Amazing Grace

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36-50)

O.K., pop quiz time: to which character in this story do you most relate?

1. Jesus- because I never play favorites with people, and I especially like it when social outcasts come up to me in public and pour out their affection.
2. Simon- because I like to be seen with the popular people of the day, even if I don't care about them. Also, I especially get upset when those popular people (who are making me look good) do something embarrassing in public, or when some 'loser' gets all the attention.
3. The woman- because before I trusted Christ, my sins were an unbearable weight on my heart. I would give up anything to be accepted in His presence. I don't care what others think of me as long as Jesus knows that I am totally committed to him.

Perhaps there is a little of all three of these characters in us. We can obviously sympathize with Jesus, who masterfully put a self-righteous Pharisee in his place and restored the dignity of a downtrodden woman in one fell swoop. We can also relate to Simon, because we all have our opinions and draw our social lines somewhere as far as "who God loves, and who God loves not".

Most importantly, we all had better be able to relate on some level to the woman, because her immorality is no different than the depths of sin in which we all wallowed before we came to Christ. If you don't think so, then you've just shown yourself as prideful as Simon, so perhaps you should re-read the passage.

Brother Lawrence wrote: "That when we enter upon the spiritual life, we should consider and examine to the bottom what we are. And then we should find ourselves worthy of all contempt, and not deserving indeed the name of Christians..." (Brother Lawrence, Practice of the Presence of God).

Were you thinking that you deserve the name of "Christian"? Those who follow Christ the most intensely are the ones who know they are the least worthy. When we realize our own extreme sinfulness and His mind-blowing forgiveness, we are faced with these decisions: "Is it worth giving everything I have to follow Him? Is it worth surrendering all I am to His control, for Him to use as He sees fit? Is it worth casting myself aside to serve the King?" If it is not, then perhaps you have forgotten how deep was the pit from which you have been rescued.

Questions:

1. Is there anything in your life that you need to give up in order to know Christ better?
2. Have you been poisoned by spiritual pride?
3. How do you keep yourself from thinking that you deserve God's grace?