I commented recently on two suppers and the wonderful act of worship/giving seen as the unidentified woman breaks her jar of expensive perfume and pours the contents onto Jesus. (Mark 14:1 - 9)
Luke recounts a similar event which some NT scholars feel must be the same incident; they feel it is simply refashioned by Luke. I would side with those scholars who, noting the different context and the different teaching accept that these are two different stories; two different women who provide two related, but different lessons.
The lesson Jesus provides (in Luke's story) for the host, the guests and for almost 2000 years of readers, is simple yet profound. When a debt is forgiven - a debt of money or a debt of sin - the person with the largest debt is most likely to be most appreciative. The woman was forgiven many sins and as a result loved much more than the host, Simon, who no doubt felt he was a very righteous man. (Luke 7:47)
When I read this story, my mind recalls the deep love and appreciation I've seen in those who wandered far from God and finally came to faith; in those who for many years knew nothing of God's forgiveness and then finally trusted Christ; in those who had lived blatantly sinful and sordid lives, but then found Christ and rejoiced that they were truly forgiven.
And I think of some Christians I've known who seem to go through the motions of worship and prayer; who exhibit little spiritual joy and demonstrate little appreciation of what Christ has done for us. All of us as humans have the sad ability to become accustomed to anything and then to take it for granted. This can happen with anything: we can lose our appreciation and take for granted our health, or our freedom; we can lose our appreciation and take for granted any relationship: our marriage or our life in Christ.
May it not happen to you or me. In fact just as love and appreciation really grow and deepen in a healthy marriage, so it is in a healthy spiritual relationship with Christ. The longer we know His love and forgiveness the more we grow to appreciate what He has done for us. I love Him more now than I did decades ago. One major reason? I understand more of how offensive my sin and sins have been before God; and how amazing it is that I am really, fully forgiven. I don't ever want to take for granted this eternal fact: I am forgiven!
Luke recounts a similar event which some NT scholars feel must be the same incident; they feel it is simply refashioned by Luke. I would side with those scholars who, noting the different context and the different teaching accept that these are two different stories; two different women who provide two related, but different lessons.
The lesson Jesus provides (in Luke's story) for the host, the guests and for almost 2000 years of readers, is simple yet profound. When a debt is forgiven - a debt of money or a debt of sin - the person with the largest debt is most likely to be most appreciative. The woman was forgiven many sins and as a result loved much more than the host, Simon, who no doubt felt he was a very righteous man. (Luke 7:47)
When I read this story, my mind recalls the deep love and appreciation I've seen in those who wandered far from God and finally came to faith; in those who for many years knew nothing of God's forgiveness and then finally trusted Christ; in those who had lived blatantly sinful and sordid lives, but then found Christ and rejoiced that they were truly forgiven.
And I think of some Christians I've known who seem to go through the motions of worship and prayer; who exhibit little spiritual joy and demonstrate little appreciation of what Christ has done for us. All of us as humans have the sad ability to become accustomed to anything and then to take it for granted. This can happen with anything: we can lose our appreciation and take for granted our health, or our freedom; we can lose our appreciation and take for granted any relationship: our marriage or our life in Christ.
May it not happen to you or me. In fact just as love and appreciation really grow and deepen in a healthy marriage, so it is in a healthy spiritual relationship with Christ. The longer we know His love and forgiveness the more we grow to appreciate what He has done for us. I love Him more now than I did decades ago. One major reason? I understand more of how offensive my sin and sins have been before God; and how amazing it is that I am really, fully forgiven. I don't ever want to take for granted this eternal fact: I am forgiven!
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