It's Me Again God 2

20. Forgiven Much

It's me again God,

Thank You for this new day to learn more from You as I sit at Your feet. It is such a privilege to have Your Word and to open again this special story of love and forgiveness about the woman who washed Your feet with her tears and poured expensive perfume on them from an alabaster jar.  Simon the Pharisee was surprised that Jesus would let a woman who was clearly a sinner, do this:

"Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said."
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love the way Jesus patiently responds with a parable:

""Two people 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 forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:41-42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These verses remind me that I had no way of paying for my debt of sin. I was destined to be far away from You —until Jesus came to earth! I wonder how Simon was feeling at his point as he considered what Jesus was asking him?

"Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said."
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It was all coming together for Simon! I wonder how he felt as Jesus continued:

"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."
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:44-46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The woman's actions speak loudly of her repentant heart of love for Jesus! Nothing could hold her back from expressing her sorrow for her past sinful life or her gratitude for the love of Jesus:

"Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It's interesting that Jesus points out that her great love for Him was in response to the fact that she knew she was forgiven. I am so challenged by this as while I know you don't want me to dwell on my past sins, it is clearly good to remember how much I have been forgiven and then I am able to respond in love. I am so thankful that Jesus' blood has covered all my sins, past, present and future! I am so blessed!
The fact that Jesus' blood has allowed my sins to be forgiven will be a surprise to many just as it was to the other guests:

"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 ‭7:49-50‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love the way Jesus reminds the woman of her new position —she is saved, by her faith in Him and she can go in peace! How wonderful it must have been for this woman to hear those words! I'm sure the mouths of the Pharisees would have been gaping open in shock! They had no idea that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins —they had no idea that this was why He came or that His death on the cross would provide forgiveness to all who would believe! There is a world still waiting to hear about this wonderful fact —I am ready to share this very Good News!

May I freely share my testimony with others,
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.