1/21/12 JESUS FORGIVES MUCH

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF Saturday, January 21, 2012
Luke 7:36-50         Key Verse: 7:47

“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Dear Lord heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace in our lives and shepherding according to your truth. I thank you for the rest you have granted me today and for helping me to look forward to a fruitful day in Jesus. I pray to grow as a shepherd of your flock. I pray to be a man of God who can lead others to Jesus and to discipleship. I pray to that you may work in our children’s hearts and that they may have a strong desire to love Jesus and to serve Jesus as his disciples. Please grant us direction for this years Easter program. Show us who to team up with. Show us Jesus and the Gospel. I pray that you may be the center and the focus of our lives. Please grant me one word of God through you word. I thank you and I prey in Jesus’ name. Amen!

1. She loved much (36-38).

Verse 36-38, “ 36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”

Simon a Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner. An uninvited woman well known for her sinful life boldly entered his home and proceeded to do something even bolder. She washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and poured the most expensive perfume on them. Her actions and sacrifice show that Jesus meant everything to her.

Those who have been forgiven little love little. Those who have been forgive a lot love a lot. That is why self righteousness is so evil and damaging. It makes us think that we are not all that bad compared to others. We think that it did not take much effort to forgive us because we are not that bad. But we must realize how hard it was for Jesus to be with us and be our friend. We must realize that it was not easy for the Christian who shared the gospel with us to be our friend and spend time with us to share the love of God with us. We don’t realize that our sins are enough to separate us from God and make us dwell in hell forever. It is a gift to know the seriousness of our sins. It leads us to a personal and up-to-date knowledge of the grace of Jesus Christ.

I need to be really thankful to Jesus. Jesus has been such a good a faithful savior to me. He has been a faithful friend and forgiver and leader. He has forgiven me of my judgmental character, my depression and despair. He has forgiven me of occasional anger. He has helped my family to grow in love and service to others. He has helped me to love my wife a little more each day. Even though I have hurt others due to my sin and hindered the work of God through my life, Jesus has forgiven me and is healing me of it all. I can not live in this world without Jesus and the love of Jesus and the grace of Jesus. His love is the basis of my life and the reason I breathe and live. His love is the direction and the driving force of my life. I pray that I may reveal my love to Jesus like this.

How can I reveal God’s love. I can pour our my heart ins Bible study and prayer. I can pour out my time in teaching the Bible to the flock of God. I can take time to preach and teach the word of God to others. I can offer Jesus my tome and talents. I can devote my time to serving Jesus. To sum it up I can live as a shepherd and Bible teacher of the flock of God here at NIU and the DEAR area of Chicago.

2. Jesus forgives much (39-50).

Verses 39-50, “ 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Simon did not show Jesus even the basic social respect. Jesus defended the woman and accepted her love, sorrow, and repentant heart. He forgave her many sins. His saving grace planted the peace of God in her heart.

I pray for Jesus to accept my thanksgiving and my repentance, my faith and my love. I know that Jesus forgives me. I know that his love extends to even me. I claim that love and forgiveness today newly and freshly. I claim that grace of Jesus today. I have the peace of God in my heart. I have the love of God in my heart. My faith in Jesus has saved me and therefore I can go in peace. Praise the Lord. I pray for the young people of America. They need to peace. Peace does not come from sleeping in and spending hours on a social networking site, nor from hanging with friends. Peace comes from Jesus alone. Peace comes from a love relationship with Jesus. It comes from the forgiveness of God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for forgiving my many sins and giving me peace. I pour out my love to you today and sacrifice my best treasures to honor you.

One Word: Love Jesus my Savior who forgives all my many sins