The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotion grow. pray. study. from The Resurrection United Methodist Church in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 24 September 2015 - “Her many sins have been forgiven”
Daily Scripture: Luke 7:36 One of the P’rushim invited Yeshua to eat with him, and he went into the home of the Parush and took his place at the table. 37 A woman who lived in that town, a sinner, who was aware that he was eating in the home of the Parush, brought an alabaster box of very expensive perfume, 38 stood behind Yeshua at his feet and wept until her tears began to wet his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her own hair, kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.
39 When the Parush who had invited him saw what was going on, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what sort of woman she is, that she is a sinner.” 40 Yeshua answered, “Shim‘on, I have something to say to you.” “Say it, Rabbi,” he replied. 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed ten times as much as the other. 42 When they were unable to pay him back, he canceled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Shim‘on answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “Your judgment is right,” Yeshua said to him.
44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim‘on, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house — you didn’t give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! 45 You didn’t give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet! 46 You didn’t put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet! 47 Because of this, I tell you that her sins — which are many! — have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 At this, those eating with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this fellow that presumes to forgive sins?” 50 But he said to the woman, “Your trust has saved you; go in peace.”
Daily Scripture: Luke 7:36 One of the P’rushim invited Yeshua to eat with him, and he went into the home of the Parush and took his place at the table. 37 A woman who lived in that town, a sinner, who was aware that he was eating in the home of the Parush, brought an alabaster box of very expensive perfume, 38 stood behind Yeshua at his feet and wept until her tears began to wet his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her own hair, kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.
39 When the Parush who had invited him saw what was going on, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what sort of woman she is, that she is a sinner.” 40 Yeshua answered, “Shim‘on, I have something to say to you.” “Say it, Rabbi,” he replied. 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed ten times as much as the other. 42 When they were unable to pay him back, he canceled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Shim‘on answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “Your judgment is right,” Yeshua said to him.
44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim‘on, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house — you didn’t give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! 45 You didn’t give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet! 46 You didn’t put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet! 47 Because of this, I tell you that her sins — which are many! — have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 At this, those eating with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this fellow that presumes to forgive sins?” 50 But he said to the woman, “Your trust has saved you; go in peace.”
Reflection Questions:
Jesus was famous (or, in some circles, infamous) for forgiving. In this story, his Pharisee host Simon saw only the woman’s shameful past, but Jesus said her “many sins” were forgiven. It’s too often true that self-righteous people, like Simon, want people who have done wrong to live in shame and disgrace for the rest of their life. But not Jesus—he saw Simon (who felt no need for forgiveness) as in much greater spiritual danger than the woman grateful for forgiveness.
- Freedom from her guilt before God also gave this woman freedom from feelings of shame before others. If not, she would not have been able to act out her gratitude in such a bold act of love to Jesus. Have you ever had a time when you felt “ashamed to show your face”? How can opening your life to God’s love and forgiveness set you free to live more fully?
- We know Jesus is the “good guy” in the story, but if we’re honest, most of us “get” Simon’s reaction. “If Jesus knew about her past,” he thought, “he couldn’t possibly accept her presence.” Who are you more like: the woman whose many sins Jesus forgave, or the Pharisee who thought he was much better than “her kind”? How does that affect your relationships with others and with God?
Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you had something important to say to Simon. Maybe today you have something to say to me, too. Give me a listening heart, to hear my need of your forgiveness and the loving reality that you give me that gift. Amen.
Insights from Dr. Amy Oden 
Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology at OCU. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. For 25 years, Amy has taught theology and history, pursuing scholarship in service of the church.
When we say the Apostles’ Creed, I love to picture Christians throughout the centuries standing with us. Different skin tones, sizes and ages from around the world, all of us professing our belief “…in the forgiveness of sins.” We say the Apostles’ Creed to help us live forgiveness-shaped lives.
What does a forgiveness-shaped life look like? The scripture for today (Luke 7:36-50) gives us a picture:
Generosity. “A woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment” (Luke 7:37).
Tears. “She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears” (Luke 7:38).
Love. “Her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love” (Luke 7:49).
Faith. The woman trusted in God’s loving mercy. “Your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:50).
We need the Creed and each other to remind us it’s really true. We are set free to live abundant life. Set free for generosity, tears, love and faith–a forgiveness-shaped life.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
When we say the Apostles’ Creed, I love to picture Christians throughout the centuries standing with us. Different skin tones, sizes and ages from around the world, all of us professing our belief “…in the forgiveness of sins.” We say the Apostles’ Creed to help us live forgiveness-shaped lives.
What does a forgiveness-shaped life look like? The scripture for today (Luke 7:36-50) gives us a picture:
Generosity. “A woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment” (Luke 7:37).
Tears. “She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears” (Luke 7:38).
Love. “Her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love” (Luke 7:49).
Faith. The woman trusted in God’s loving mercy. “Your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:50).
We need the Creed and each other to remind us it’s really true. We are set free to live abundant life. Set free for generosity, tears, love and faith–a forgiveness-shaped life.
Download the GPS AppThe United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
___________________________
___________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment