Your sin, God's mercy

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:36-50).

If I were to ask you to name some of the greatest people in the Bible, who would come to your mind? Father Abraham? King David? The apostle Paul? What was so great about these men that we remember them?

We look at Abraham as an example of tremendous faith. When God told him to move hundreds of miles to an unseen land, Abraham went without hesitation. When God told him that he would have a son at a hundred years of age, Abraham believed the Lord’s promise. When God later asked the old man to offer that boy as a sacrifice, Abraham trusted the Almighty to raise Isaac from the dead after the deed was done.

But Abraham was a sinner, and a repeated sinner at that. Abraham’s wife Sarah was very beautiful. When the couple settled in Canaan, Abraham became fearful that some local king would murder him and take Sarah to be his queen. So on two different occasions Abraham lied, claiming that Sarah was his sister not his wife. The first time this happened, the king of Egypt tried to marry Sarah and God punished the royal household with a terrible disease until the truth came out and Sarah was released. Years later, after being told the same lie, King Abimelech attempted to marry Sarah; that situation was resolved when God told the king what was going on through a dream. Abraham, the man we look to as an example of strong faith, did not trust God to shield his family from violence. Instead, fear resulted in his telling lies that endangered many people.

We look to King David as an example of great courage and dedication to the Lord. Before he was fully-grown or trained as a soldier, he faced Goliath in single combat and won. As a general he won so many military victories that his fame drove King Saul mad with jealousy. When David became king, he expanded Israel’s borders farther than they had ever been. He composed most of the Psalms, the very first hymnal used by God’s people. He even drew up the designs for God’s Temple in Jerusalem.

But David was a sinner who broke many of God’s commandments. He desired Bathsheba, the wife of another man. He committed adultery with her, resulting in pregnancy. He tried to cover up his sin by calling her husband home from a war zone, hoping that a night of intimacy between the two would suggest that the coming baby was theirs. But Uriah was an honorable man; he would not allow himself the pleasures of the flesh while the rest of the men in his unit were on deployment, so in desperation David ordered him to be put in the thick of fighting so that he would fall in battle. Then no one could deny the claim that Uriah had fathered Bathsheba’s child. King David, the man we look to as an example of courage and dedication to the Lord, ignored God’s laws, and rather than take responsibility for his actions he tried to cover them up like a coward.

We look to the apostle Paul as an example of someone who truly understands the Christian faith and lovingly shares it with unbelievers. Paul wrote nearly half of the New Testament. He risked life and limb as he traveled from one country to another, teaching about Jesus and establishing congregations. He was imprisoned many times for speaking about God's Son and was eventually put to death for being a follower of Christ.

But Paul was a sinner whose actions resulted in suffering and death for many Christians. As a young man, Paul saw Christianity as a false religion that was tearing good Jews away from God and was leading them to hell. So Paul persecuted the followers of Christ; he arrested them and brought them to trial. When they refused to abandon their faith in Jesus, Paul voted that they be put to death. It wasn’t until Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus that Paul realized how wrong he had been. Saint Paul, the man we look to as an example of religious wisdom and loving outreach, was a man who didn’t understand Christianity at all and had only hatred in his heart for those who disagreed with him.

Abraham, David and Paul—three great men of God who were also great sinners. Why does the Bible tell us about their terrible flaws? Because no matter how godly or special you are, everyone is a sinner who provokes God’s anger. Even the best of us deserve nothing but eternal condemnation from our holy and righteous God.

God’s law says do not covet—do not spend time wishing for things God has given to someone else. But how often do you get jealous when someone else dates a person you find attractive? How often do you stare at your neighbor’s house or your best friend’s car, then look at your own house or car with disgust?

God’s law says do not tell lies. But how many times have you fudged on your tax returns? How often do you tell a ‘white lie’ in order to keep the peace? How often have you made promises that you didn’t keep?

God’s law says do not steal. But how often do you sample a couple of grapes while in the grocery store? How often do you use the office copier to duplicate something personal? How often do you borrow another person’s words or ideas without giving them credit?

God’s law says do not commit adultery. But how many times this past week did you look at pornography? How many of you reading this have moved in with a person before getting married? How many times have you flirted at the office as if you didn’t have a spouse waiting for that kind of attention at home?

God’s law says do not kill. But how many times have you gotten into a fight that ended with bruises or bleeding? How many times have you said words that hurt more than any bullet or knife? How many times have you used threats to get your own way?

God’s law says respect your parents and everyone in authority. But how often have you forwarded email jokes that bash the president? When is the last time you told your parents that you love them? This past week, did you always obey the speed limit and stop at every red light?

God’s law says set aside time for God each week. As you look back over the past six months, how many Sundays have you been in worship? How many times this past week did you read from the Bible or a book of devotions? Do you pray to Jesus every day?

God’s law says do not misuse His name. How often do you say things like “God damn it” or “Jesus Christ” when you are mad or surprised? As an adopted child of God, you carry Christ’s name as your own—how often do you dishonor His name by acting childishly or foolishly?

God’s law says you shall have no other gods. But how often have you ignore His rules when they seemed inconvenient? How many times do you worry more about making your friends happy than making God happy? How often do you ask the Holy Spirit for guidance before making an important decision?

In his first letter to Timothy Paul wrote, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But it was for that very reason I was shown mercy--so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Paul believed himself to be the worst of sinners. There are more than a few days when I think I’ve got him beat. We are all sinners, just as bad if not much worse than Abraham, David and Paul. Every day we sin; every day we need forgiveness from Christ. We can all identify with Paul’s words in Romans chapter seven: I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate…I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

You and I are terrible sinners. But don’t let that get you down. In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus tells us that the more we have been forgiven, the greater our love for Him who has shown us such great mercy. Jesus hates your sins, but He loves you—loves you so much that He went to the cross in your place. On the cross, your sins were punished in His body; on the cross, He died the death you deserved. Jesus endured all this so that you can be forgiven, no matter what you have done or how often you have done it. The mercy of Jesus Christ is immense—far greater than all human sin.

In addition to being sinners, Abraham, David and Paul had something else in common—they each had faith in God’s love. Each of them knew that their sins made the Lord angry, but they were convinced that He would forgive them if they asked for mercy. It was this same confidence that gave a sinful woman the courage to come up to Jesus, wet His feet with her tears, and anoint Him with oil. In spite of her sin, she dared approach the Savior because she trusted in His love. And her confidence was rewarded; Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

You are a sinner. Your sins make God very angry. But in Jesus, those sins can be forgiven. Come to Him with confidence, trusting in His mercy. When you do, you can be sure of Jesus’ response: "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."