A Savior Who Touches Sinners

What if you could unload, smash, or incinerate every bit of your guilt, every sin, every wrong deed, every poor decision, and every painful experience from your past?

The annual NYC Good Riddance Day took place on Dec. 28, 2017, in New York City's Times Square Broadway Plaza between 45th and 46th Street from noon to 1 p.m. EST. This was its 11th year. Participants bring their funniest, most outlandish or unpleasant items to the event to be shredded.

People could discard anything distasteful, embarrassing, or downright depressing from the past year. Participants brought disappointing report cards, pink slips, photos of old boyfriends or girlfriends, CDs with songs they never wanted to hear again, clothes that were out of style, and fattening foods they had promised to renounce.

Unshreddable stuff could be dropped in a dumpster. Hated, crushable stuff could be pulverized with a sledgehammer. One year Alissa Yakelevits claimed the $250 Grand Prize for the Most Creative entry for saying “good riddance” to her camp leader, who appeared on “America’s Most Wanted.” Others said “good riddance” to cellulite, an SSAT book, the New York Giants’ football season, or just “bad stuff in general.”

Then it was all hauled away. Imagine the resulting freedom and celebration!

All shredded material generated on Good Riddance Day was then baled and sent to nearby recycling plants to be turned into something usable like everyday paper products. For every ton of paper shredded and recycled, 17 trees, 4,100 kilowatts of energy and 3.5 cubic yards of landfill space will be saved. New Yorkers and visitors to the city are invited to this free event where Shred-it will park a mobile shredding truck in Times Square.

What if you could shred, pulverize, haul away, and even recycle everything you’d like to be rid of – every mistake, every failure, and every sin – and be free of it? That is the gospel!

Why be a hoarder, keeping old junk and clutter, that takes up space in your heart and life, that serves as a constant reminder of the baggage you have collected?

Here is a link to the video of this sermon presentation:
https://www.facebook.com/bellevuechurchlife/videos/1819918131391924/?q=bellevue%20church%20of%20christ

Read Luke 7:36-50. 

Let's consider Jesus as "A Savior Who Touches Sinners."

No matter who you are or what you have done, you can come to Jesus in obedient faith and be forgiven.

You can come to Jesus, regardless of past sin, reputation, gender, social circle, or economic level.

Background

The context in Luke 7 sets the stage: Healing the Roman centurion’s slave, raising the widow’s son from Nain, answering John’s question from prison, responding to criticism about His friendship with “sinners.” John the Baptist’s question, Jesus regard­ing John, Jews like children; Jesus charged as glutton, drunkard.

Story unique to Luke. This gospel especially highlights Jesus' interaction with and love for the poor, disadvantaged, disconnected, discouraged, desperate, and disapproved.

An Unlikely Invitation

Lk 7:36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

7:36 The setting: A Pharisee’s house for a meal. Jesus willing to eat with anyone. Other guests present. Courtyard and open ac­cess to the house. Pharisee impolite, judgmental, critical.

Why invite Jesus but not greet Him?

Simon: nine men with this name in NT. All are named after Simeon, one of the 12 sons of Jacob. They are distinguished by descriptive terms. Bar-jonah. The tanner. The leper. The Zealot or the Canaanite. The magician or sorcerer. Of Cyrene. We will call this man “Simon the Pharisee.”

We will not identify him with “Simon the Leper,” in whose home the devout Mary anointed Jesus a short time before His crucifixion. (Matt. 26:6-13)

An Unwelcome Guest

37a And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house …

7:37 Woman enters. A “sinner” whose reputation is known. 

Luke 5:27-32 Levi

Jesus will describe her as having “many sins” (7:47) and a massive “debt” that she cannot repay. We don’t know her name, only her character.

On paper, or in your mind, write down the sins that this woman may have committed.

Now write the sins that you have committed.

How do they compare? Do you see her as a “bigger” sinner than yourself?

How many sins does it take to qualify a person as a “sinner?”

Is it a relative term? Do we think we have no sin? Or fewer sins than others?

Her motivation: Matt 11:28-29; Jesus’ repu­tation. Watched Him with others; waited; followed Him.

What obstacles might have stood in her way? Her fear of facing the Pharisees; her over­whelming sense of guilt ... but she had no doubt that Jesus would receive her! She was so determined to meet Jesus, it did not matter who else was present!

Jesus is approachable. “Just As I Am.”

An Unusual Outpouring

37b … she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

7:38 Her gift: her tears, her burdens, her agony, her kisses, her humble devotion; an alabaster vial of perfume. Wealthy, high-class Roman ladies.

“Take My Life and Let it Be” # 501

alabaster: compact, translucent gypsum often carved into vases. It is very soft and therefore excellent for carving. The color is usually white; but it may be gray, yellow, or red. In the NT a globular perfume flask carved from alabaster is mentioned. Made without handles, it had a long neck that was broken to pour out the perfume. Many articles were fashioned from this stone, including vases, jars, saucers, bowls, lamps, and statues. A harder form of alabaster, found only in Egypt, was used to sculpture a Sphinx.

Perfumes: were made from many different herbs and plants. These plants were imported from such places as Arabia, India, Persia, Ceylon, and Egypt. Perfumes were used especially, but not exclusively, by the rich to cover the unpleasant body odors that resulted from the hot temperatures of Palestine and surrounding regions. Thus, they were applied to the feet (Luke 7:38), the freshly washed body (Ruth 3:3), clothing (Ps. 45:8), couches or beds (Prov. 7:17), the priest’s head (so he would be presentable to God; Ps. 133:2), and even dead bodies (2 Chr. 16:14; John 19:39–40).

An Unfair Assumption

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he 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.”

Common belief: A prophet (representing God) would not allow a sinner in his presence. “If the Lord just knew what so-and-so is really like ...” Judging others is easy. Makes us look good. Religious people begin to think they deserve a relationship with God.

Outwardly religious people (Pharisees) can be the greatest obstacle between sinners and Jesus. The woman had no trouble touching Jesus; it was the Pharisee who rejected her!

Church: the broken, the hurting, the poor, the naked, the penitent alcoholic or homosexual.

Narcotics Anonymous: “I’m an addict.”

An Unequal Comparison

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He 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. 45 “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.

Jesus set the stage, preparing Simon for what He was about to tell him.

Jesus very effectively used “third-personing.” He would tell about other people, describe their actionsf, and then ask the listener to finish the story.

Jesus’ story; “My broker is E.F. Hutton ...” Money ... forgiveness. Down-to-earth. Induc­tive. Indirect. Elicits response from the hearer. “What do you think?”

To what degree do we identify with people who are like this woman? Are they comfortable in our midst? To what extent do we relate more to the Pharisee?

Jesus’ stories leave you in a spot! We don’t want to be the woman or the Pharisee! That’s good! Maybe we can be like Jesus, pure ourselves but offering grace to the lost.

Just like the Prodigal Son. Simon is the older brother. The woman is the younger.

Guilt - Grace - Godliness.

Grace motivates. The greater the sense of forgiveness, the greater the love.

Parents toward children. Which child will love his parents more? Prodigal Son.

When your child does wrong, regrets it, and weeps over it, forgive! Embrace! Result? Love.

How can you tell that a person has experienced true forgiveness from God? I am not talking about how to obtain forgiveness, but about how to demonstrate that forgiveness has been given and received. The answer? LOVE.

The more a person loves Jesus, the more obvious it is that that person has been forgiven.

The Christian life is the outward fruit of the experience of forgiveness. Guilt drives us to Grace. Grace drives us to Godliness. I cannot stay “Just As I Am.”

When I approach Jesus, I must bring to Him what this woman brought.

A Willing Confession of Sin

An Obvious Sorrow for Sin

A Yearning for Forgiveness

A No-Matter-What Determination to Meet Jesus

A Gift of Myself and My Best

An Eagerness to Place Myself at His Feet and Anoint Him

I cannot embrace Jesus if I have the traits of Simon the Pharisee.

A Sense of Personal Worthiness Before God

Little or No Sense of Sin or a Need for Forgiveness

A Judgmental Attitude Toward Others

An Unwillingness to Receive Jesus Humbly

It was not the holy Savior who rejected the woman, but a fellow sinner!

To be like Jesus, I must be both close to God and open to sinners.

Jesus touches sinners, not to endorse their sin, but to remove it.

An Undeniable Connection

47 “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.”

Which comes first? Our love, then forgiveness? No. His forgiveness, then our love.

Love for Jesus is the outward fruit of one’s experience of forgiveness.

The greater one’s sense of personal Guilt ...

And the deeper one’s appreciation for the Savior’s Grace ...

The more intense will be one’s commitment to Godliness.

Conviction. Conversion. Consecration.

An Unimaginable Relief

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The woman, rather than Simon, went home justified. 

Like Luke 18:9-14 - Pharisee, tax collector.

Reversal. Surprise.

Jesus can say to you today, if you are like that woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Do you believe Him? He cannot say that to a Pharisee, who has no sense of need for forgiveness.

Result: guests at table say: “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Simon’s response: not recorded! What do you think?

Faith is the key. “Go in peace.” She had not come that way. She had approached Jesus with guilt, sorrow, shame, unworthiness. She left Him with peace, purpose, promise.

Are you a sinner? Have you thrown yourself at Jesus’ feet? Have you come to look at others as fellow sinners, no more worthy or unworthy than you to come to Jesus?

Can be same for you today! Be determined like that woman! Let nothing stop you!

Admit It … For Your Sake!

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:8-9

Marilyn Manning writes about attending a communications course in which the instructor asked the participants to list anything in their past about which they felt ashamed, guilty, regretful, or incomplete.  As people in the class read their lists, hers grew longer.  After three weeks, she had 101 items on her list!  The instructor then suggested that they find ways to make amends, apologize to people, or right any wrongdoing.  She had visions of alienating just about everyone from her life.

The next week, the man beside her spoke.  He had grown up in a small town in Iowa.  One night, he and two buddies took a can of red paint, climbed the water tank in the middle of town, and wrote on it, in bright red letters, some insulting words about Sheriff Brown, whom they disliked.  The next day, the whole town saw their sign.  When confronted, the two others confessed, but this boy lied, denying the truth.

After carrying this for nearly 20 years, the boy, now grown, attended this communications course.  He didn’t even know if Sheriff Brown was still alive, but he knew he had to try to reach him.  He dialed information in his hometown back in Iowa.  Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed.  He dialed his number. After a few rings, he heard: “Hello?”  He said:  “Sheriff Brown?”  Pause.  “Yup.”  “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.  And I want you to know that I did it.”  Pause.  “I knew it!” he yelled back.  The two had a good laugh and a lively discussion.  His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you because your buddies got it off their chest, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years. I want to thank you for calling me ... for your sake.’”

Jimmy’s story inspired Marilyn Manning to clear up all 101 items on her list.  It took her almost two years, but it brought her true peace and led to a new career as a conflict mediator.   It’s never too late.  Begin resolution today, both with God and with others.  You’ll be glad you did.

All is Forgiven 800 Pacos

In his short story “The Capital of the World,” Ernest Hemingway tells the story of a Spanish father and his teenage son. The relationship between this father and son became strained and eventually shattered. When the rebellious son--whose name was Paco, a common Spanish name--ran away from home, his father began a long and arduous search to find him. As a last resort the exhausted father placed an ad in a Madrid newspaper, hoping that his son would see the ad and respond to it. The ad read,

Dear Paco, Please meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. Love, Father

As Hemingway tells the story, the next day at noon, in front of the newspaper office, there were 800 Pacos, all seeking forgiveness from their fathers.

The forgiven becomes the forgiver.

Tit 3:1-7; 2 Peter 1:5-11

“Out of My Bondage,” # 689; “I Stand Amazed,”

Sinners Jesus Will Receive

Bring Christ Your Broken Life
T.O. Chisolm (1866-1960) lyrics; L. O. Sanderson music

Bring Christ your broken life,

So marred by sin.
He will create anew,
Make whole again.
Your empty wasted years
He will restore,
And your iniquities,
Remember no more

Bring Him your every care
if great or small
whatever troubles you
oh, bring it all
Bring him the haunting fears
the nameless dread
thy heart he will relieve
and lift up thy head

Bring Him your weariness
receive his rest
Weep out your blinding tears
upon his breast
His love is wonderful
his power is great
and none that trust in him shall be desolate

Blest Saviour of us all
almighty friend!
His presence shall be ours
unto the end
without him life would be
how dark how drear
but with him morning breaks
and Heaven is near!