Faith – Forgiveness – Peace

In Luke 7:37-50, we read a story from which we all can learn from. The story goes as follows.

Jesus was dining with a Pharisee at his house. They are sitting down with each other and a woman walks in. This woman was known at that time as “a sinner.” Somehow this woman knew that Jesus was at this Pharisee’s house and went there on her own to see Him. She didn’t wait for an invitation – probably because she knew, deep down, she wouldn’t have gotten one.

So, she enters the house and stands at Jesus’ feet, weeping. She then begins to wash Jesus’ feet with her tears and wipes her tears away with her hair, and kisses His feet. Then she opens her alabaster box of perfume that she had brought with her and begins to anoint His feet with the perfume.

The Pharisee then 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.” Jesus then turns to Simon and begins to tell a story about two debtors. It goes as follows: “A certain money lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denari and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay he graciously forgave them both, which of them, therefore, will love him more?”

Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Jesus then turns towards the woman and 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. You gave me no kiss, but she since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 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.” And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

Jesus then told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This story is amazing. This sinful woman of that day had an amazing amount of humility, courage, and strength. We can learn quite a bit from this story.

1. The Lord’s love for us is not measured by how many sins we have committed. He isn’t concerned with what we have done – He already shed His blood for our forgiveness. He just wants us to Love Him with everything we are and to offer up all of ourselves to Him.

2. We learn about not judging others. We are not to look at others as though we are better and not quite as sinful.

3. This woman brought costly perfume to anoint Jesus. The alabaster box of perfume represented one years’ worth of wages, and she gave it unto her Lord. Even the disciples said, “Why this waste – this perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” This woman gave her very best to Jesus. Are we willing to give our very best unto our Lord?

4. We also learn humility, courage, strength and love by her actions. She didn’t care what others thought about her. All that mattered to her was Jesus. Despite the situation or circumstances that were surrounding her, she didn’t let other opinions of her sway her from what she came there to do.

5. Lastly, we have forgiveness through Christ. It does not matter how many sins we have committed – they are all under His blood.

Psalms 103:12 reminds us of this last point. “As far as the East is from the West so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”

Another key in this story is found in verse 50 which says, “And He said to the woman your faith has saved you – go in peace.”

The word peace means, “a state of mental or physical quiet or tranquility: calm. Freedom from mental agitation or anxiety.”

The Lord instructed her to go in her newfound peace which is from Him. Her sins were forgiven and remembered no more.

We will never forget every wrong choice we have made, but we don’t need to define ourselves by those choices. We are only defined and refined by our loving, faithful and forgiving Father. We have been given a beautiful free gift: Forgiveness and Peace. We need to accept His gifts to us and move on.

Move on towards Him and serving Him with all that we are. Serving Him with our whole body, soul and mind, and loving Him completely and wholly.

Also, remember that as we’re forgiven and don’t deserve it, we need to freely forgive others.