"His mercy is more"

There’s a tremendous passage in the gospel of Luke chapter 7.  Jesus is invited to have a meal with a Pharisee named Simon.  As they were eating, a woman – unnamed by the gospel writer – enters; we are told that she “had lived a sinful life in that town” (verse 37).  This woman proceeds to do one of the most poignantly beautiful acts done for Jesus in all the Bible, as I see it.  She washes the feet of Jesus, with her tears, and with the perfume she had with her (verses 37 and 38).  When Simon the Pharisee saw this, he reasons, “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” (verse 39).  Like so many, he had misunderstood what Jesus had come to do.

Jesus responds with a quick parable.  He tells of two men who owed money to a landowner; neither had the money to repay their debt, so he cancelled both debts (verses 41 and 42), “Now,” Jesus concludes, “which of them do you suppose had the bigger debt cancelled?”  Of course, the answer is the one who had the larger amount of debt, and that’s what Simon the Pharisee answers, and Jesus says that he answered correctly.  Jesus basically goes on to say, “You invited me into your house; you didn’t wash my feet and you didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman did.”  “Therefore,” He says in verse 47, “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven…But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”  I imagine Jesus looking in this woman’s eyes with compassion, grace, and kindness like she had never seen before, as He says – in verse 48 – these liberating words to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Rather than reacting to this amazing moment with celebration, people at the table are confused at Jesus’ statement, and they wonder, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  I say again, Jesus was often misunderstood.  However, perhaps someone reading this is also confused.  You are wondering why Jesus extended forgiveness to her.  Because Jesus, as God in human flesh, had the authority to grant her full pardon for her sins.  Further, Jesus knew His mission was to eventually sacrifice His life on a cross, and subsequently rise from the dead, to fully pay the price of humanity’s sin – including the sins of this dear woman in Luke 7.

The section in Luke ends with Jesus essentially ignoring the murmurs around the table, and instead He says to the woman, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace” (verse 50).  Talk about a mic drop moment!  I once heard from a pastor in a powerful sermon declare that faith is only as good as its object.  For example, after a dazzling pre-season, everyone in Bronco-land was putting their faith in rookie quarterback Bo Nix to lead the Denver Broncos out of the mediocrity they’ve been in.  Two weeks into the regular season with an 0-2 record, and an offensive output just as abysmal as ever, Bronco fans are strapping in for another long year.  But when you do as this woman in Luke 7 did, when you seek out Jesus, and you put your faith in Him, He will provide the forgiveness, hope, peace, and satisfaction you need.

In conclusion, sometimes I ponder what my life would be if I had never met Jesus.  It’s a humbling exercise, because it’s not a pretty picture to contemplate who I would be, what I would do, if the Lord had not revolutionized my life.  I would not be writing a blog proclaiming the incredible mercy, grace, and kindness of God, that’s for sure.  Then I come back to the reality, that Jesus saved me, and it makes me want to sing.  The beautiful song “His mercy is more” written by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa comes to mind.  Check out this stanza of the song: “What patience would wait as we constantly roam?  What Father, so tender, is calling us home?  He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor.  Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.”

God bless,

Kevin