Prayer is Love

Luke 7:36-50

Purpose: To highlight Jesus’ acceptance of the sinner and encourage our similar response

Introduction

I am a sinner. It isn’t open to debate. Some might want to say “but in comparison to others, you aren’t so bad.” And my response is “thanks for seeing me as better than another but failure is failure. To score a 50 on a test may be better than one who scores a 35 but we both fail.” I am a sinner. I am also a sinner saved by the grace of God. This lifts my perspective from viewing self as a wretch to seeing self as God sees me – forgiven, made holy, part of his family. For such a view I am thankful.

An article came out this week saying that Americans are turning from organized religion. Almost 10% of the population consider themselves as having no particular connection to any organized religious group. The writer of the article suggested that this decline was directly associated to relevancy in terms of social ills as well as seeing organized religion less about God and more about agendas. There is some truth to that. Religious organizations in recent years have become more concerned about politicizing God.

There is something especially appealing about Jesus. When Jesus is presented, he can be very appealing. Take away the trappings of organized religion and we are left with a beautiful image of Jesus. That is who want to talk about today and use Luke 7 as a text to remind us of just how Jesus draws people to him. Not only does Jesus draw people to him, but he accepts all. Let’s be like him.

The Text

Jesus is invited to a dinner at the home of Simon. Simon is a Pharisee. He is a lover of the law and one who holds closely to the letter of the law. He has immersed his life into understanding the will of God. Given the setting as described by Luke, this is a very festive and public dinner. Common to that era, a formal dinner would result in those eating stretching out at table. The person would lean on his left elbow and would stretch his feet out from the table. It was the procedure of a formal dining experience. Additionally, the doors of the house would be left open so that the public could join in the dinner conversation. It wasn’t uncommon for people to sit and stand along the walls of the house to listen in as the host and guests enjoyed the meal and took part in the after dinner conversation about important matters.

It is in this setting that a woman enters the house. She intentionally stands at the feet of Jesus. Verse 38 describes a very meticulous approach. While stated as a quick process, it was not. The tears from the woman feel on Jesus’ feet. Sufficiently wet, she would have let down her hair and then sat on the floor to wipe his feet with her hair; then she would have kissed those feet. The word Luke uses for kiss is found in two other places in Luke’s writings (15:20 & Acts 20:37). She spent time kissing his feet; then she anointed his feet with the perfume that she had brought with her. This would have been quite a spectacle. Everyone would have seen her and seen Jesus’ response to her.

Verse 39 suggests that Simon was on the edge of what he thought about Jesus. Some thought him to be a prophet. Simon perhaps invited Jesus to dinner to find out for himself. He has seen enough. No prophet would allow what is happening to continue. Jesus revealing his prophetic nature engages Simon in a parable. Two debtors. One owes about $2000 on a credit card. The other owes his $100,000 mortgage and his house is about to go into foreclosure. The loan companies forgive both of the debtors. Both debts are written off the books. Which one will be more grateful?

Jesus makes his comparison between the woman and Simon. It wasn’t that Simon has violated social norms by not washing Jesus’ feet or giving him a kiss or anointed him. Rather the depth of love has been expressed by these two. Simon invited Jesus for dinner and fed him and engaged him; but the woman whose love is so deep that no amount of embarrassment or going against social norms could keep her from Jesus.

Application

The question is which person do you identify with – Simon or the woman? Have you been forgiven much? Is your gratitude and love overflowing so that even socially accepted norms are ignored? The woman’s demonstration of love was so unsettling for Simon but not for Jesus. Because Jesus welcomes the expression of love from this woman. He knows how deep her love is for him. In our culture socially accepted norms insist on keeping religious discussions at a minimum. How deep is your love? This isn’t about trying to convince people about Park Avenue but about who Jesus is.

But there is a second question – do you see this woman as Simon does or as Jesus does? Simon saw this woman as a sinner. He saw her as one who still lived with the stain of sin on her life. What did Jesus see? One who was forgiven. In verse 48, the statement of Jesus means that the woman is in a state of forgiveness. Her forgiveness started in the past. This explains her responses of crying, wiping, kissing, and anointing. In verse 48, Jesus is reassuring the woman that she is forgiven. Jesus sees the woman not as she is but as she could be and as she is through God’s love. This explains the woman’s response.

But there is a third question – what kind of response are you making on a day to day basis? The contrast between Simon and the woman is startling. Instead of joy for another who has found forgiveness, Simon’s action speaks of rejection of both Jesus and the woman. When we believe that our sin is small in comparison to others, then there is little love in response. The truth is that in order for forgiveness to be given it must first be offered and secondly that it must be received. Some, like Simon, have received little forgiveness. Much forgiveness is not needed if one is convinced that there is little sin. But the woman understanding the depth of her sin receives much forgiveness and her response is one of much love. What kind of response are you making on a day to day basis?

Our vision is that we are a place where the spiritually ill and lost know that they will be received and accepted. Would this woman be accepted here? Notice verse 49. The question comes, “Who is this Jesus?” In 7:16 some think he is a prophet. Simon may have been among those who thought so. In 17:18-19, John the Baptist asks about Jesus’ identity. And if you go back to Luke 5:21 the answer is given – only God can forgive sins. And at the end of chapter 7, Jesus pronounces forgiveness. He is more than prophet. He is God. We are left to decide if we identify with Simon or the woman.



Luke 12:22-34

Purpose

: When compared to the kingdom, the things of this life do not need our concern

Introduction

How would you define worry? While there is a literal definition, I suppose for most of us worry is something that we are more likely to know by experience than a definition. We know when we are worried and when we are not. And there is plenty in life that causes us to worry. The economy and all the things that are associated with it comes to mind, e.g., finances, job security, paying bills. When our health or the health of our loved ones is affected, we worry.

By definition worry has to do with trying to occupy two worlds at the same time – the present and the future. Worry is trying to live in the future when the future isn’t here and isn’t promised. Worrying is thinking about what might happen and forcing the potential of the future to become the present reality. It is a losing battle. To worry means to be preoccupied and distracted. It means not appreciating the present and living in the moment but throwing away the present in an anticipation of the future. The person who worries truly misses out on life.

The Text

Our text is tucked away in a lengthy section dealing with the proper focus about material things. In 12:13-21, Jesus is asked to arbitrate a disagreement between brothers about an inheritance. Jesus refuses to directly resolve the issue except to tell the parable about the rich man who amassed more only to die after building bigger and better. Jesus tries to get the brother who wants the arbitration to learn an important lesson – quit focusing on material things. Instead focus on being rich toward God.

Jesus continues this thought in our text by focusing on worry. For those who are following Jesus, the day to day worries about life were real. Where was food going to come from? And clothes? These were real and present concerns for day to day living. In the previous text he was speaking to the wealthy. Here he is speaking to those who work to get food and clothes. But both are worried about the same thing – how to get. The rich wanted more; the worker wanted daily sustenance. Both wanted and both had needs. And in both cases, Jesus instructs that one’s objective should change. Both the rich and the worker are thinking wrongly.

The rich should be rich toward God not accumulating. And the worker. Sell possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. Both instructions are counter to the way people live life. No one wants to see wealth go away. So we work at accumulating more. And if you have only the essentials so that there is concern about where tomorrow’s basic needs are going to come from then the last thing you are thinking about is downsizing. Has Jesus lost his mind? What is he trying to get us to see?

Let us not be confused about this idea of worry. There are times that we are rightly concerned about the future and we plan for such. Worry, however, robs us of living and the result is that we find ourselves thinking and focusing on that which might happen instead of focusing on what is happening. Worry is about control and power. It is about trying to keep bad things from happening and it about trying to be in control of events. But we are not alone in our worry. Jesus spoke about such and then had some interesting words for us to incorporate in our lives. It is a different perspective for those who follow him. To say that his words are challenging is an understatement. The question is are we willing to listen.

Application

Look at verse 32. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” For those who belong to Jesus, the kingdom far outweighs the day to day worries and the accumulation of more stuff. Don’t be afraid. Do you see the connection between worry and fear. Jesus linked them. Fear produces worry. Don’t be afraid. We have been given the kingdom. This doesn’t mean everything will be okay in this life. It means that the kingdom trumps all the fear.

Jesus is saying, “To those who are living for the future and are distracted in the present, sell what you have and turn your focus to those who are without. When you do this, then you will see the kingdom as it needs to be seen.” You see to worry is to focus on the present as if it trumps everything. Jesus and his disciples have a different view. When we give, then we live with the kingdom in mind. Worry no longer occupies our mind. We no longer get distracted in the present. Instead we find ways to reveal where our treasure is. Our treasure isn’t in stuff but in the kingdom.

To further emphasize his point, Luke adds verses 35-48. In this section, Jesus warns his disciples to be faithfully waiting and watching for his return. What Jesus says in verse 42 should inspire us, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food and allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.” In other words, Jesus says when he returns what he wants to find are his disciples serving others. He wants to find his disciples focused on making sure others are provided for rather than focusing on being taken care of.

Our vision statement contains the following reminder. “This vision will challenge us to leave our comfortable routines and to move toward touching the lives of others in ways that Jesus did.” Turning our attention away from this world and to those who are without is never easy. It means that we have to change the way we think about our place in the kingdom.

In Luke 18:18 we have the story of the rich young ruler. This man wanted desperately to be part of God’s kingdom. Accustomed to paying for what he wanted, he came to Jesus with a similar request. What can I do to inherit eternal life? Sell what you have and give the proceeds to the poor. He couldn’t. We have explained this away by saying that our focus must be on the things of the kingdom rather than wealth and thus we can fulfill what Jesus requires. Let me remind you that Jesus required the same of the wealthy and the working. To focus on the kingdom is to have no concern about this life’s wealth. What better way to demonstrate that than to sell and give? We find great joy in giving to family and friends. I would suggest to you that we will find even greater joy in giving to those who cannot return our gifts.

A second giving to the poor will take place soon after the first of the year. Let us be known as people whose treasure is in the kingdom. Let us be known as people who lead a thoughtful life focused on the kingdom. Let us be known as people who are not worried about the future but who live in the joy of the kingdom.