FEBRUARY 8TH
FORGIVEN
Scripture Reading:
Luke 7:36-50 (KJV) "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw [it], he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman [this is] that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."
After reading the passage above, a question reverberated within my heart. Could the absence of unconditional love among many be due to a lack of understanding of God’s forgiveness? This passage provoked the question because it contains the simplicity of Christ’s Love in the face of religion. Love that is so powerful yet simple causes the wandering heart to miss it completely. Only the eyes of the pure in heart can bring the Love of Almighty God into focus. As an eagle, the searching eyes of one whose mind is being transformed into His likeness can hone in on God’s great Love in His Word. Full assurance of goodness and mercy rather than harm floods the understanding with Light.
Religion, as depicted through Simon in this passage, focuses on sin nature. Sin captures center stage with the religious-minded rather than Jesus Christ, our Deliverer. As Simon thought within himself, Jesus certainly should have been able to tell the woman was a "sinner" if He was indeed a prophet. Such miscalculations easily occur when one seeks a prophet rather than The Son of God. Truth being told, the law of the spirit of life within Jesus was so much higher than that of the law of sin and death working in His midst. In other words, sin was overridden by Love (God) in the Flesh.
There is something about being in the Presence of Christ that causes the pure in heart to worship Him in spirit and truth. His Presence invokes adoration in those who earnestly seek Him. No one else in the house mattered to this woman except Jesus. Once she knew where Jesus was abiding, she went to Him. She did not try to "fix herself" or "change" or "quit doing this or that" before she entered into His Presence. She simply came to Jesus as she was and positioned herself at His Feet. Although the passage says she stood at His feet, she was still postured to wash His Feet with her tears; dry them with her hair; and continuously kiss them. It makes no sense to the natural mind, does it? How could she do that from a standing position? It is not about her, but it is all in His ability to keep her from falling and present her faultless before the presence of His glory. (Jude 24) Alleluia!
Continued
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