Luke 7:36-50

Posted by DJL on May 9, 2013 in Daily Bread | 1 comment

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning towards 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 bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing 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 were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the 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.”

This short but powerful story explains, I believe, why Jesus was killed.

I mean, when you think about it, Jesus’ death is something of a puzzle. Up to this point, pretty much all Jesus does is preach and teach and heal and feed (well, I guess that hasn’t happened yet, but it’s coming). Which makes you wonder. Why would anyone want to get rid of a guy like that?

Until, that is, you get to a story like this. A story, that is, where Jesus forgives sin.

What’s so bad about forgiveness, you may be wondering.

Nothing…as long as you believe you need it.

There are two main characters in this story. To one, forgiveness is sheer blessing, something so beautiful and so important it breaks her heart and all she can do is express her gratitude.

Why? Because she knows she needs it.

The other character, Simon, is pretty sure he doesn’t need forgiveness. He is righteous. Obeys the law. Does what he should. And so not only does he not need forgiveness but the very mention of it is threatening, offensive.

Notice that after Jesus has assured this woman of her forgiveness, the crowds react in shock. “Who is this who forgives sin?” they ask, answering, perhaps, that no one other than God forgives sin.

In this scene, then, Jesus claims to forgive sin – he asserts divine authority to set people who are bound by their past free. And those who know themselves to be captive rejoice, while those who labor under the belief that they are already free can only be offended.

And over time that offense will turn to anger and that anger to violence.

Forgiveness, it turns out, is one powerful word.

Prayer: Dear God, let us receive your word of forgiveness only with joy, that we may give thanks in word and deed that we are more than the sum of our past disappointments or failures. In Jesus’ name, Amen.