Luke 7: 36-8:3

  The parable in Luke gives the reader an interesting twist.  At first we think that the story is about the responses that Jesus and the Pharisee have toward the woman of the city.  Seemingly here is a nice churchman, a Pharisee, who has invited Jesus to his home for a meal.  As was the custom in that time, the honored guest was seated at the table with his host and other friends.  It was probably a lovely warm night and the dinner party was held outside in the Pharisee's courtyard.  The courtyard was open to many others besides the invited guests.  Men, not women, were free to enter the courtyard from the streets to listen to what this teacher, Rabbi, Jesus had to say.  That was the custom of the day. 

But into this scene enters an unnamed woman who many scholars think was a "lady of the night."  But Luke does not say who she is.  Initially Luke's writings seem to point us to the different responses Jesus and the Pharisee had for this woman.  However as we continue reading, we find that it is the response of the woman and the Pharisee to Jesus that is at the heart of the story.

Whoever the woman was, the sins she has are obvious to all those who live in the city.  She is known, as are her sinful ways.  Personally, I have met many persons whose sins seemed obvious to me:  Murderers, embezzlers, adulterers, people who steal other's wealth and/or ideas, people who care nothing for humanity.  It is often easy to see the sinful ways of others.

The Pharisee is sinful too.  However, his sins are not as obvious.  A quick glance and he seems the pillar of the community.  He attends temple regularly, probably tithes, worships God each week, seems to care for people and tries his best to follow the ways of God.  The Pharisee's sins are subtle, and are the type that can be most disastrous to a person.  The sin of pride, of not really seeing people who are different from oneself, and of not feeling a need for forgiveness from God at all.  William Barclay suggests that, "It is true to say that the greatest sin is to be conscious of no sin" (in one's life.) 

Here is a woman who recognized her sin, had repented for her sins, had been forgiven for her sins, and was ecstatic to be able to show her heartfelt love for her Savior.  She knew her sins had been forgiven and she was more than grateful.

The Pharisee, on the other hand, felt his sins weren't really too bad.  And as such he had little joy in his life, little understanding of the message that Jesus was trying to share.

Sin is a strange cat.  Some people think sin comes in degrees, just like a thermometer.  We've all fallen into that trap.  "I may not be perfect, but I'm better than Jane or Jim."  To God, sin is sin:  Whether it is the sin of murder, the sin of pride, the sin of lack of involvement in God's work, the sin of omission.  Sin is estrangement from God.  All sin condemns one to death, unless a Savior comes to the rescue. 

Each week when we say the Lord's prayer, we pray, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."  This is not an idle thought.  Rather it asks God the Creator to forgive us ONLY as we forgive others.  The flip side of that statement is "God don't forgive me, if I don't forgive others."  What a beautiful way to remind us to be Christ-like!

Forgiveness.  Who is easier to forgive?  Someone who doesn't call to cancel a dinner appointment with you, or someone who caused you great physical or emotional pain and trauma?  Which are we called to forgive?  Which person, once forgiven, do you think would be most grateful?

But forgiveness is NOT cheap.  It costs!!  It costs the person who is doing the forgiving.  It cost the person who is forgiven.  Jesus forgives the woman and it costs him the respect of the Pharisee and the other high church officials.  It eventually leads him to his death on a cross. 

The woman who is forgiven finds herself with a cost too.  She humiliates herself in front of everyone.  She enters a forbidden area to women; she cries tears of joy and plays the part of a slave by washing Jesus' feet; she lets down her hair to dry his feet, an act in the first century AD that is not considered proper etiquette.  Thus those around her chastise her. 

Both Jesus and the woman find the act of forgiveness costly.  It always is costly.  Grace is not cheap! 

There is a story that is making the rounds about God’s Great Generosity.  The story goes something like this:  After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the minister of the small church slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.

In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.

"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast." he began. "When a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore.  The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.

The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy would he throw the other end of the life line.  He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he, also, knew that his son's friend was not.  The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.

As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw out the lifeline to his son's friend.  By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered.

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.   "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus.  Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. "

How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten son that we could be saved.  I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line he is throwing out to you in this service."  With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.

The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side.

"That was a nice story," politely stated one of them, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied glancing down at his worn bible.   A big smile broadened his narrow face.  He once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it?   But I’m standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see... I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend.”
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There is a message or two in all of this for us today.  First, Grace is never cheap.  There is a price to be paid, and the Creator has paid the price of salvation for you and for me.  God has thrown us the lifeline leaving his son to die in our place.  The choice to grab that lifeline is yours and mine; and it will cost us as we hold on to it.

Second, those of us who may be legalistic churchgoers beware!  Like the Pharisee and others, condemning others because they do not share the same understanding we have about God and the church is dangerous.  We are all on a journey of faith, and at different points along the journey.  None of us are pure; only Jesus is without sin.  Let us be willing to continue to learn from one another, and from others that God may have journey with us.  May we keep out minds open, for there is much to learn about this Lord we worship

Last, let us be willing to forgive as freely as we have been forgiven by our Lord.  May we all, male and female alike, take the stand that Christ took.  May our lives reflect forgiveness and openness to others with whom we may not agree.  May our lives with our children, parents, friends, colleagues and strangers be truly Christ-like.

Remember too that the Holy Spirit is not just a comforter to God's people.  But the Holy Spirit is also a confronter of God's people.  Jesus confronted the Pharisee in love, not with malice.  Jesus looked upon the Pharisee and the woman with compassion and love. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, may your sins be forgiven.  May you find great forgiveness through the Lord.  And may you in joyful response share God’s Great Generosity with all those people you meet.  May it be so in your lives and in mine.

Amen