People Matter

Introduction

Do you like people? I’m speaking generally. Do you like people in general? Let me confess to you that I find it easier to like people who are more like me than those who are much different from me. Don’t misunderstand. I am equally uncomfortable with an exceedingly wealthy person as I am with a poor person. In fact, in some ways, more so. Ever gone to a dinner where there were more forks at your place setting than were ever in your mother’s drawer? When they pass around that water bowl—are you supposed to drink out of it or wash behind your ears or what? But I don’t think I am alone. The truth is that most folks feel more comfortable with those who are more like them. The more similarities there are between folks socially, economically, intellectually, religiously—the more apt we are to find our comfort zone. Nothing wrong with that unless we think that those outside our comfort zone are in some way deficient or too good for us.

I think that is one of the reasons why Jesus is so attractive. He was equally comfortable with the rich and poor; with the religious and the nonreligious; with those who were accepted in society and those who weren’t. Whatever the situation, Jesus seemed to be comfortable. When tempted he said no. When baited verbally he didn’t retaliate. When being tricked he could turn the tables. When being questioned he could answer honestly and get to the heart of the matter. Jesus demonstrates many of the qualities we would like to have in our lives. Looking at his life, those qualities came out because he saw people the way God wanted him to see them. It would be safe to say that Jesus liked people. He was completely genuine in his dealing with people. Unafraid to say what needed to be said, but said in such a way that he could bring people closer to the Father rather than having to score points.

In Luke 7, we read of an occasion when Jesus demonstrates his comfortableness with different people. Jesus has been invited to dinner at the home of Simon. All we are told is that Simon is a Pharisee. Simon is a keeper of the law. It would be extremely important to him to know the law, keep the law, and trust the law. Simon would have been considered a religious person, a good person, a person that most people would have respected. Jesus is eating supper. In those days, people would lie down to eat. A person would prop themselves up on an elbow with his head at the table and the feet would be extended away from the table. A woman of ill reputation comes and sits at Jesus’ feet. She is overcome with emotion and begins to cry. Her tears stream down her face and fall on the feet of Jesus. Using her hair she wipes the tears away from Jesus’ feet. Then taking she takes an expensive perfume and pours it on Jesus’ feet. And she continually kisses his feet. Think about this story. Let it roll around in your mind. Get a mental image. Give definition to the characters. Put yourself in the place of Simon; the woman; Jesus. And in a few moments let’s talk about this.

Discussion

Most of the time, a speaker doesn’t take the opportunity to involve the audience in the lesson. Many times a speaker will not know if the audience is thinking along the same lines. And our culture doesn’t allow for too much interaction between the speaker and his audience. So let’s make this a little interactive. I am not trying to cause trouble here or to cause anyone to feel too uncomfortable, but think out loud with me. What do you think Jesus is doing while all of this is going on? Help me out. What does this tell you about how Jesus saw himself? Simon? The woman? Wouldn’t you have been uncomfortable with this woman touching you?

How does Simon see the woman? Jesus? How does this woman see Simon? Jesus? How does Jesus see Simon? The woman? Ever been uncomfortable with a person’s expression of thankfulness? Ever been so thankful that you couldn’t stop saying so and demonstrating it? How does Jesus confront Simon? What does this tell you about Jesus? Which character do you most identify with?

This story has a lot of meat to it. There are so many points to make from this story. But I use this story not to generate guilt but to talk about perspective. Simon saw the woman one way. Jesus saw her another. Yet, Jesus also had a godly view of Simon and that view is seen in the way that he talked with Simon even as he confronted him. This story is challenging because it calls on us to see and understand so many perspectives. Jesus is with two completely different people. One follows the law; the other long forgot it. One tries to live right; the other just trying to live. One respected; the other used. And yet Jesus appeals to both of them. How? Because he sees them both in the way that God sees them. How easy it would have been to label Simon as a self-righteous arrogant God believer and to label the woman as a real sinner. How easy it would have been for him to believe that neither one would draw near to God.

Sometimes we think that the person who thinks they have it all together doesn’t need God and the one who comes from the dregs of society hardly will try to find God. Jesus saw them as people who could love God and he saw them as people who were already loved by God. Jesus crawled inside their skin and saw them as God did—important because they belonged to him. We may never see the beauty of some people until we see them as God sees them. When we realize how much people mean to God then we’ll keep them from drowning. But as long as we use labels to define people, we cheapen them and make them less than God intended. So how much do people matter to God? Just watch Jesus. Watch him at Simon’s house; watch him among the sick; watch him at the cross and you decide.

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