Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: The Context For Change

Weekend Music links on iTunes: All To You - Lincoln Brewster, Hillsong - Run, Your Love Never Fails - Jesus Culture

Read:  Luke 7: 36-50

Think:  We can bring the worst part of ourselves for Jesus to change, redeem and honor. The more I read the bible, the more stories I encounter where this very thing happens. In fact, I think it must be God’s most favorite thing to do, because He has done it all throughout history and is doing it still.

Luke 7 describes a scene where Jesus is having a dinner discussion with some Pharisees. The Pharisees were probably chatting it up about the dryer than normal weather, partisan politics, and if Moses meant the world was made in 7 days figuratively or literally, when a woman came quietly behind Jesus and started pouring perfume on his feet. Strange by today’s standards, and down-right offensive to the religious right of the day, she finished up this bizarre act of service by wiping his feet clean with her tears.

I wonder what she was thinking when she sacrificed her expensive perfume, and in front of all the prestigious men of the community, kiss and cry her eyes out on the dirty feet of a teacher.

Predictably, the Pharisees expressed judgment regarding the woman because she was known to be a sinner, and thought if Jesus was any kind of prophet at all, he would have known this and shunned her.

But Jesus didn’t do what society expected of him. He didn’t ignore her, shoo her, or get embarrassed by her. He addressed the offended dinner guests with a story about, “he who is forgiven much, loves much,” and then spoke directly to the woman’s need for forgiveness.

What’s so cool about this interaction in Luke 7, is that Jesus forgave her and honored her in front of those who judged her insignificant and unworthy. He was her advocate, and took what others thought as dishonorable and made her honorable. It’s like that verse, Psalms 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” And if Jesus says you’re forgiven, accepted and worthy to have a place at the table, who can say otherwise?

Jesus also empowered the woman before she left for the night by telling her, in ear shot of the others, “Your faith has saved you. Go in Peace.” He turned the blessing back onto her, and credited her salvation to her own faith. What a guy. What a God!

Do: Talk back to those annoying thoughts of judgment and unworthiness as an honored, forgiven child of God. Extend the same kind of forgiveness you have received to others around you who need it.

Pray: Jesus, I love you like the woman with the perfume. You are worthy of that kind of love, and I thank you for accepting me, loving me and forgiving me. You lift me up when things in life put me down. You have forgiven me of so much, and I will love you with all that I am. Amen

The eDevo is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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