"Blessed are those who mourn
for they shall be comforted."
Matthew 5:4
In the last post we spoke of godly sorrow and true repentance. Is there an example in the gospels of this godly sorrow and how Jesus views forgiveness? One that comes to mind is found in Luke 7.
A Pharisee named Simon, invited Jesus to his home for dinner. While He was there a woman came who was known for her sins. She brought an alabaster jar of precious oil. She stood at His feet behind him weeping; and then began to wash his feet with her tears and her hair. She kissed His feet and anointed them with the costly oil. What were the thoughts of the men observing this? Simon was thinking that if Jesus were really a prophet He would know that this woman was a sinner.
Jesus not only knew she was a sinner, but He knew what Simon was thinking.
He answered his thoughts: "'A man loaned money to two people - 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debt. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?' Simon answered... 'I suppose the one whom he canceled the larger debt'. 'That's right' Jesus said.'" NLT
"'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. You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglect the courtesy of olive oil to anoint My head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 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 a little shows only a little love'. Luke 7:44-47 NLT
This story reveals the perception of each person. Simon and the other Pharisee's saw themselves as being righteous, certainly more deserving of God's favor than this woman who was a sinner. But the problem is they were comparing their outward presentation to known "sinners" instead of seeing their own hearts in the light of the perfection of God. As as Jesus said to the Pharisee's later, they were like a whitewashed tomb, which is beautiful on the outside, but inside they were full of dead mans bones. The words of a song we sang long ago just came to mind. "Tell me who could stand in the Lord's righteous reckoning, if our lives faced His light. Then if all our deeds were revealed at God's beckoning, who could hold their heads high?For there is forgiveness with thee, and in wonder I fall on my knees...." You see "we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God!" Romans 3:23 So, because they felt righteous in their own effort, what would compel them to have a deep gratitude for salvation? This woman knew she was barely snatched from the very fires of hell; and that was what compelled her to have a great out pouring of love for Jesus.
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| Anointing by William Hole |
Just how bad are we with out the righteousness of Christ living IN us? Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us that before Christ we were spiritually dead because of our disobedience and many sins, obeying the devil instead of God. "He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God... following passionate desires..."
Before Christ is in our life we may look good on the outside, but what is in our hearts? Even as believers we need to be open before God. What is our heart toward "sinners"? Do we have God's heart towards them? Is Christ and His perfect love dwell in us?
Many times people speak of brokenness, but if you listen often the brokenness comes from wounds that are a result of the natural consequences of their sin; instead of recognizing their own evil and being truly sorry. When we are truly sorry and through God's grace we are able to repent of our sins; then we are able to deal with the problems resulting from our own sins.
How much does God love us?
"But God is so rich in mercy and He loves us so much,
that even though we were dead because of our sins,
He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead."
Eph 2:4-6
In the story above Jesus reveals the essence of a deep, lasting love for God. We find this love when we realize that 'I am not able to save myself from my sin and I understand the sacrifice it cost to pay for it'. Simon the Pharisee didn't understand this when He was judging Jesus and the woman in his own heart. He and the other Pharisee's thought they were good enough to earn their own salvation and place in God's kingdom. They were self-sufficient. In their own minds they were at least 10x's better than this woman.
Thank God that through the sacrifice of Christ, we are forgiven when we repent and believe in Him. Thank God that through Christ, we are given the grace of the Holy Spirit and now have power over sin, as we yield to His leading. We are not sufficient in ourselves, but His grace is sufficient for us. Where is the boasting? How can we feel superior over those who do not have the Lord operating in their lives, yet? (See Ephesians 2:1-10)
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -
and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God -
not by works, so that no one can boast."
Eph. 2:8, 9 NIV
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Cor. 12:9 NIV
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