WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.900 How's the mic going? 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:13.620 Oh, there we are. 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:14.599 Gotcha. 00:00:17.660 --> 00:00:19.800 Well, friends, we're in Luke chapter 7 this morning. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:30.859 Gospel of Luke chapter 7, verses 36 through 50. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:34.159 That's page 864 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:34.500 --> 00:00:35.640 Let's turn there together. 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:45.560 In the Gospels, we actually read of two different occasions when Jesus is anointed with oil or ointment. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:53.179 One happens near the end of his ministry in a town called Bethany as he's ministering in Jerusalem for the last time. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.859 But the other happens actually early in his ministry in Galilee. 00:00:59.820 --> 00:01:04.079 And it's this earlier event that Luke records for us here in chapter 7. 00:01:05.520 --> 00:01:08.359 So why don't we pray as we come to God's Word together. 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:19.039 God, as we come before you this morning, we are so grateful that you are a missionary God. 00:01:22.539 --> 00:01:27.019 That you have sent your Son on a great mission of redemption. 00:01:27.019 --> 00:01:44.959 God, you are the great sender and you have come to rescue. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:49.620 And Lord, we thank you that it's your Word that goes forth. 00:01:51.679 --> 00:01:56.439 That opens our eyes and softens our hearts and imparts life to us. 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:06.179 So we pray, Father, that by your Spirit, working by and with the Word, we would be addressed by you this morning. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:14.579 Lord Jesus, that you would be indeed just that Lord over our hearts, over our lives, over our church. 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:16.759 And we pray over our city. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:22.180 So we come before you with humility and with confidence this morning. 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:25.219 In the name of Jesus, amen. 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:25.340 Amen. 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:28.800 Well, friends, why don't we stand? 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:30.300 This is something we don't actually do a lot. 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:32.140 Why don't we stand as I read God's Word together? 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:33.439 We'll stretch our legs. 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:38.340 And we'll also honor God's Word at the same time. 00:02:38.340 --> 00:02:44.159 Luke chapter 7, verse 36. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:48.879 One of the Pharisees asked him, that is, Jesus, to eat with him. 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:52.479 And he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:58.979 And behold, a woman of the city who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:01.519 brought an alabaster flask of ointment. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:12.900 And standing behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wipe them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:24.280 Now, when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, if this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:30.520 And Jesus, answering, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:33.599 And he answered, say it, teacher. 00:03:37.139 --> 00:03:38.920 A certain moneylender had two debtors. 00:03:39.920 --> 00:03:42.719 One owed 500 denarii and the other 50. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.960 When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:48.639 Now, which of them will love him more? 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:53.860 Simon answered, the one, I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt. 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:57.500 And Jesus said to him, you judge rightly. 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:02.020 And turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, do you see this woman? 00:04:03.020 --> 00:04:04.259 I entered your house. 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:09.960 You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:14.939 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.439 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:23.620 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven. 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:25.559 For she loved much. 00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:29.579 But he who is forgiven little, loves little. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.019 And he said to her, your sins are forgiven. 00:04:35.659 --> 00:04:39.799 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, who is this who even forgives sins? 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:42.479 And he said to the woman, your faith has saved you. 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:43.899 Go in peace. 00:04:43.899 --> 00:04:45.439 Be seated. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:45.479 Be seated. 00:04:54.519 --> 00:05:00.099 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:05.280 Of course, that's the opening line of John Newton's famous 18th century hymn. 00:05:06.980 --> 00:05:10.000 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 00:05:12.080 --> 00:05:17.360 A few decades earlier, however, a much less famous letter was being written. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:21.639 And that carried the exact opposite sentiment. 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:29.580 Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, had invited her friend, the Duchess of Buckingham, 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:32.180 to come hear George Whitefield preach. 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:39.360 But the Duchess sent back this reply, commenting on the preaching of Whitefield. 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:40.860 She wrote, 00:05:40.860 --> 00:06:03.939 Amazing grace for wretched sinners. 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:07.319 To one, it's a sweet sound. 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:12.839 And to the other, it's something monstrous, offensive, and insulting. 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:22.839 Of course, you don't have to go all the way back to the 18th century to find both of those reactions to the message of Christianity, do you? 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:24.939 Plenty of people today react the same way. 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:28.060 Either attracted or repulsed. 00:06:29.659 --> 00:06:33.000 And of course, it wasn't something new in the 18th century either. 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:40.040 In fact, that dual response to the message of Christianity goes all the way back to the very beginning. 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:45.500 Right here, in our text from Luke, we see two characters. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.500 One attracted to Jesus. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:50.939 The other repelled. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:57.060 And this text actually forces us to ask, 00:06:58.519 --> 00:06:59.759 Which one am I? 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:05.560 How does my heart respond to Jesus and his grace? 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:10.480 So as we look at this story this morning, 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:13.959 first, we're going to take a look at how these two characters are different. 00:07:15.219 --> 00:07:20.579 And then we're going to see what reason Jesus says is the reason why they're so different. 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:25.240 And then last, we'll see why that reason is such good news. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:29.879 So first, two people respond to Jesus. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:37.299 It's hard to imagine here two people being more different than the two characters responding to Jesus in this text, right? 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:38.539 Think about these two people. 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:40.220 One had a high social position. 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:41.460 The other was a social outcast. 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:45.280 One was wealthy enough to host a dinner party in his own house. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:47.220 The other was an uninvited guest. 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:49.220 One was morally respectable. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:52.560 The other was notoriously disreputable. 00:07:53.520 --> 00:07:55.240 Simon, we're told, is a Pharisee. 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:56.780 He's religious. 00:07:57.020 --> 00:07:58.000 He's principled. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:58.800 He's upright. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:03.240 This is the guy that you'd probably want your daughter to date or something. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.439 The woman, we're told, however, is a sinner. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:16.060 And although Luke doesn't say, historically, many have suspected that her sinful reputation was because she was a prostitute. 00:08:19.460 --> 00:08:24.519 And as different as these two people are, it's hard to imagine two people responding in such different ways to Jesus. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:26.980 First, consider the woman. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:32.740 Listen, she lavishes her affection on Jesus publicly, openly. 00:08:33.300 --> 00:08:35.800 She expresses her devotion and love for him. 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:41.920 Now, picture this scene that Luke is retelling for us. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:47.820 A dinner party like this would have been held actually in the courtyard of a house. 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:52.539 The climate was actually much too hot in those days to have such a large gathering indoors. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:58.299 And such gatherings in those days weren't actually as private as ours would be today. 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:06.779 The doors would have remained open, allowing extra friends and even uninvited passersby to sort of wander in and sit around the edge of the courtyard. 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:11.480 They had sort of different understanding of public and private those days. 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:17.680 And dining in those days happened around a table that was actually low to the ground. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:25.779 So to eat, you would actually recline or you would lie down, typically on your left side, with your legs sort of stretching out away from the table. 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:31.679 So now you can picture in your mind how this scene unfolds. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:33.419 The meal is taking place. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.379 And suddenly, Luke says, 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:48.019 And behold, a woman from the edge of the courtyard, a woman no one invited, but everyone recognizes, comes to the table, right up to Jesus. 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:53.360 With a flask of ointment in her hands, clearly she intends to anoint Jesus' feet. 00:09:54.259 --> 00:10:00.740 You see, in that hot, dry, eastern climate, oils and ointments were used much more extensively than ours to keep the skin from drying and cracking. 00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:05.199 But this was also a common custom to show respect, to honor someone. 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:13.439 But before she can begin to anoint his feet, she's overcome with emotion and begins to weep. 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:24.220 And then, seeing her tears fall on Jesus' feet, she instinctively undoes her hair, lets it down for all to see, and begins to wipe and dry Jesus' feet with her hair. 00:10:26.800 --> 00:10:31.560 But you see, in that day, letting down your hair was something that no decent woman would do in public. 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:36.380 It was one of those sort of social mores, one of those social standards. 00:10:36.520 --> 00:10:38.100 Women didn't do that. 00:10:38.300 --> 00:10:39.200 That was scandalous. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:41.920 So you can hear the gasps around the table. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:47.000 And if the conversation hasn't stopped to start staring, everyone's staring now. 00:10:49.099 --> 00:10:53.860 But on she goes, not just wiping his feet with her hair, but kissing them too. 00:10:53.979 --> 00:10:55.699 Another tremendous sign of honor. 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:59.479 And then finally, she anoints his feet with the ointment. 00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:02.500 What a scene. 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:07.579 And you have to admit that if you were sitting there in the courtyard, 00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:11.179 you would have probably been a bit taken back too. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.559 I mean, it's almost a bit embarrassing, isn't it? 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:21.959 A woman weeping and kissing and rubbing her hair on Jesus' feet. 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:27.219 Feet, which we learn a little later in the story, had not even been washed by his host. 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:29.979 Still dirty from the dusts of the streets. 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:33.080 So there she is, a bit of a mess. 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:39.580 Emotional, weeping, dirt clinging to her hair from Jesus' feet, people staring. 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:43.360 And yet one thing is very clear. 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:49.920 This woman loves Jesus deeply. 00:11:50.920 --> 00:11:51.800 Does she not? 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:58.459 Contrast that response with Simon's. 00:12:00.219 --> 00:12:04.000 Now, we don't know why Simon invited Jesus for a meal in the first place. 00:12:04.959 --> 00:12:08.539 Perhaps this was a Sabbath meal after Jesus had preached in the local synagogue. 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:10.899 That was a common custom. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.359 Maybe Simon always had the preacher over for lunch afterwards. 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:17.819 Whoever happened to be in town, well, you were coming to Simon's house. 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:21.300 Or maybe Simon was just curious about Jesus. 00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:25.720 Or maybe he wanted to have the honor of hosting this famous rabbi from Nazareth 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:28.500 that everyone was talking about that he had heard so much about. 00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:32.320 Whatever it is, Jesus accepts his invitation. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:38.600 He's willing to give even this Pharisee an opportunity to hear the good news of the kingdom of God. 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:45.259 Jesus has come to seek and save sinners no matter what kind of sinners they look like. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:54.779 But after the incident with the sinful woman, Simon's mind is made up. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:03.040 After the sinful woman honors Jesus openly, Simon scorns Jesus secretly. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:10.139 No real prophet would let a woman like that put her unclean hands on him. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:18.879 You can just feel the scorn dripping in his mind, both towards the woman and toward Jesus. 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.959 For Simon, you see, it's quite simple, isn't it? 00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:23.000 It all adds up. 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:24.279 The woman was a notorious sinner. 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:25.959 She had broken all God's commands. 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:28.079 She was beyond the pale of God's kingdom. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:32.079 And if Jesus couldn't see that, then he couldn't possibly be who he claims to be. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:36.259 So Simon, seeing the company that Jesus apparently keeps, 00:13:36.540 --> 00:13:39.320 closes the book on the so-called prophet from Nazareth. 00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:43.740 Two very different people. 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:46.280 Two very different responses. 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:54.139 So friends, I wonder if you see yourself in either of these characters. 00:13:57.940 --> 00:14:00.520 You see the lavish love of the sinful woman? 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:05.279 Or the respectable scorn of Simon the Pharisee? 00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:12.059 Maybe it would help if we ask some questions to our own hearts that these characters and their actions put to us. 00:14:13.439 --> 00:14:14.299 Here's a question. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:19.419 How much of my spiritual neediness am I willing to let others see? 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:26.339 How much of my own spiritual neediness am I willing to let other people see? 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:32.740 When this woman comes before Jesus, she's willing to let all sorts of things hang loose, isn't she? 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:35.139 Her past, her reputation, her emotional state. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:38.699 Is that the way it is when we come before Christ? 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:44.580 Are we willing to let others see that we're actually struggling? 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:47.020 That we actually have spiritual needs? 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:48.220 That we're actually sinners? 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:53.160 Or like Simon, do we just keep our thoughts to ourselves? 00:14:53.159 --> 00:15:01.139 When we gather on Sundays, for instance, are we simply here to show everyone that we're doing okay? 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:08.120 Or are we actually willing to let people see that we don't actually have it all together? 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:12.960 Now, I'm just as guilty of this as anybody else. 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:18.080 I can yell at my kids on the drive into the parking lot. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:23.639 And I can be nursing a three-day-long grudge against my wife. 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:28.779 Or I can be beating myself up over some failure of the past week. 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:32.779 But as soon as I walk through those doors, I'm doing great. 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:35.220 Nothing wrong here. 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:35.980 How are you? 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.340 I got a tie on. 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:45.039 How about you, friend? 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:49.600 Is there some context where you're willing to let your guard down? 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:53.980 To let someone behind the curtain to see what's really going on? 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:57.860 If it's not Sunday, is it small group? 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:02.379 If it's not small group, is it a relationship with someone in the church? 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:05.180 Is there anyone who knows what you're struggling with? 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:12.659 And if so, why not stop putting on a show when we all get together? 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:17.779 Yes, there's an appropriate time and place to fully open up. 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.379 I get that. 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.739 But are you finding the time? 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.979 Are you willing to find the place? 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:34.960 If not, maybe there's less of this woman's love and more of this Pharisee's scorn in our hearts than we care to admit. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:39.379 Here's another question. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.900 Is there a limit on what I think Jesus could ask of me? 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:47.259 Is there a limit on what I think Jesus could ask of me? 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:49.600 Simon had Jesus into his home for a meal. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:57.319 But as Jesus points out a little later in verses 44 through 46, Simon refrained from any other signs of honor, even the basic acts of hospitality. 00:16:58.179 --> 00:17:04.220 Simon was willing to go only so far in his identification with Jesus, only so far in his service of him. 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:15.259 But the woman is willing to get as low as a servant, right down at Jesus' feet to wash the dirt off. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:21.079 There was no limit on what she would do for him. 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:30.939 Whether it was financially costly, like breaking open a whole alabaster flask of ointment, which would not have been cheap in those days. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:38.579 Or whether it's socially costly, like standing up before a whole gathering of folks who know your past and don't want anything to do with you. 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:41.759 She was undeterred. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.399 Is it that way for you? 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.619 Or is there a line? 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.919 Where God can't cross. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:59.960 I love you and serve you, Lord, so long as it doesn't involve my job. 00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:02.379 That I've worked so hard to achieve. 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:06.720 This relationship that I've wanted for so long. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:09.980 The approval of my peers. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:15.419 The truth is we all come up against those limits, don't we? 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.220 We all feel that tug. 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.379 We all feel that pull. 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:24.199 We all find that we have limits. 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.919 One more question. 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:33.259 How do I respond to people I think of as sinners? 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:38.940 How do I respond to people I think of as sinners? 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:48.420 Simon knew all about this woman, and he didn't want his life to touch her life in any way. 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:53.640 How do we respond to people we think of as sinners? 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.620 What do we say about them? 00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:55.500 How do we treat them? 00:18:56.700 --> 00:19:02.100 If someone were to read your Facebook posts over the past nine months, what impression would they give? 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:05.439 Here's a person who's life is a person who's a person who's a sinner? 00:19:05.439 --> 00:19:13.119 Here's a person whose life is marked by the grace of Christ, who's striving to treat others with civility and understanding and patience, 00:19:13.219 --> 00:19:15.619 even with those that they disagree with? 00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.539 Is that what they would see? 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:30.259 Or rather, would they see snap judgments and snarky one-liners and long, angry tirades, us versus them? 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:33.879 What impression would a reader get? 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:38.859 Would they think that the love of Christ is governing your responses? 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:44.619 And putting social media aside, what about your actual relationships? 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:57.359 Do you really believe that God has grace for sinners and that He wants to use you to share it with them? 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:04.819 Or would you and I rather that our lives not actually touch theirs in any way? 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:09.339 Like those neighbors who really don't want anything to do with Jesus? 00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:16.240 Or that classmate who's notorious for hooking up with a different girl every weekend? 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.619 What about him? 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:22.019 Or what about that family member who's been in and out of rehab? 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:22.960 How do you view them? 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.980 How do you respond to them? 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:29.379 What attitude do you hold in your heart toward them? 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:35.300 So here we have two very different people. 00:20:36.320 --> 00:20:38.200 Two very different responses to Jesus. 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.620 Two very different heart attitudes. 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:42.700 And I think if we're honest friends, we're more like Simon than we care to admit. 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.640 But the text doesn't stop there. 00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:55.360 Next, Jesus Himself is going to show us what's underneath. 00:20:55.359 --> 00:21:00.839 How is it that one is so loving and the other so cold? 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:05.159 What has made their hearts so radically different? 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:07.240 And what is it that will change our hearts? 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:15.039 What is it that will move us from secret, hard-hearted scorn to open, lavish, free love? 00:21:18.179 --> 00:21:20.619 Rather than telling us, Jesus is going to show us. 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:25.399 And He's going to show us through a simple story of two debtors. 00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:28.739 In verse 40, Jesus answers Simon. 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:31.939 That's an interesting note by Luke, isn't it? 00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:33.379 That Jesus answers him. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:38.519 Answers Simon's silent thoughts. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:41.899 Because after all, Jesus is a prophet. 00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.779 And much more than a prophet. 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:46.479 Not only does He not know everything about this woman, 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:49.000 He knows everything about her and He knows everything about Simon too. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:51.960 So, He answers. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.200 And here's the story. 00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:57.119 One person owes 50 denarii. 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.779 And a denarius is a day's wage. 00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:00.700 So, almost two months' salary here. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.700 50 denarii. 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.799 And the other owes 500. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.579 Well over a year's salary. 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.700 Think in your mind how much that might be for you. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:17.039 And the money lender, in an act of sheer generosity, 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.180 cancels the debt of them both. 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.960 And then Jesus asks a very simple question to Simon. 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.500 Simon, which one will love Him more? 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:29.500 Of course, the one who had the greater debt canceled, right? 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:33.579 And then in verse 44, Jesus brings it home. 00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:39.359 Simon didn't give Jesus so much as the basic acts of hospitality. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.559 No water for His feet. 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.559 No kiss of welcome. 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.880 No oil to honor Him. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:46.920 Yet she went above and beyond this sinful woman He has so much scorn for. 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:53.200 She has done what He has refused to do. 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.980 It's clear, is it not, which one loves more. 00:22:58.060 --> 00:22:58.519 But why? 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:05.940 Because one of them knows the heart-liberating power of the forgiveness of sins. 00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:07.940 And the other one doesn't. 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.960 That's the point. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:14.900 You see, Simon thinks that this woman's great sins 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:17.320 puts her beyond the pale of the kingdom of God. 00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:19.900 But Jesus sees that great sinners, 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.620 when forgiven by God, 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.380 make great lovers of God. 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:30.400 Of course, Jesus' point isn't that Simon has fewer sins than this woman. 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:33.519 Rather, Jesus is showing us that the real danger 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:35.400 isn't how much you've sinned, 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:39.600 but how little you think you need forgiveness. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:43.639 The real danger, friends, 00:23:43.959 --> 00:23:46.179 isn't how much you've sinned, 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:50.379 but how little you think you need forgiveness. 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:54.959 And it's forgiveness, 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.759 received, 00:23:57.459 --> 00:23:58.439 experienced, 00:23:58.899 --> 00:24:00.079 internalized, 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:04.319 that releases the floodgates of grateful love. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:04.720 But, 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:11.220 he who is forgiven little, 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.839 loves little. 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.159 Why are so many churches, 00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:20.279 even so many Christians, 00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.179 self-righteous, 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.500 hypocritical, 00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:23.819 judgmental? 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.659 And why, too often than I care to admit, 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.720 can I be the same way? 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:34.059 Because we say we need forgiveness in our heads, 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:37.000 but we don't really believe it in our hearts. 00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:42.500 Our little love proves 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:44.779 that we know but little forgiveness, 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.920 if any at all. 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:53.240 This was a critical lesson for Luke's day. 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:55.039 Read the book of Acts. 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:57.339 As the gospel of Jesus went forth, 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.539 Greeks and Romans, 00:24:58.939 --> 00:24:59.939 Gentile pagans, 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.679 came streaming into the church. 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:03.619 Former cult prostitutes, 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.980 imperial government workers, 00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:05.740 tradesmen, 00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:07.099 day laborers. 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:10.659 And what would the faithful Jews think 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:12.220 of these notorious sinners 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:14.159 flocking to their Messiah? 00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:17.819 Would they want nothing to do with them? 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.859 Or would they admit that they, too, 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.480 were hopeless sinners, 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.779 that no one could be justified 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.899 by the works of the law? 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.359 Would they, too, 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.799 see that they had a need 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.440 for radical grace? 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.839 And would they embrace 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.960 these Gentile converts 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:37.680 as brothers and sisters in Christ? 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.059 But, friends, 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:44.180 if that message was critical 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.480 for the church in Luke's day, 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:48.200 it's so critical for us today, too. 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:53.700 Only as our hearts continue 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.600 to be gripped 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:56.160 by the radical forgiveness 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.059 of the gospel 00:25:57.059 --> 00:26:00.080 will we be a church 00:26:00.080 --> 00:26:02.160 ready to meet our neighbors 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.220 with good news. 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.319 Not to affirm them 00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.340 in their waywardness, 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.819 but to approach them 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.259 as people made in the image 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:14.799 of God, 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:18.220 for whom God sent 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.339 His only Son 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:21.119 to love them 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.059 and rescue them 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.379 and draw them to Himself 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:24.579 just like God 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:26.059 has done for us. 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:30.000 Which is to say 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.019 that if we grasp 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:32.259 how much we ourselves 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.079 have been forgiven, 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.879 it will change 00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.680 how we respond 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.980 to the people 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.220 that we think of 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.980 as sinners. 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:43.039 we can't possibly 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.759 view them 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.680 in the same way anymore. 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.400 But what about 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.120 the other two questions 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.640 we raised? 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.819 How much of my 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.559 spiritual neediness 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.019 am I willing 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.720 to let others see? 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.319 Is there a limit 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:55.880 on what I think 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.660 Jesus could ask me? 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:58.019 Is not the radical 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:59.120 experience of forgiveness 00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.620 what allowed 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.279 this sinful woman 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.759 both to let others 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.599 see her neediness 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.140 without shame 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.339 and to put no limits 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.620 on her love for Christ? 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.240 Of course, 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.880 we don't know exactly 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:10.160 when she came to understand 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:11.140 forgiveness through Jesus. 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.779 Was it through His teaching 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.680 on some other occasion? 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.779 Perhaps it was in the synagogue 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.700 that very morning. 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.059 We don't know. 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:21.120 But Jesus is very clear. 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.920 Her sins, 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.920 which are many, 00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.599 are forgiven. 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.559 And how does Jesus know that? 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:31.000 What does He point us to 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.299 as the sign? 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.720 For she loved much. 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.680 And of course, 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.559 Jesus isn't saying 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.299 that her love 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.039 was the cause 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.700 of her forgiveness, 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.079 right? 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.180 The whole point 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:44.740 of the passage 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.720 is the exact opposite. 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.779 What Jesus means is clear. 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.759 Her sins are forgiven 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.700 and that's why 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.740 she loves so much. 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.299 That's why she could 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.180 let others see her 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.779 without hiding. 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.740 That's why she could 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.700 love Jesus 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.539 without limits. 00:27:59.579 --> 00:27:59.819 And friend, 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.660 if you come to know 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.120 that forgiveness, 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.079 you won't need 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.799 to hide either. 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:07.559 You won't live 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.220 for other people's 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.319 approval or affirmation. 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.960 You won't need 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.859 to put on a good show. 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.460 Why? 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.799 Because the verdict's 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.940 already come down on you. 00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.339 When you see 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.220 how much 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.099 you've been forgiven, 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.559 you realize 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.279 that the truth 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:26.960 about you 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.440 is much, 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:30.099 much worse 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:31.119 than people think. 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:34.779 it's much, 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.259 much worse 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.959 than you thought. 00:28:37.219 --> 00:28:38.039 You need 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.259 radical forgiveness. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.659 It's really 00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:41.639 that bad. 00:28:43.199 --> 00:28:43.859 Whatever I'm 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.419 struggling with 00:28:44.419 --> 00:28:44.819 this morning 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.779 isn't half 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.619 of what my 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:47.839 real problem is. 00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:50.979 So you can 00:28:50.979 --> 00:28:52.199 stop pretending 00:28:52.199 --> 00:28:53.000 like everything's 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.339 okay. 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.719 And you can 00:28:55.719 --> 00:28:56.319 stop trying 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.299 to puff yourself 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.019 up before other 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.419 people. 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.759 And at the same 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:02.979 time, 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.479 the verdict has 00:29:03.479 --> 00:29:03.979 come down, 00:29:04.219 --> 00:29:04.919 not just showing 00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:05.679 you how much 00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:06.379 you need forgiveness, 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.500 but how great 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:07.919 a forgiveness 00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.759 you've received. 00:29:11.219 --> 00:29:11.959 Every penny 00:29:11.959 --> 00:29:12.699 has been paid. 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.459 The debt 00:29:13.459 --> 00:29:14.259 is gone. 00:29:14.479 --> 00:29:15.219 And in Christ, 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:15.939 you have nothing 00:29:15.939 --> 00:29:16.479 to fear. 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.859 So you don't 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.459 need to hide. 00:29:23.719 --> 00:29:24.339 And you don't 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.059 need to hold back. 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:28.099 if that's 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.379 how much 00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:28.720 he's done 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.000 for you, 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.319 if he's 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.119 erased the 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:30.579 debt you 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.000 could never 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.319 pay, 00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:31.700 if he's 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.419 secured your 00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:32.960 eternal 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.679 redemption, 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.359 how could you 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:35.980 not love him 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.700 and trust him? 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:38.859 How could we 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.679 not want to 00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:40.359 do anything 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:41.099 he asks 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.519 if he's 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:41.879 done that 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:42.399 for us? 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:45.839 A love 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.500 without limits 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.779 flows from 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.240 a forgiven 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.700 heart. 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:51.920 So the real 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.360 difference 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.080 between these 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.080 two people, 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.600 between these 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.160 two heart 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.620 attitudes, 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.279 comes down 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.799 to forgiveness. 00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:58.519 If you know 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:58.940 you've been 00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:00.299 forgiven much, 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.779 you will 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.460 love much. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.240 But there's 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.819 one last thing 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.340 Luke wants us 00:30:08.340 --> 00:30:08.700 to see. 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.000 Not just the 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.799 contrast between 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.140 these two 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.480 characters, 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:13.059 not just the 00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:14.080 forgiveness that 00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:15.100 produces love, 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:18.600 but he wants 00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:19.019 us to see 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.799 something about 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.459 this forgiveness 00:30:20.459 --> 00:30:21.139 that makes it 00:30:21.139 --> 00:30:22.179 so life-changing. 00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.599 After all, 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.099 how do we get 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:26.639 this forgiveness? 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:27.559 How does it 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.419 come to us? 00:30:28.939 --> 00:30:29.259 What do we 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.019 have to do 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.159 to get it? 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.599 And this is 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.000 how the text 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.559 ends in verses 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:36.819 48 through 50. 00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:37.500 After finishing 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.679 his challenge 00:30:38.679 --> 00:30:39.240 to Simon, 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:39.899 he now turns 00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.379 to the woman 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.159 and he said 00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:41.359 to her, 00:30:41.419 --> 00:30:41.740 your sins 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.219 are forgiven. 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:44.119 Then those 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.459 who were at 00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:45.059 table with him 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.639 began to say 00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.319 among themselves, 00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:46.879 who is this 00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:47.599 who even forgives 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.059 sins? 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.719 And he said 00:30:49.719 --> 00:30:50.099 to the woman, 00:30:50.199 --> 00:30:50.579 your faith 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:51.019 has saved 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.240 you. 00:30:51.679 --> 00:30:52.139 Go in 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:52.519 peace. 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.439 How does 00:30:56.439 --> 00:30:57.000 this heart 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.939 changing 00:30:57.939 --> 00:30:58.659 forgiveness 00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.659 come to 00:30:59.659 --> 00:30:59.980 us? 00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:03.059 Faith. 00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:07.259 But think 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.919 of how strange 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.419 that is. 00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:12.240 How can 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.319 faith alone 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:13.980 save us? 00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:15.719 Isn't that 00:31:15.719 --> 00:31:16.379 the strangest 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:16.759 thing you've 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.219 ever heard? 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.259 heard? 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.460 I know 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:18.740 you've heard 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.180 it a lot. 00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:19.559 You're just 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:19.980 too used 00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:20.360 to it. 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.500 How can 00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:23.980 Jesus be 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:24.860 so confident 00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.779 that simply 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.140 through this 00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:26.640 woman putting 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.120 her faith, 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.600 her trust 00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.019 in him, 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.360 that her 00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:29.180 debt of 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:29.680 sin will 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.360 be totally 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.079 taken care 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.380 of? 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.400 What an 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:35.819 odd thing 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.259 to say. 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.700 How can 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.120 Jesus be 00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:41.660 so sure? 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.660 God 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:42.820 will 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:42.980 do it 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.660 forever? 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.940 Well, 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.120 friends, 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:45.560 the answer 00:31:45.560 --> 00:31:45.900 is that 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.400 because even 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:46.840 now, 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:47.900 in this 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:48.540 very moment, 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.200 sitting around 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:49.840 that table, 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:53.000 Jesus knows 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.320 what he's 00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:53.640 come to 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:53.940 do. 00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.360 Like the 00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:57.860 money lender 00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.420 in his own 00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:58.980 story, 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:01.240 Jesus has 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.640 come to 00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.900 cancel our 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:03.200 debt. 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.259 sin. 00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:06.420 The 00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:06.860 apostle Paul 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.120 put it 00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.559 this way, 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:08.980 on the 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.299 cross, 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:09.799 God made 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.319 him who 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:10.819 knew no 00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:12.120 sin to 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:12.600 be sin 00:32:12.600 --> 00:32:13.200 for us 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.340 so that 00:32:14.340 --> 00:32:14.880 in him 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:15.440 we might 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:15.880 become the 00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.259 righteousness 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.960 of God. 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.539 On the 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:19.840 cross, 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.319 Jesus was 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.779 our 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.299 substitute 00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:21.799 paying 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.259 our 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.660 debt, 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.720 and that 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.340 payment 00:32:24.340 --> 00:32:25.039 was so 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.779 sufficient, 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:26.519 so 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.360 complete, 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.420 so 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.460 massive 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:32.240 that there's 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.960 nothing 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.940 left for 00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:34.440 us to 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:34.900 do but 00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:35.500 to receive 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:35.840 it. 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.559 Just to 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.240 trust him 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.039 that he's 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.460 done it 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.460 all and 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:42.740 to place 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.100 our faith 00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:43.460 in him. 00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:47.279 You see, 00:32:47.360 --> 00:32:47.480 friends, 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:47.880 forgiveness 00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:49.019 has to be 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.460 through faith 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:49.779 alone. 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.840 It has to 00:32:50.840 --> 00:32:51.380 be that 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:52.100 radical 00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:52.940 and that 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.420 free. 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.980 Because if 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.000 any ounce 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:57.299 of our 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:57.900 own work 00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:58.460 or our 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.000 own merit 00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.579 or our 00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.039 own acts 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:00.559 of love 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:00.980 need to 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.460 be added 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.059 to it, 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:05.500 then the 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.059 cross wasn't 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.359 the full 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:06.819 payment for 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.200 our sin. 00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:09.599 That Jesus' 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.220 death was 00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:10.659 insufficient 00:33:10.659 --> 00:33:11.339 for us. 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.819 That it 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.440 fell short, 00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:16.139 that it 00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:16.460 wasn't 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:16.819 enough, 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:17.759 that the 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.139 death of 00:33:18.139 --> 00:33:18.460 the very 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.039 Son of 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.419 God in 00:33:19.419 --> 00:33:19.980 your place 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.539 had 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:20.960 something 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.359 missing 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:21.799 in it. 00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.519 What an 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:24.919 absurd 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:25.359 thought. 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:27.359 God 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:29.559 and if 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:29.779 that's 00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:29.919 true, 00:33:29.979 --> 00:33:30.259 then Jesus 00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:30.639 couldn't 00:33:30.639 --> 00:33:30.979 say your 00:33:30.979 --> 00:33:31.379 faith has 00:33:31.379 --> 00:33:31.719 saved you, 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.019 go in 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:32.339 peace. 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:36.899 But you 00:33:36.899 --> 00:33:37.059 see, 00:33:37.159 --> 00:33:37.379 friends, 00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.679 the death 00:33:38.679 --> 00:33:39.099 of Christ 00:33:39.099 --> 00:33:39.659 for you 00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:42.359 needs no 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:42.819 supplement. 00:33:43.699 --> 00:33:44.199 It needs 00:33:44.199 --> 00:33:44.899 no addition. 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.339 It was the 00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:48.959 complete 00:33:48.959 --> 00:33:50.219 payment 00:33:50.219 --> 00:33:51.019 of your 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.279 debt. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:53.740 how do 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.139 we know? 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.200 Because three 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.680 days later, 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.379 God raised 00:33:59.379 --> 00:33:59.839 Jesus from 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.240 the dead 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:02.059 to demonstrate 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:03.079 that every 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:04.940 single sin 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.899 for everyone 00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:06.579 who repents 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.039 and believes 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.819 was totally 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.420 paid for. 00:34:10.779 --> 00:34:11.300 Death 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.300 couldn't hold 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:12.699 Jesus. 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.279 Why? 00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:13.400 Why? 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:16.420 Because he 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:16.880 had done 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.400 away with 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:17.700 sin. 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.500 And if 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.099 sin was 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.500 gone, 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.440 then death 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.940 laid no 00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:22.480 claim on 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:22.720 him. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.440 And now 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:26.119 everyone who 00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.760 repents and 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.260 believes in 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:29.099 him enters 00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.960 into that 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:31.079 sin-defeating 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:31.960 death and 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.940 that resurrection 00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.780 for justification. 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:36.300 It's done. 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.200 It's 00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:37.700 complete. 00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:43.760 This is 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:44.280 how radically 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.960 free 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.119 forgiveness 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.599 is to 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:46.900 us. 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:49.660 So 00:34:49.660 --> 00:34:50.639 radical 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.000 that we 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.539 can have 00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:51.820 it through 00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:52.360 faith and 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:52.960 faith alone. 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.079 But it's 00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.619 free to us, 00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:56.900 friends, 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:57.360 because it 00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:57.720 was so 00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:58.460 costly for 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.680 him. 00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.559 Amazing 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:03.900 grace, 00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.539 how sweet 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.180 the sound 00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:06.639 that saved 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.519 a wretch 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.440 like me. 00:35:10.180 --> 00:35:10.760 Can you 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.079 say that 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.539 this morning? 00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:15.000 The one 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.480 who's forgiven 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.039 little loves 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.280 little, 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:16.579 yes, 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.059 but the one 00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:17.360 who is 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:17.740 forgiven 00:35:17.740 --> 00:35:19.740 much loves 00:35:19.740 --> 00:35:20.160 much. 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.079 May we be 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.720 a church who 00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.940 knows that 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.860 our many and 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.780 great sins have 00:35:25.780 --> 00:35:26.300 been forgiven, 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.800 and may we 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.440 love much. 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.579 Let's pray. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.639 Lord Jesus, 00:35:37.780 --> 00:35:38.200 that is our 00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:38.460 prayer, 00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:42.500 that we 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:42.920 would be a 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:43.300 church that 00:35:43.300 --> 00:35:43.960 loves much, 00:35:44.680 --> 00:35:46.700 and that we 00:35:46.700 --> 00:35:47.139 would be a 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.740 church for 00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:49.680 whom your 00:35:49.680 --> 00:35:51.300 great forgiveness 00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:52.220 of our sins 00:35:52.220 --> 00:35:53.059 would always be 00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:53.579 fresh and 00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.360 always be new. 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:54.639 So, 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:55.159 Lord Jesus, 00:35:55.300 --> 00:35:55.659 send your 00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:56.220 spirit into 00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:56.760 our hearts. 00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:59.519 Blow across 00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.119 the dying 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:00.860 coals within 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.240 us. 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.780 Kindle that 00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:05.760 flame of love 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:06.579 once again for 00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:06.900 you. 00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:08.180 Help us to 00:36:08.180 --> 00:36:09.539 see that 00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:10.000 though our 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.460 sins are 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:12.059 as scarlet, 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:12.380 you have 00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:12.960 washed them 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.299 white as 00:36:13.299 --> 00:36:13.579 snow. 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:17.460 We ask 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:17.900 this in your 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:18.259 name, 00:36:18.539 --> 00:36:19.039 Lord Jesus. 00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:19.639 Amen.