Word@Work Luke112 - Luke 7:39-40
Published: Thu, 05/27/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
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Luke 7:39-40 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." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. (NIV)
Jesus had been touched by a prostitute and He did not reject her. His host, who kept strict moral and religious rules to ensure that he was 'whiter than white', was confused by Jesus' reaction to the crying woman. Surely, he thought, if Jesus really was from God, He would know her character and refuse to have anything to do with her. In his mind there were only two possibilities: either Jesus did not know all about her, and therefore was not God's 'prophet'; or He did know, but did not think that her moral condition mattered.
Simon the Pharisee needed to be taught that neither of his thoughts was true. Jesus accepted the woman, with all her guilty grieving as she regretted a wasted life, because He had come to earth for people like her. What she needed was forgiveness and a brand new start. She had so thoroughly broken the religious rules that religion could not offer any hope - it would only condemn her. What she needed was to have all her sins taken away. And in coming to Jesus, she came to the only person who could help.
Forgiveness and grace cannot be earned - they are supernatural gifts of God. Because free forgiveness is unthinkable for people who live outside of God's love, they will never know unless somebody tells them. In the same way that Simon would never know unless Jesus told him, many of our friends who are in a mess will stay there until we tell them that Jesus wants to forgive them. It is the best comfort anybody can receive and we should never keep it hidden away from those who need it. Be a real friend today by telling them the good news that Jesus is longing to forgive them because He loves them and died for them.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for the wonder of Your love which reaches out to everybody who is helplessly trapped in the mess of a broken life. Please forgive me for being selfishly careless of how much my friends and colleagues need Your forgiveness that I have not told them, and encouraged them to come to You. Please help me to receive Your cleansing for my own sins every day, and to be bold to tell others of Your power to mend broken lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Jesus had been touched by a prostitute and He did not reject her. His host, who kept strict moral and religious rules to ensure that he was 'whiter than white', was confused by Jesus' reaction to the crying woman. Surely, he thought, if Jesus really was from God, He would know her character and refuse to have anything to do with her. In his mind there were only two possibilities: either Jesus did not know all about her, and therefore was not God's 'prophet'; or He did know, but did not think that her moral condition mattered.
Simon the Pharisee needed to be taught that neither of his thoughts was true. Jesus accepted the woman, with all her guilty grieving as she regretted a wasted life, because He had come to earth for people like her. What she needed was forgiveness and a brand new start. She had so thoroughly broken the religious rules that religion could not offer any hope - it would only condemn her. What she needed was to have all her sins taken away. And in coming to Jesus, she came to the only person who could help.
Forgiveness and grace cannot be earned - they are supernatural gifts of God. Because free forgiveness is unthinkable for people who live outside of God's love, they will never know unless somebody tells them. In the same way that Simon would never know unless Jesus told him, many of our friends who are in a mess will stay there until we tell them that Jesus wants to forgive them. It is the best comfort anybody can receive and we should never keep it hidden away from those who need it. Be a real friend today by telling them the good news that Jesus is longing to forgive them because He loves them and died for them.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for the wonder of Your love which reaches out to everybody who is helplessly trapped in the mess of a broken life. Please forgive me for being selfishly careless of how much my friends and colleagues need Your forgiveness that I have not told them, and encouraged them to come to You. Please help me to receive Your cleansing for my own sins every day, and to be bold to tell others of Your power to mend broken lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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