by Phil Lapp

In Luke 7:40-50 we read the story of the woman who loved Jesus much. Consider how she expressed her love for him and her desire to experience his love…

In this context Simon, a Pharisee, had invited Jesus to his house to eat a meal with him. It seems he was honored to have Jesus come to his house, and was trying to impress him with good food, and good fellowship.

Then this woman who was a sinner, came into the room as they were eating, and began to weep, and anoint Jesus’ feet with ointment. Simon, immediately began to judge Jesus, for allowing this woman to have such close contact with him.

Then Jesus shared a truth with him. A truth that is revolutionary to our natural way of relating to Jesus and other Christians. You see Simon, the Pharisee, didn’t think of himself as a sinner, so his actions towards Jesus was quite different. I think Simon really wanted to get to know Jesus better, however, it was with a very different attitude of heart that he approached Jesus, in this public meeting.

Notice the end result of these two people and their efforts to get to know Jesus better. I believe that many Christians are like Simon. They, like Simon, invite Jesus into their lives, and eat with him. But they try to impress Him and the others in the house with their good food, and their nice house. It is in this way they try to become better aquainted with Jesus.

When people whom they consider to be sinners, come into their house and begin to fellowship with Jesus in a way they consider improper, they immediately question it and they can’t figure out why Jesus would have anything to do with them.

It is very natural to try to impress others and God with our good lives. It makes us feel like we have something good to offer to Jesus. But when we come to him in this spirit, it hinders his love in our life. This woman acted as she did because she realized she needed his forgiveness, and Jesus said to her; “Woman, your sins are forgiven.”

She experienced Jesus in a way that deepened her love for him, whereas Simon and the others in the room, it seems were more confused with Jesus then before.

When we realize we need Jesus as our continual interceder with God, He becomes very precious to us. Not that we live in Sin, so we can continually be forgiven. Rather, it is an attitude of our hearts. To Love him much, we must live in the continual reality of his forgiveness in our lives. This will deepen our love for him every day and will keep us from pride and a judgmental spirit towards others.

The thing we need the most from Jesus, He will give to us. This is the forgiveness of our sin of pride and judgment towards others. When we come to learn from Jesus and hear his Word in this attitude, we will always leave in peace.

© Copyright – This article has been copyrighted to prevent misuse. It should not be reprinted or translated without written permission from the author. Permission is however given for this article to be downloaded and printed , provided it is for FREE distribution, provided NO ALTERATIONS are made, provided the AUTHOR’S NAME AND ADDRESS are mentioned and provided this COPYRIGHT notice ["Copyright by Phil Lapp"] is included in each printout.

For further details, please contact: RLCF