Your Sins Are Forgiven

Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Explanation: Have you ever dived in a pool’s deep end, sure you’d taken in enough air to reach the bottom and make it back to the top? But while the surface is still just out of reach, you realize you were wrong. You start to panic, and just when you think you can’t hold back from sucking in water, you burst through the surface and…breathe. That. That is the best way I can explain what forgiveness is to me. As desperate a need as the air I breathe. A life muddled and rocked, churned and frazzled…and then, just when hope seems too far out of reach…Jesus steps in. What could this rescue possibly bring out of me except worship? Worship from my deepest parts because there’s nothing else I can give in return for what I’ve been given. I cry because I can’t hold it in. I sing because I have to express what’s in my heart. I choose lifting His name high with my choices and my actions, even above my feelings, because what else can I offer that is worth His undefinable grace? Forgiveness, of all things, should draw out our extravagant worship, not just what we can scrape together. The woman in our passage gave everything: every shred of dignity, the fear of being judged, her livelihood, all poured on Jesus’s feet. She worshiped quite literally with everything she had...and He was worth it. Application: 1. Read Luke 12:48. “To whom much is given, much will be expected.” Meditate on this verse and ask God to show you areas of your life where you have been given much. Ask Him for help to act on that fact accordingly. 2. Read Romans 12:1. ”Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your reasonable act of worship.” Scripture is clear that in light of who God is and what He offers, our reasonable act of worship is to give our whole lives and being to Him. It’s not saying our complete sacrifice is equal to what He offers us. He’s saying it’s a starting point, our reasonable response to what He’s done for us. Pray and ask God to continue to mold your heart with the truth that your whole life, offered in worship, is what He expects. Prayer Starter: Jesus, what could we offer You but our whole hearts and our whole lives? May they be full of worship in every way, as You daily stir our hearts to remember the great and complete forgiveness You offer us. In Your beautiful Name, Lord Jesus. Amen. Devo Plus: For a comparable story, read John 12:1-3. Note the similarities and differences.