AMAZING LOVE

"Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil." (Luke 7:36-38 HCSB)

When young ladies get caught up in immorality, what do you think they are really looking for?

What does the life of sin bring? Momentary pleasure, a STD, a pregnancy, an abortion, guilt, shame—some of that perhaps?

There are women I have met who have lived such a past—and yet to see them today is to discover a lady of joy and grace—a face radiant from an inner holiness, who daily express their devotion to Christ.

What made the difference?

It was Jesus! It was an experience with Christ and His amazing love that brought such transformation—just like the woman in this passage. Jesus taught that those forgiven much, love much.

This is one of my favorite stories in Scripture. I don’t think I have ever read it, without it moving me. You see, I needed forgiveness—a lot of forgiveness. There was a season in my tempestuous teenage years, in particular, that I lived such a debauched life. But, then I met Christ—He forgave me, loved me and made me a new person! I have never been the same. I am still far from being all I ought to be, but I am sure a long way from what I used to be—and I am grateful, exceedingly grateful, for the amazing love that reached me and redeemed me.

No matter whom you are or what you have done, you too can know such amazing love! We will look at it and be filled with wonder and thrilled in worship.

We begin with THE SEARCH FOR AMAZING LOVE.

“Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil…” (v.36-37)

Everyone is looking for love, true love, hoping for amazing love. This woman was. You and I are no different.

That universal desire is captured in the old country song by Waylon Jennings:

“I’ve spent a lifetime looking for you
Single bars and good time lovers, never true
Playing a fool’s game, hoping to win
Telling those sweet lies and losing again.

I was looking for love in all the wrong places
Looking for love in too many faces
Searching your eyes looking for traces
of what…I’m dreaming of…
Hopin’ to find a friend and a lover
God bless the day I discover
Another heart, lookin’ for love.”

The woman in our text could have sung that as her theme song. But the song goes on with this interesting line:

“You came a’knocking at my hearts door…You’re everything I’ve been looking for…”

As I read that I immediately thought of Jesus—the lover of our souls who said, “Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.” (Rev.3:20)

It happened to her! It happened to me! It can happen to you!

There is the HARSH REALITY BRINGING A SINCERE SEEKER TO CHRIST.

People spoke of this woman, with a sneer calling her, “sinner.” No one had to convince her. That was the harsh reality.

But, she was confronted with another reality—that there was a Prophet who touched the untouchable—a man who claimed He could forgive sin. It is likely that one day she stood in the shadows, in the back of the crowd, and heard Him say, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt.11:28) Perhaps in that moment, she opened her heart to the Savior and the burden of her sin was lifted!

Sin can take its toll—the initial thrill is gone and the painful price begins to be paid. I know in my life, it was a downward spiral—I was like a junkie needing a fix—having a bit of a high, only to wrap another chain around me and that plunged me deeper into the sea of sin. At last, I felt I was sinking, to rise no more, as the old hymn says. It would be then that amazing love would lift me!

On the flip-side of the coin, there was the HARD RELIGIOSITY BARRING A SELF-RIGHTEOUS SINNER FROM CHRIST

Don’t overlook the other major player in this drama: Simon, the Pharisee. He was a sinner also. Yet, he would have been infuriated by such an accusation. This ultra-religious zealot was convinced he was righteous.

He was—that is, he was self-righteous. Simon’s external life was full of religion, but his heart was void of the grace of God. He tried to conform to God’s law, but knew nothing of God’s love.

I read this once:

“I was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven’s door,
Not by the beauty of it all, by the lights or its décor.
But it was the folks in Heaven who made me sputter and gasp—
The thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics, the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well.
I nudged God, ‘What’s the deal? I would love to hear your take.
How’d all these sinners get up here?
You must’ve made a mistake.
And why’s everyone so quiet, so somber? Give me a clue.’
‘Hush child,’ said God, ‘They’re all in shock. No one thought they’d see you.’ “

I don’t know who wrote that. It is no literary masterpiece—but it is an evangelistic gem. Those who see themselves as sinners may seek a Savior, while those who think they are saved by their own goodness miss out on salvation.

Jesus came to save sinners. That’s the only kind of people He does save. Of course, that includes all of us. The trouble is, there is more than one Simon in our world who thinks they are not “that bad” in comparison to such an immoral person, like this woman in our text.

The search for amazing love leads to THE SURRENDER TO AMAZING LOVE.

“And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil. When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, ‘This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him--she's a sinner!’" (v.37-39)

We find this woman at the feet of Jesus. This marks her surrender to amazing love.

Don’t impose your way of dining on this scene. She didn’t crawl under a table, around chair legs, looking at men’s legs, until she located the right feet. It was nothing like that.

In those days, you would recline at a low table, leaning forward on one elbow while using the other hand to eat, the legs and feet stretching behind the one dining. Furthermore, it was not infrequent for a crowd to gather in the room to see a dignitary who had come to town, and they would watch them as they ate—like we might gawk at a famous movie star in a Hollywood café.

That’s what happened here. This unnamed woman comes to the famous Prophet named Jesus. She is about to discover He is a Prophet—and more! He is Christ, the Lord of Heaven and she will bow at His feet. He is God Incarnate and she will worship Him!

We observe her CONTRITION.

The tears flowed down her face onto His feet. I am reminded of David’s words in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.”

Do you recall the context of that verse? David had succumbed to sexual temptation, and not only committed adultery, but had his lover’s husband put to death to attempt a cover-up. But, there was confrontation over his sin that brought contrition, confession—and with that cleansing. The brilliant diamond of forgiveness would shine as the Divine Jeweler displays it on the black velvet cloth of sin.

We see more. We witness her CONSECRATION.

The expensive perfume she poured on His feet was a symbol of her surrender to Christ—an act of consecration. Grace is not a license to sin, as some portray it. It is the greatest motivation to service! Those who have most experienced grace, seem most eager to worship, work and witness for the Savior. It is a debt of gratitude they feel they owe to the One who loved them so.

Ultimately, this wondrous story relates THE SALVATION IN AMAZING LOVE.

“Jesus replied to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’

‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘say it.’

‘A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?’

Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one he forgave more.’

‘You have judged correctly,’ He told him.

Turning to 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, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing My feet since I came in. You didn't anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’

Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this man who even forgives sins?’

And He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’" (v.40-50)

There is AUTHENTIC PASSION.

How she loved Him! There is nothing sensual here, but this love is deeply spiritual. We love Him for He first loved us. How can we fail to love Christ in view of His great love for us?

We also hear ABSOLUTE PARDON.

Jesus pronounces her “forgiven.”

We too can be forgiven, but this pardon though offered absolutely, is not automatic.

Here is a story I read somewhere that illustrates what I mean:

In 1830, a man named George Wilson was arrested for mail theft, and sentenced to hang. President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon, but, remarkably, Wilson refused it! Chief Justice John Marshall then wrote, “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon.” Wilson was hanged.

Pardon was offered, but rejected—and his doom was sealed. Today, the Savior extends His amazing love, but if you spurn Him, then His wrath will abide on you forever.

Further, we note the ASSURED PEACE.

“And He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’" (v.50)

A pardon from God brings peace with God. Do you have peace with God? You can! God, through the sacrifice of His Son has made reconciliation possible. All you must do is unconditionally surrender in your war against God’s will. Then, peace will be yours.

What amazing love this is!

Chris Tomlin presented this truth in the song he wrote called, “Amazing Love.”

“I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.”

I wonder if this nameless woman—with a new name now written down in glory—ever leans over the balcony of heaven and joins believers on earth as they sing this? Someday, I’m going to run across her on those golden streets, and we’ll do a duet that will make the rafters ring!