Acceptance

Introduction

I am a sinner. It isn’t open to debate. Some might want to say “but in comparison to others, you aren’t so bad.” And my response is “thanks for seeing me as better than another but failure is failure. To score a 50 on a test may be better than one who scores a 35 but we both fail.” I am a sinner. I am also a sinner saved by the grace of God. This lifts my perspective from viewing self as a wretch to seeing self as God sees me — forgiven, made holy, part of his family. For such a view I am thankful.

An article came out this week saying that Americans are turning from organized religion. Almost 10% of the population consider themselves as having no particular connection to any organized religious group. The writer of the article suggested that this decline was directly associated to relevancy in terms of social ills as well as seeing organized religion less about God and more about agendas. There is some truth to that. Religious organizations in recent years have become more concerned about politicizing God.

There is something especially appealing about Jesus. When Jesus is presented, he can be very appealing. Take away the trappings of organized religion and we are left with a beautiful image of Jesus. That is who I want to talk about today and use Luke 7 as a text to remind us of just how Jesus draws people to him. Not only does Jesus draw people to him, but he accepts all. Let’s be like him.

The Text

Jesus is invited to a dinner at the home of Simon. Simon is a Pharisee. He is a lover of the law and one who holds closely to the letter of the law. He has immersed his life into understanding the will of God. Given the setting as described by Luke, this is a very festive and public dinner. Common to that era, a formal dinner would result in those eating stretching out at table. The person would lean on his left elbow and would stretch his feet out from the table. It was the procedure of a formal dining experience. Additionally, the doors of the house would be left open so that the public could join in the dinner conversation. It wasn’t uncommon for people to sit and stand along the walls of the house to listen in as the host and guests enjoyed the meal and took part in the after dinner conversation about important matters.

It is in this setting that a woman enters the house. She intentionally stands at the feet of Jesus. Verse 38 describes a very meticulous approach. While stated as a quick process, it was not. The tears from the woman fell on Jesus’ feet. Sufficiently wet, she would have let down her hair and then sat on the floor to wipe his feet with her hair; then she would have kissed those feet. The word Luke uses for kiss is found in two other places in Luke’s writings (15:20 & Acts 20:37). She spent time kissing his feet; then she anointed his feet with the perfume that she had brought with her. This would have been quite a spectacle. Everyone would have seen her and seen Jesus’ response to her.

Verse 39 suggests that Simon was on the edge of what he thought about Jesus. Some thought him to be a prophet. Simon perhaps invited Jesus to dinner to find out for himself. He has seen enough. No prophet would allow what is happening to continue. Jesus revealing his prophetic nature engages Simon in a parable. Two debtors. One owes about $2,000 on a credit card. The other owes his $100,000 mortgage and his house is about to go into foreclosure. The loan companies forgive both of the debtors. Both debts are written off the books. Which one will be more grateful?

Jesus makes his comparison between the woman and Simon. It wasn’t that Simon has violated social norms by not washing Jesus’ feet or giving him a kiss or anointing him. Rather the depth of love has been expressed by these two. Simon invited Jesus for dinner and fed him and engaged him; but the woman whose love is so deep that no amount of embarrassment or going against social norms could keep her from Jesus.

Application

The question is which person do you identify with — Simon or the woman? Have you been forgiven much? Is your gratitude and love overflowing so that even socially accepted norms are ignored? The woman’s demonstration of love was so unsettling for Simon but not for Jesus. Because Jesus welcomes the expression of love from this woman. He knows how deep her love is for him. In our culture socially accepted norms insist on keeping religious discussions at a minimum. How deep is your love? This isn’t about trying to convince people about Park Avenue but about who Jesus is.

But there is a second question — do you see this woman as Simon does or as Jesus does? Simon saw this woman as a sinner. He saw her as one who still lived with the stain of sin on her life. What did Jesus see? One who was forgiven. In verse 48, the statement of Jesus means that the woman is in a state of forgiveness. Her forgiveness started in the past. This explains her responses of crying, wiping, kissing, and anointing. In verse 48, Jesus is reassuring the woman that she is forgiven. Jesus sees the woman not as she is but as she could be and as she is through God’s love. This explains the woman’s response.

But there is a third question — what kind of response are you making on a day to day basis? The contrast between Simon and the woman is startling. Instead of joy for another who has found forgiveness, Simon’s action speaks of rejection of both Jesus and the woman. When we believe that our sin is small in comparison to others, then there is little love in response. The truth is that in order for forgiveness to be given it must first be offered and secondly that it must be received. Some, like Simon, have received little forgiveness. Much forgiveness is not needed if one is convinced that there is little sin. But the woman understanding the depth of her sin receives much forgiveness and her response is one of much love. What kind of response are you making on a day to day basis?

Our vision is that we are a place where the spiritually ill and lost know that they will be received and accepted. Would this woman be accepted here? Notice verse 49. The question comes, “Who is this Jesus?” In 7:16 some think he is a prophet. Simon may have been among those who thought so. In 17:18-19, John the Baptist asks about Jesus’ identity. And if you go back to Luke 5:21 the answer is given — only God can forgive sins. And at the end of chapter 7, Jesus pronounces forgiveness. He is more than prophet. He is God. We are left to decide if we identify with Simon or the woman.

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