Extravagant Grace ~ Luke 7:36-50 November 17, 2013 ~ New City Church Calgary ~ Pastor John Ferguson Intro:

One of the common objections to Christianity is that it is too inclusive. That is, the gospel message that salvation is found only in Christ seems too narrow for modern Calgarians. In fact, some Christians are uneasy with such a notion, yet nevertheless it is an essential part of biblical Christianity. John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Acts 4:12, There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Calgarians: Christianity is too narrow. I believe that that good and sincere people can find their way to God no matter what they believe? Who is more narrow? Who is more exclusive? The one who says only the good and sincere find salvation? What about those of us who arent goodthose of us who have done some really bad thingsand what about those of us who have been less than sincere. Is there any hope for us? Question: Is God only for those who are good? What about those of us who are not?

Today, we are going to look at an account from the life of Jesus which tells us that his way is actually much more inclusive than the exclusive views of most Calgarians who say the good and sincere find salvation. In the process, we are going to learn something essential about how Jesus meets us at our deepest need, and what salvation actually means. We are going to see specifically how Jesus upends our expectations about how we are made right with God.
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went with into the Pharisees house and took his place at the table.

36

Jesus was slandered for being the friend of sinners (vs. 35), but he also ate with all the right sorts of people according to the religious leaders of his day. The wealthy of the day had homes with courtyards for entertaining guests, and dinner parties were often open to anyone in the community who wanted to come and watch & listen to the discussion.

37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisees house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment and 38 standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Hughes 277, A woman was to loosen her hair only in the presence of her husband. The Talmud says that a woman could be divorced for letting down her hair in the presence

of another man. So grave was the offense that the rabbis put a womans loosening her hair and uncovering her breasts in the same category. The guest and the onlookers were in intense shock.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.

For Simon, this was proof positive that Jesus was not a prophet from God. If so, he would condemn this woman and not allow her to touch him. The word touching may have sexual connotations (same word in 1 Cor. 7:1). Ryken 343-4, For him, religion was all about being good. God was for good people, not for people whose lives were a mess. By thinking this way, the Pharisee thought that he was maintaining high moral standards, but in fact he was graceless, merciless, and loveless. The only thing he could do with sinners was condemn them; he had no grace to give.

40 And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Say it, Teacher.

The interesting thing is that Jesus did know who and what sort of woman this was, AND he knew who and what sort of man Simon was too. He could see what was going on in each of their hearts, so he takes the opportunity to tell his host a story.

41 A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?

A denarius is the equivalent of a days wage: 1.5 year vs. 1.5 months The point of the parable is that no one is able to pay their debt; either the high-class religious moralist or the low-class sinner. Simon thought he was so much better than her and so unlike her, but Jesus said, Simon, you are in the same boat as she is. You are both indebted to God because of your sins, and neither one of you has the capacity to do anything about your debt. Your only hope is that your debt will be forgiven.

43 Simon answered, The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt. And he said to him, You have judged rightly. 44 Then 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 from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgivenfor she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.

Whats interesting is that Jesus doesnt downplay her sinful past. Some people think that the reason that she was forgiven was because she demonstrated great love for Jesus, but its really the other way around (as well see in

just a moment): the reason she loved Jesus so much was because she had already been forgiven.
48 And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven.

Jesus spoke these words (1) to assure her; and (2) to give an authoritative declaration of forgiveness of sins in the hearing of all present. Wenham 99, Jesus brought the good news of Gods forgiveness of those unable to pay their debts. The revolution of God is a revolution of forgiveness. Those in the revolution are those who have received that forgiveness through Jesus, and whose lives are (or should be) marked by grateful love for Jesusand by a forgiving spirit towards others.

49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this, who even forgives sins?

50

Luke intends for us to ask this same question: Who is this, who even forgives sins? Because the Pharisee doesnt believe he is in need of the salvation that Je sus offers, he is blind to salvation that is sitting right across the table from him.
And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace.

What it means to be saved is to be delivered from punishment for our sins. To be saved means that instead of judgment, all you know is grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

So, why did Luke record this story in his historical biography of Jesus? Because he wants us to come to grips with who Jesus is, and what it means to enter Gods kingdom. Jesus has the authority to forgive a lifetime of sins committed against God. And b/c of this, the kingdom of God is about unexpected, extravagant grace and forgiveness. And such extravagant grace draws for a spontaneous response of love, joy, and devotion to Jesus. Main Idea: The Gospel of Jesus is about extravagant grace to the worst of sinners that calls forth an extravagant response of love towards Christ the King. Application: 1. (Re)Discover the extravagant grace of Jesus Christ. If you dont learn anything else about Christianity, learn this: salvation comes by trusting in the person of Jesus Christ who alone has the authority to forgive our sins. Here is one of the secrets of the kingdom: grace and forgiveness come only to those who admit their bankruptcy before God. o 1 Timothy 1:15, Here is a saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. 3

o John Newton, Amazing gracehow sweet the soundthat saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. 2. Let the Gospel overflow you. This woman gave her best for Jesus (expensive perfume) as an expression of her love and she didnt care what others thought of her extravagance for Jesus. Some of you need to be set free from the fear of what others might think of you if they saw your devotion to Christ. o Emotional responses to Gods love expressed to us in Christ and poured out in our hearts by his Holy Spirit are entirely appropriate. Joy, laughter, tears, selfforgetfulness and deep devotion to Christ the King are all appropriate. 3. Stay on message. If this is all true (that Jesus offers bankrupt sinners extravagant grace and forgiveness), then it is contrary to the message of Jesus to tell people to try to pay back the debt by being good enough and sincere enough. o How can that possibly be better news than to tell people that Jesus stands ready to forgive their debts if they will but come to him for grace & mercy? Conclusion: Jesus paid it all / all to him I owe / sin had left a crimson stain / he washed it white as snow / O praise the one / who paid my debt / and raised this life up from the dead