Faith – Forgiveness – Peace

In Luke 7:37-50 we read a story which we all can learn from.

The story goes as follows.

Jesus was dining with a Pharisee at his house. They are sitting

down with each other, and a woman walks in. This woman was

known at that time as “a sinner.” Somehow this woman knew that

Jesus was at this Pharisee’s house and went there on her own to see

Him. She didn’t wait for an invitation – probably because she knew,

deep down, she wouldn’t get one.

So, she enters the house and stands at Jesus’ feet, weeping. She

then begins to wash Jesus’ feet with her tears and wipes her tears

away with her hair and kisses His feet. Then she opens her alabaster

box of perfume that she had brought with her and begins to anoint

His feet with the perfume.

The Pharisee then said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,

He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is

touching Him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus then turns to Simon and

begins to tell a story about two debtors. It goes as follows: “A certain

money lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denari and

the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave

them both, which of them therefore will love him more?” Simon

answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And

he said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Jesus then turns towards

the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered

your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my

feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no

kiss; but she since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet.

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed My feet with

perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have

been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little loves

little.” And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Jesus

then told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This story is amazing. This sinful woman of that day had an

amazing amount of humility, courage and strength. We can learn

quite a bit from this story.

1. The Lord’s love for us is not measured by how many sins we have

committed. He isn’t concerned with what we have done – He already

shed His blood for our forgiveness. He just wants us to love Him

with everything we are and to offer up all of ourselves to Him.

2. We learn about not judging others. We are not to look at others as

though we are better and not quite as sinful.

3. This woman brought costly perfume to anoint Jesus. The alabaster

box of perfume represented one years’ worth of wages, and she gave

it unto her Lord. Even the disciples said, “Why this waste – this

perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to

the poor.” This woman gave her very best to Jesus. Are we willing to

give our very best unto our Lord?

4. We also learn humility, courage, strength and love by her actions.

She didn’t care what others thought about her. All that mattered to

her was Jesus. Despite the situation or circumstances that were

surrounding her, she didn’t let other opinions of her sway her from

what she came there to do.

5. Lastly, we have forgiveness through Christ. It does not matter how

many sins we have committed – they are all under His blood.

Psalms 103:12 reminds us of this last point. “As far as the East is

from the West so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Just as a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has

compassion on those who fear Him.”

Another key in this story is found in verse 50 which says, “And

He said to the woman your faith has saved you – go in peace.”

The word peace means, “a state of mental or physical quiet or

tranquility: calm. Freedom from mental agitation or anxiety.”

The Lord instructed her to go in her newfound peace which is

from Him. Her sins were forgiven and remembered no more. We will

never forget every wrong choice we have made, but we don’t need to

define ourselves by those choices. We are only defined and refined by

our loving, faithful and forgiving Father. We have been given a

beautiful free gift: Forgiveness and Peace. We need to accept His

gifts to us and move on. Move on towards Him and serving Him

with all that we are. Serving Him with our whole body, soul and mind, and loving Him completely and wholly. Also, remember that as we’re forgiven and don’t deserve it, we need to freely forgive others.

What About You?

1. Do other people’s opinions of you keep you from

approaching Jesus?

2. Are you willing to let Jesus define who you are?

From God's Garden Tools by Gina Burns