Luke 7:36-50; 8:1-3
June 13, 2010
“NUMBER 1 ON TO-DO LIST: FORGIVE SINNERS”
Jesus could not have been clearer in his teachings, in his modeling of ministry for his disciples. He went looking for those who were lost, who were lonely, who were forgotten, shunned, left out. He had forgiveness to offer sinners. There was mercy for the outcasts and healing for those who were broken. He offered kindness, hospitality, grace, and he sought to raise the heads, the eyes of those who were filled with shame. Jesus brought new birth to those whose hopes had died; transformation was birthed from the inside out. His grace usually resulted either in the other’s ear-to-ear-smiles or shoulder-shaking-sobs of gratitude. Because of that ministry emphasis, because Jesus was always looking in places most folks refused to frequent, because Jesus was constantly seen in conversation with, at table with those whom others ignored, passed by without speaking, refused to touch, there was typically tension whenever Jesus came into view or entered a home. We tend to forget this. There was usually tension in those situations when Jesus encountered folks who did their best to stay away from sinners.
We would readily bow at the feet of the Resurrected Christ who died to save us, but we forget that he also lived to gift new life to those whose lives were a mess. There is radical inclusivity within the
“Travel for other than conventional reasons (feasts, visiting family, business) was considered deviant. Women leaving behind family responsibilities would have been considered seriously deviant, arousing suspicions of illicit sexual conduct. Since the women specified are all said to have been healed by Jesus, they could have returned to their proper places in their own communities. The fact that they travel with Jesus and provide support implies reciprocity: paying off the debt incurred when they were healed. It may also imply that they were widows who now see the surrogate family as taking precedent over biological family. [p. 334]”
Yes, seeing a teacher with a group of male and female followers would have created quite a stir among the people, inviting whispers, stares, and muttered insults. It wasn't the way things were supposed to be done -- but if we are intent on proclaiming that Jesus came to save sinners, then we have to be ready to place Jesus in the presence of people others refused to acknowledge or touch.
Simon says…”come to my house for dinner.” A meal invitation was supposed to be the ultimate in honoring another, about the highest form of respect one could pay another. Hosts went out of their way in welcoming their company, showering hospitality upon their honored guests. They met the other at the door, welcomed them in, and gave them a kiss of greeting. They usually brought out a basin and towel so that the guest could wash his/her feet. Oil was supplied to soothe rough or heated skin. A place of honor was offered at table, and the meal, the conversation, and waiting on the guest were all paramount priorities for the host.
Simon says…”come to my house for dinner.” Jesus was invited along with others. Simon provided none of the common forms of hospitality we just discussed; his slights were actually deliberate insults, and those insults were public. There were other invited guests who witnessed all the grace that Jesus did not receive upon entering Simon’s home. What do you think? Did Simon deem his invited guest uncultured because of where and with whom Jesus spent his time? Was the meal a set-up of sorts to allow these Pharisees to grill Jesus on appropriate religious rituals and how to properly follow all the Jewish laws? Can you sense, feel the tension in that house?
Simon says…”get out of my house.” She was uninvited, an intruder. She was a female who blatantly encroached upon, interrupted a formal gathering of men at meal. Her eyes were downcast, she was uncomfortable, but she had only one mission in mind. She came to say “thank you.” She came to show gratitude. She came to provide, in small measures, her response to something big. She had already heard the words at least once. She had heard them but it had taken some time for those words to really sink in. “Your sins are forgiven.” Sins…forgiven. Debt, massive-impossible-to-pay-back-debt, canceled, forgotten, removed from the books. She could not have possibly repaid what she owed in her accumulated mountain of sin. But Jesus could forgive it; Jesus could free her from the burden; Jesus could offer even more grace than her sin. Forgiveness: abundant, more than enough mercy…and she had searched for a way to show her gratitude. What could she do to let him know how grateful she felt, to show him how her hope had soared, to somehow show that she knew she owed him all and everything for turning her life around? She could start over! She had the opportunity to live life a different way. God was on her side.
She hadn’t intended to cry. This was a joy-filled event, a way to show her gratitude, but as soon as she saw Jesus reclining at table for the meal, she began to sob. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she could not restrain them. Gratitude, yes. Relief, certainly. New life, absolutely. A huge weight removed, to be sure. He had provided it all, and the tears came. In the midst of washing his feet with her tears, drying his feet with her hair, anointing his feet with oil and with kisses, she sobbed. She couldn’t speak; she just cried, washed, dried, kissed and applied oils. Her tears proclaimed her gratitude.
Simon says…”get out of my house.” I know what kind of person you are…your reputation precedes you. And my doubts and concerns about Jesus are confirmed. He’s no prophet, just as we thought. A prophet wouldn’t allow a known sinner to touch him…she’s unclean! He’s no prophet, and it doesn’t even take a prophet to figure out her intentions. Get a room! And get out of my house! It’s embarrassing, humiliating to have both of you in my house. Thanks to the two of you, my entire place is unclean. Simon says…”get out of my house.”
Jesus looked at Simon, and Jesus gave a series of “you did not” in terms of showing hospitality. Jesus pointed at the woman who was still kneeling, and Jesus said, “she did” regarding her spontaneous display of hospitality, of gratitude. And just to make sure that the woman understood Jesus’ response to her response following forgiveness, Jesus repeated, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Can we talk about one more thing regarding the woman’s tears? Her tears. Yes, she was indeed basking in the glow of hearing the words, “your sins are forgiven.” She believed Jesus. However…might the tears also have had something to do with the way she had been treated by Simon? Even in her forgiveness Simon still treated her as an outcast, as a known sinner rather than a redeemed sinner. The burden of sin had been removed, but Simon didn’t really see her; Simon could only see her past. Maybe her tears also said, “What do I have to do to receive your respect, Simon? When will you treat me as forgiven?”
Please think about this. Every single Sunday we each make public confession of our sin. Each Sunday we each receive proclaimed forgiveness of all sin in the Name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Serious business. Cleansed and redeemed, forgiveness and fresh starts again for each of us! God removes all the debt! Ah, then do you and I see one another as redeemed? Do you and I treat one another as the forgiven? If God has forgiven, why do we still see another as unclean? Here is a thought. Wouldn’t it be great if this sanctuary was truly seen as a safe place…for all? Wouldn’t it be great if this church could have, as number one on its to-do-list of priorities to forgive sin?
The words that most haunt me as I read our text come from verse 44: “Then turning toward the woman, (Jesus) said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?’
Do we see this woman…Do we see this man…as…forgiven?
Amen
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