A few weeks ago at church, the pastor's sermon was about the story of the woman who annointed Jesus' feet. Many of you are likely familier with this story, but I will retell it here: Jesus is feasting at the house of a Pharisee named Simon. While there, a "sinful" woman from the town came to Jesus and wept at his feet. Then, she poured perfume on his feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. Simon's response is initially negative and skeptical: "If this man [Jesus] were really a prophet, then he would know that this woman is a sinner." However, Jesus knew what the Pharisee was thinking, and responded with this parable:
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:41-47, NIV
What stood out to me in this passage was verse 47: "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." Those who have greater sin feel greater guilt and remorse when truly convicted by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when they are forgiven of their sins, their greater guilt is replaced with a greater love for God in His kindness, and a greater longing to live for Him, and a greater witness to others of Christ's sacrifical living. This is not to say that the biggest sinners are always the greatest Christians, nor is it to say that children raised in a Christian home who have accepted Christ at a young age cannot become believers of great love and kindness--rather, that those who were formerly greater sinners are more likely to appreciate their salvation.
So: how much has God forgiven you? And how much do you love Jesus in response?
No comments:
Post a Comment