Monday, February 13, 2012
How
Can I Love Jesus More?
36 Now one of the
Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s
house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a
sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house,
she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind
him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped
them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When
the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “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.” 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.”
What
a great story in the life of Jesus. What great lessons for all of us who read
these words. Jesus is invited to Simon’s house, a Pharisee. Simon doesn’t treat
Jesus with the respect he is due. In this culture, invited guests would be
greeted with feet washing, a kiss and some anointing oil. Simon did not give Jesus any of these things.
Lesson
number one: How do I greet Jesus every day? Jesus deserves all of my respect,
all of my worship and all of my preference. One of the great things about Jesus
is that he desires to enter our lives every day. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says,
“Behold, I stand
at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come
in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.” Jesus is waiting
to enter our lives and fellowship with us! What a concept. I believe every day
is a day to invite Jesus in to our lives. Every day is a day to welcome Jesus
with the respect He is due.
Lesson
number two: How can I love Jesus more? I believe this woman, most likely a
prostitute, teaches us how our love for Jesus can continue to increase.
·
To
love Jesus more we must realize our great debt.
Jesus taught Simon through a parable. Two people owe a debt they cannot
repay. One owes ten times more than the other. Both debts are canceled. The one
who owed more loved more. Jesus wasn’t
teaching that this woman was a greater sinner than Simon. He was teaching that
this woman realized her sin and Simon didn’t.
This woman showed deep love for Jesus because she realized her sin was
great. We should never dwell on our past sins but we should always be aware
that Jesus has greatly forgiven us. This realization brings more love for Him.
·
To
love Jesus more we must realize our inability to repay our debt. One owed
little the other owed much but neither could repay. If you can’t repay, you can’t repay. We are
bankrupt. Someone said, “Which is worse: to be drowning in fifty feet of water
or five hundred feet of water?” The answer is: is terrible to be drowning! And
yet, there are people who compare their lives with others and say, “Well, I’m
not as bad off as that guy or I’m better than him.” The truth is we are all
bankrupt. We cannot repay our debt and Jesus canceled it. That realization will
allow me to increase my live for Jesus.
·
To
love Jesus more I must continue to totally trust His grace. Verse 42 in the New
American Standard is translated this way: “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them
both.” What wonderful words. It is grace that forgave the debtors.
It was the grace of Jesus that forgave the woman. It is the grace of Jesus that
forgives me. If we focus and rely on the grace of Jesus we will love him more.
Pay
careful attention to Jesus’ final words to this woman: Your faith has saved you; go in peace.
We’re not saved by good deeds or good behavior –it’s through faith in Jesus
Christ. When we know we’re saved by
Jesus we can go in peace. There is great peace and rest knowing that our debt
that we were unable to pay has been canceled by the grace of Jesus Christ. If I
keep that in mind my love for him will increase.
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