they did not recognize Him and give Him the glorious honor that He so richly deserved So, what does she do? The only thing she could do! -She fixes their mistake and gives Him the honor that was due His name. -Luke 7:37-38 (NLT) 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. -The only thing she brought with her was Alabaster perfume. -She is not armed with water or a towel. -She was not prepared to experience the cold, disdain treatment of Jesus. -So, she kneels behind the holy feet of God and does the only thing imaginable. (1) She weeps. (The word literally portrays a waterfall) -They do not provide water for His feet. -She provides water from her grieving heart. -(The dinner conversation has just stopped)

5 (2) She dries her tears with her hair -They do not provide a towel for His feet so she uses the only thing available to her, her hair. *(she lets down her hair in public shameful, scandalous) -If they didn t know who she is before, they certainly do now. -But if anyone was going to receive shame it would be her not Jesus. (3) She kisses his feet over and over. -She cannot get to his face to give Him the welcome kiss of greeting and honor. -So, she kisses the nearest part of Him His feet. (4) She anoints His feet with perfume. -The traditional anointing of the head was strategically omitted, so she anoints his feet with the expensive Alabaster perfume instead. -She weeps, not because of her sins, but because in that moment, the Son of God was publicly humiliated and it broke her heart. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes it as such that she enters into the sufferings of the Messiah. -She is right there suffering with Him, the Exalted Son of God The Pharisee (along with all the others notice). -Luke 7:39 (NLT) 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! -This was the reason for the dinner invitation. -To test Jesus, declare Him false and publicly disgrace and dismiss Him. - If He were a true prophet, he would know WHO is touching him! - Since he doesn t know, he must not be a true prophet. -Notice how Jesus answers -Luke 7:40 (NLT) Then Jesus answered his thoughts. -Subtly proving His true identity, He knew their thoughts and answered them. Simon, he said to the Pharisee, I have something to say to you. Go ahead, Teacher, Simon replied. -Phrase I have something to say to you is not spoken politely. -The phrase means, I m going to be honest with you and you are not going to like it. -Like the boss ordering you into his office to reprimand or fire you. -Phrase by Simon Go ahead, Teacher is not polite either. - You got something to say to me, then say it!

6 -Notice next: -Luke 7:41-43 (NLT) 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. -Two months worth of salary vs Two YEARS worth of salary. (Big difference) 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. -The Law Keeper s sin although not as extravagant as the Law Breaker s sin is still so much that even he can t pay up. -But even Simon, the self-righteous hypocrite knows the correct answer. -The one who loves the most is the one who realizes the depth of their forgiven sin. -Then Jesus turns on the offensive. -Luke 7:44-47 (NLT) 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. -Jesus just called out his host. - Don t think I didn t notice your lack of hospitality, Simon (Look at this woman) - I entered your home and you didn t offer me water, so she washed my feet with her grieving tears. - You didn t offer me a towel but she has used her precious hair. - You didn t give me a kiss of greeting so she was compelled to do it and is still doing it. - You didn t anoint my head with oil so she had to anoint my feet, the only part that was available to her. Simon. -Jesus, the invited guest, points out the inexcusable failure of His host, -And then, Jesus, the Burden Bearer of sin, takes all the attention off of her and puts it all back on Himself: -Luke 7:48 (NLT) Then Jesus said to the woman, Your sins are forgiven. -A confirmation of a transaction that has happened in the past: Sins are forgiven

7 -The creditor in the story that Jesus tells that is owed money, that instead graciously forgives both of the debts, is none other than God, Himself. -The Divine Creditor Who takes the debt upon himself. -And Jesus, in this moment, identifies Himself and equals Himself with the gracious creditor. -And they got the symbolic exchange: -Luke 7:49 (NLT) The men at the table said among themselves, Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins? -Then Jesus, in front of that packed dinner party in front of all the community leaders and religious leaders, publicly announces to the entire city that this notorious, sinning, prostitute is from now on declared to be a new, forgiven, woman, a precious child of the Living God. -Luke 7:50 (NLT) And Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace. - You are forever forgiven in the sight of God because you have believed. Nothing more. Go into a life peace. You don t have to fear anymore. -This statement is true for any person who has placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ. -Subtly, in this exchange, Jesus also reaches out to Simon. -Did you hear it? -A man loaned money to 2 people. - Simon, you re the second person. - Although your sin is not as much as hers, it s still sin that can t be paid. - And just as I have forgiven her massive debt, I can also forgive yours as well. -The compassion of Jesus even extends to those who mean to do Him harm. -We are not told how the passage ends. What the response was of the people in the room. -But there always has to be a response to Jesus: What is your response to Him? -Do you have gratitude for what Jesus has done for you? -Does it come through often in the form of worship, adoration, praise, thanksgiving? -Do you grieve and mourn and weep when Jesus is not honored? Recognizing His invaluable worth? -Are you grieved when you hear the Lord s name misused?

8 -Are you grieved when Jesus is not recognized or honored by the very people He created? -Are you one who has yet to make a decision about Who Jesus really is? Bridge Group Questions: 1. What stood out to you most about this week s message? 2. How much does understanding the Middle Eastern culture play a part in how you properly interpret this passage or any passage in the Bible? Without knowing any of this background, how would you have, on the surface, interpreted this passage? 3. Why did this woman weep and weep so forcefully? Can you relate to how much she loved the Lord? 4. In the comparison of the 50 silver debt and the 500 silver debt, in which category would you place yourself? 5. Do you have compassion for Simon the Pharisee after reading this? How do you see yourself in him? 6. Jesus takes the attention and shame off of this woman and places it on Himself. That s the Gospel. Do you know how much you are loved by God? Do you really know it? 7. What does the phrase, Go in peace mean to you and what do you think it meant for her?