Grace changes everything. It changes our access to God. Because of grace, we can approach the throne of God with confidence. Some people will say, I can’t talk to him because I am a sinner. No, you can, and we are going to talk about that in detail. You can approach Him and ask forgiveness for your shortcomings, and you can enjoy a vibrant relationship with Him. Remember, our relationship with God is not because of something we did or something we will do but because God has done for us.

Highlights
  • Greater forgiveness yields greater love.
  • How much forgiveness do you think you receive from God?
  • Do you think you are more righteous than others?
  • Once you encounter the grace of God, it will change you completely.
Introduction

Some people are probably thinking, can God fix my messed up and broken life? People already look at me with condemnation. I am so sinful. Even my family doesn’t want anything to do with me. Maybe the example is a bit extreme, and you can’t relate to that illustration, but you knew in your heart that you are a person who desperately needs forgiveness. Can God give me the forgiveness that I need?

Here is good news for you. I believe that it is not an accident that you are reading this blog. One of the effects of grace is the forgiveness of sin. 

The love of God, which is abounding in grace, is the reason for the forgiveness of sin. It clears our guilt and removes condemnation. But how should we respond to that truth?

Greater forgiveness yields greater love.
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When we fully understand the amount of offense that we commit against God and realize that God has forgiven us, the only reasonable response is to love God more.

Our understanding of our forgiveness is directly proportional to our love for God. When our love for God is less, it means that we think that we are forgiven less, like what Jesus said in Luke 7:47.

Someone who thinks he is a good person and does not even need any forgiveness loves little.

How much forgiveness do you think you receive from God?

Do you believe you received greater forgiveness from God? Or are you the kind of person who is so good, you don’t need any forgiveness at all?

There is a story in the New Testament that talks about the relationship between grace and forgiveness. The story begins in the early part of Jesus’ ministry. His popularity has reached a new level, and many people started to become curious about him. Jesus started to receive a lot of invitations. And our story happened during one of Jesus’ dinner engagements. 

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. Luke 7:36

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In Luke 7:40, we will discover that his name is Simon. Knowing the tension between Jesus and the Pharisees, people may assume that Jesus will regret the invitation. But no, that is not the nature of our Lord. Our Lord accepted the invitation. Let us pause for a moment. Did you know that gesture brings hope to all of us? We don’t invite Jesus into our lives most of the time because we think we are not worthy of His attention.

We are worst at handling relationships, but we are good at mismanaging finances. Our colleague does not like us because of our attitude. Our classmates don’t want us in their group. Well, here is the truth of the matter, if you think that is the description of your life right now, then, even more, you should invite Jesus. If he accepted the invitation of a Pharisee, do you think He will decline your invitation? I don’t think so.

Jesus arrived at Simon’s house, and he reclined at the table.

The Setup of a Dinner Party

First, it is a public event. Meaning even those who didn’t get an invite could stand around and observe the guests and the festivities. The guests are arranged around a shallow table, reclining on their left arm, and supported by cushions, leaving their right hand free to feed themselves. Their feet, sandals removed, would be splayed out behind them. If you stayed in the Middle East for some time, you would experience this meal setting.

The Intention

Now let us put the spotlight back on our host – Simon the Pharisee. With all the preparation and setup, some of you may be thinking right now. What could be the intention of Simon for doing this? One possible motivation was to “check out” Jesus. Was this man a prophet? Could He be recruited to their side? This is not a friendly invitation but some sort of scrutiny. Why did I say this? Because in verses 44-46, Simon did not express any warmth or any cordiality with Jesus. Hospitality is over the top in those areas, yet Simon seems to forget about it.

You did not give me any water for my feet; you did not give me a kiss; you did not put oil on my head – Luke 7:44-46

In those times, there will always be a basin provided so guests could wash the road’s dust from their feet. A kiss was a token of affection or a common mode of salutation. We can still witness it here in the Middle East. Scented olive oil was sometimes offered to anoint a guest’s hair. Simon did not show or do any of these. He neglected the marks of hospitality, and he did not express warmth because his intention is not cordial. 

simon_intent

He is curious about Jesus. And his curiosity was satisfied when another character enters the story. And this is Simon’s conclusion:

he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39

Simon said to himself, “Ha! I have Him now; He knows nothing of the person. He cannot be a prophet. She is a sinful woman, and you allowed her to touch you, Jesus. What are you thinking, Jesus?” 

How many times have we tried to compare ourselves with others? Most of the time we failed to appreciate the grace of God because we are blinded by our self-righteousness.

 He who was forgiven little loves little.

This is the mindset of Simon. That is why he can’t love more — he thinks he is better than other people. In this case, the woman who touched Jesus. But who is this woman? And what happened at the party that disappoints Simon?

Let us look at the back story. A few moments earlier.

The Sinful Woman

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, Luke 7:37

sinful_woman

Talk about your reputation proceeds you. Nobody mentioned her name, yet it seems everyone knows her. She got a reputation in town. Of course, Simon did not invite her, but she can observe. She arrived early, ready and waiting. She is ready to anoint the feet of Jesus with the perfume in an alabaster jar. Alabaster was a precious stone commonly found in Israel. Of course, the precious stone contains expensive perfume. 

It is sealed with wax to preserve the scent. The woman with the alabaster jar had brought her most valuable possession. When Jesus arrived, the woman was able to sneak in and comes close to Jesus.

and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:38

Knowing her sins, she can’t help but cry and cry. She knew she is not worthy. Her tears began to wet the feet of Jesus. Her tears wipe the dirt in Jesus’ feet. That is a beautiful act of worship. An act that a person can do if he is driven by love. She doesn’t have the towel, so she used her hair to dry Jesus’ feet. In those days it was forbidden for the woman to unbind her hair, but she didn’t hesitate.

woman_perfume

She can accept the mocking of the people just to express her love and appreciation for Jesus. She dared not kiss Jesus on the face, as Simon should have done, but she could kiss His feet. Then she broke the alabaster jar and poured it out as an act of worship. It is the best that she could offer.

The Attitude of the Woman

I don’t know how the woman knew Jesus. Maybe she heard Jesus through one of His sermons. Or somebody told her the story of Jesus. But one thing is for sure; she knew that she is a sinner and that Jesus is her only hope. She is tired of her sinful life, and she wants to experience life to the full. The woman brought her most valuable possession and offered it to Jesus.

And when her faith intersects with the grace of God, she experiences the forgiveness of her sin.

What could be our most valuable possession right now? Is it a relationship? Do we have a kind of relationship right now that is so precious to us that we tend to keep it even though it is wrong? Is it a career? Our career is so remarkable that we prioritize it more than our family. Is it money? We will do anything for money. Just like the woman, let us surrender that to the feet of Jesus and experience the grace of God in our lives.

Once you encounter the grace of God, it will change you completely. Your perspective in life will change. Your love for God will overflow, that people will start to notice it. You will appreciate Him more. And every action you will take, every move you make – all will be for the glory of God.

500 vs 50 denarii
moneylender

Anyone who acknowledges God forgave him much loves much. Those who think God forgave him little loves little. Now let me repeat the question I asked earlier, how much forgiveness do we think we receive from God? Are we like Simon, who thinks he only owes God a few denarii or are we like the woman who believes that she owes God so much? Our actions will prove our answer. 

Greater forgiveness yields greater love.

Without forgiveness, nobody will appreciate grace. Overflowing love is the natural response to forgiveness and the appropriate consequence of faith. But only those who realize the depth of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness that God offers them. Jesus has rescued all his followers from eternal death, whether they were once extremely wicked or conventionally good.

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