Grace

God’s grace never ceases to amaze me. Yesterday, in Luke 7.36-50, we witnessed Jesus’ grace being extended to two different people. First, Jesus is extending grace to Simon, the Pharisee, by eating at his house. We need to remember that in first-century Palestine one did not eat with just anyone. Eating was a way of extending friendship and intimacy to another person. Jesus not only ate with sinners but also with Pharisees, as this text indicates. Second, there is the uninvited guest, a woman, a notorious sinner in town. She’s desperate. She breaks down upon seeing Jesus. Not being prepared for this, she dries off his feet with her hair, anoints his feet with perfume, and then proceeds to kiss them. Jesus forgives her and sends her in peace. Simon doesn’t get it. It’s offensive to him. Jesus reminds him that the one who is forgiven little loves little. We should interpret that verse with some irony. Jesus isn’t telling Simon to go out and sin so he can appreciate god’s forgiveness. Rather Jesus is saying that Simon doesn’t really see his need. He’s full of himself. More than likely, he suffers from pride of virtue. He doesn’t see how sinful his condemnation and judgmental spirit is. So in this text there is that typical divine reversal so characteristic of Luke’s gospel: The poor are filled; the rich are sent away empty. Both receive grace. Only one sees the need and therefore appropriates the healing grace of Christ. It might be true of us. Perhaps the only thing we lack is the one thing necessary to freedom, acknowledging that we can’t stand in God’s presence on our own merits; we need a Savior. Peace!