Jesus Notices

Jesus Notices

Words of Faith 5-23-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Luke 7

    [40] Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

    "Tell me, teacher," he said.

    [41] "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42] Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

    [43] Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

    "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--for she loved much. But he who 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."

       Worship flows from grace and forgiveness.  If you have not found the forgiving grace of Jesus Christ, you probably cannot worship.  People who do not know the grace and forgiveness of God are usually bored with worship or even offended. 

       If all you have ever found in places of worship is an intellectual debate over God and you have never come face to face with the conviction of your sin and your need for forgiveness, His overwhelming graciousness to forgive, you probably have not ever worshiped. 

       If you go back through the worship of ancient Israel it was always related to the graciousness, mercy and loving-kindness of God.  Worship is a response to God's provision, safety and deliverance.  Whenever God worked in powerful wonderful ways toward His people and they responded in worship.

        Jesus noticed the worship of the woman.  "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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet."

        Jesus notices.  By custom, Simon should have arranged to wash the feet of Jesus, but he missed that chance.  Simon may have even thought, "This Jesus should be honored to be in my house... after all I am a Pharisee."  How many times do we treat Jesus like that, thinking that HE should be honored to have us as a part of His church?  He should be honored to have my talent and my tithe, if I decide to give it? 

         Jesus notices.  It was the place of the host to greet a guest with a kiss.  Simon missed again, and Jesus noticed.  She came and has not stopped kissing my feet.

         Jesus notices.  It was a common custom for a host to put a drop of oil on the head of a guest as greeting and blessing.  She had, in humility, poured perfume on His feet.

        Of course, these are not our customs today.  How might we respond to His mercy and grace? 

         And what might Jesus say to us?  You applaud an entertainer but you come to worship with no emotion at all? You fall asleep in church but you cheered at a ball game.  You are so worried about what other people are doing or your comforts that you forget completely about me and fail even to greet me.  You worry over petty things like parking spaces and carpet colors, while I stand un-anointed and un-welcomed in your midst. 

        At the very least, let us kiss the Lord Jesus Christ with our hearts and voices.  We might not shout, jump or dance, but at the least let us honor and greet him.

        All this created a stir.  The people murmured at the whole scene. Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  

        It was not the worship that won forgiveness.  Worship was the response to forgiveness that she had received.  Worship flows in response to the word that God has already done.   Jesus clarified.  It is your FAITH that has saved you.  Faith is a trust relationship with the Lord that receives GRACE.

       Don't miss the fact that Worship will create controversy.  We should be careful not to judge the genuine and sincere worship of another person.  But we should carefully attend to our own worship relationship with God.   If you do not feel inclined to worship, it may be that you have never received what God has done for you.  If you never "feel" like worshiping, perhaps it is because you are not saved. 

      That does not mean you have not learned about God or that you have not come a long way on the journey.  But until you face the reality that Jesus died for your sin.  Until you have accepted that, you have nothing to sing about. 

        Hear the good news.  You are free to receive. You are free to respond to.  If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Your sins are forgiven.  Your faith has made you whole.  Praise God.

        O God, kindle in me the heart of pure and true worship.  Give me a heart that is overflowing with gratitude to You.  In Jesus' name.