Your Sins are Forgiven
Case dismissed1. God put this story in the Bible to help us understand that our sins are forgiven.
And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisees' house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears; and wipe them with the hairs of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke within himself saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is that is touching Him, for she is a sinner."
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it."
"There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred dinarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love Him more?"
Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."
Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman; I entered your house; You gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins which are many are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." And those who sat at table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." Luke 7:37-50
2. The woman in this story was a filthy prostitute from the mean and wicked streets of that city. She was a loathsome creature to Simon and probably everyone else. But she was attracted to Jesus, and came and poured costly perfume (worth one year's wages), upon Jesus' feet. Why were such women attracted to Jesus? The answer is obvious. She knew who He was. Or, more importantly, she knew how He was. He was the friend of sinners.
3. Friend of sinners? His enemies called Him that. In Jesus' day it would have been a lurid headline screamed by the tabloids. (see Matthew 11:19) Even worse, He went around forgiving the sinners! It was a national scandal in the Pharisees' eyes.
4. But what if Jesus was not the friend of sinners? Would He be your friend? What if He was only the friend of righteous people? Who would qualify to come into His presence? No one. And that's the point.
5. But the woman came boldly in. Without knocking or being invited, she came right in. Ignoring the Pharisees, she came straight to Jesus. She knew what she was after. This man could forgive her sins - if only He would.
6. "Your sins are forgiven!" Jesus had the authority to say it, and He did not hesitate. He knew who she was. Or, more importantly, He knew how she was. Obviously repentant and believing in her Messiah to save her, she washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.
7. Why was this woman so attracted to Jesus? For the same reason you and I should be. He is God. And He loves sinners.
8. Did she know that in just a few short months Jesus would die for her? For...
without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22
9. How much should we love God in return?
For He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear Him As far as the East is from the West, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:10-12
10. That's not justice is it? How can someone who has committed terrible crimes just go free? It's because Jesus paid it all. The penalty of sin is death - but Jesus paid that price. We are free to go.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His glory. Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14
11. Willie Nelson used to sing these words in one of his songs: "Why Me, Lord? What have I ever done, to deserve even one, of the kindness you've shown, on my way back to you?" Willie was criticized for singing that song. He was a sinner wasn't he? But that's the whole point. What have I ever done to deserve God's grace? NOTHING In fact, worse, I did everything wrong! I couldn't get it right no matter how hard I tried. But I am forgiven. And I stand in that grace.