Scripture: Luke 7:36 - 8:3; Psalm 32
Theme: Jesus' Open Heart/Door Policy - How to Treat Others Jesus' Style
Proposition: We see a great contrast in how to receive people in how Jesus and Simon received this woman.
1. Jesus seeks a relationship.
Simon worries about her reputation
2. Jesus moves towards her
Simon distances himself from her "kind"
3. Jesus forgives her and transforms her life.
Simon does his best to disregard her and dismiss her
Question - Are we more like Jesus or Simon?
INTRO:
Grace and peace from God our Father and from His Son our LORD JESUS CHRIST!
What do you think is the typical greeting that is used by more than 60% of retail stores as someone walks through their doors? If you said - "CAN I HELP YOU?" you would be right. And do you know what most people say in return? "NO THANKS, JUST LOOKING."
The problem with that exchange is that when a person walks into a store very few times are they actually "just looking." Most people enter into a retail store, a restaurant or a business with a plan in mind. They may say that they are just looking but more often than not they are looking for something to buy. Saying, "CAN I HELP YOU?" has proven over time to be a lousy selling strategy.
Do you know what the top three things to say to a potential customer or someone who walks into your store, bank or business? The best thing you can do is to recognize them and if possible call them by their first name. The second thing is to complement them and try to engage in some type of small talk. That way they know that you are interested in them as a person and not simply as someone who is going to spend some money.
Jeff Mowatt, a customer service strategist1 shares on his web site six of the worst greetings you can give a potential customer or client. They are as follows:
1. A stare — like employees are watching to see if you’re going to steal something.
2. The daze — they pretend they’re so busy they can’t see you.
3. (As you enter a restaurant) “Just one?”
4. “Can I help you”
5. “Next!”
6. A canned phony sounding speech.
In our passage this morning, Jesus provides for us the best way we can greet anyone while Simon, the Pharisee on the other hand provides for us the worst way we can greet someone.
Let's look at our story and see how we can be more like Jesus this morning than Simon.
St. Luke sets up for the scene: Jesus and his disciples are still in the town of Nain. A local Pharisee by the name of Simon is throwing a dinner party. Simon has invited a number of prominent people around the area including Jesus. Since Jesus' raised the widow's son from the dead, Simon and some of his friends have wanted some private time with Jesus. Simon's party was a way for them to do that away from the hustle and bustle of the common people. They wanted Jesus all to themselves so they could size him up.
At first, everything seems to be going quite well. The food is good and the company is enjoying one another. Jesus is having a great time and Simon and his friends are learning more about him. It appears that they may even invite Jesus into their inner circle. If things continue to go as they are then the party will be seen as quite a success.
But then we come to verse 37. Crashing the party is a rather unwanted and unsavory woman. She just shows up. She wasn't on the guest list but since there wasn't any body guards to stop here she just walks in and joins the party. Her mere presence interrupts the meal. Luke informs us that she possessed a rather bad reputation. She was one of those "sinners". She is an outsider. Her kind didn't belong here at Simon's party. As you read the story you can almost feel Simon's embarrassment as his guests start to stare and whisper.
"What is she doing here?" "Who invited her?" I can't believe she would have the audacity to come here on all nights." "How does Simon know this woman?" "Is there something he has not told us?"
Her being here is bad enough, but Luke goes on to tell us that she began to lavish attention on the young rabbi Jesus. At first she just stands behind Jesus weeping. Everyone could hear her blubbering as she couldn't hold back the tears. Who in their right mind comes to a party and just starts bawling? Someone really needs to get here out of here before she ruins the party.
But then she proceeds to display even more inappropriate behavior. She bends down and begins to wash Jesus' feet with her tears. Did we just see Jesus look down at her and smile? Now, what is she doing? I can't believe it but she lets down her hair and begins to dry Jesus' feet. How could she do that in public? Surely, Jesus will pull away. But no, there he goes again smiling at her. What in the world is going on?
Finally, Luke tells us that she anointed Jesus' feet with a jar of ointment that she had brought with her. The room is filled with its sweet aroma. Everyone is watching to see what will happen. What will Simon say? What will Jesus do? As you read this story, you can almost feel the tension in the air.
The whole scene has been upsetting and embarrassing to Simon. Upsetting in the fact that this "sinful" woman showed up in the first place. Embarrassing in the fact that Jesus didn't stop her. He just let her wash his feet and anoint them. Embarrassing in the fact that Simon was now assured that Jesus was no prophet. For in his mind, no prophet would ever allow such a woman to be near him, must less touch him. No true prophet would be found with such a woman. Jesus must be a fake. Or at least that is what Simon the Pharisee began to see before Jesus revealed to him what was in his heart.
Let's take some time this morning to see how both men treated this woman. For as we shall see Jesus shows us how we are to receive people while Simon serves as a great example of how not to treat people.
I. Jesus focuses on Relationship whereas Simon focuses on Reputation
Simon was one of those people that spent a great deal of time worrying about a person's reputation. He was concerned what their reputation might either do for him or do against him. He was one of those people who wanted to make sure that he surrounded himself with the right type of people. He didn't want anyone around him who could spoil his own reputation or that would embarrass him.
Jesus on the other hand focused on having a deepening relationship with people. Jesus wasn't as concerned about a person's reputation as he was helping them develop their character. And even then Jesus reached out to people who did not have a great character. People like Simon for example. Jesus accepted Simon's invitation even though he knew in his heart what kind of person Simon was. He knew Simon was judgmental and suffered from a holier than thou personality. He allowed himself to be approached by this woman even though he knew what kind of woman she had been in the past. Jesus just loved people. After all Jesus, His Father and the Holy Spirit had created man in the first place.
So, we see Jesus sitting between a well known sinner and a holier than thou saint. It's actually the perfect place for Jesus. Both sinners and holier than thou saints are in need of Jesus' mercy, grace and love. Jesus loved spending time with those who considered themselves to be upright and righteous - the Simon types, the Nicodemus types and the Joseph of Arimathea types. But he also loved spending time with those who were seen as unsavory or "sinners" - the Matthew the tax collector types, Simon the Zealot types and the Woman at the Well types. Jesus had an open door and open heart policy towards everyone.
At the end of the 19th century, Dr. Phineas Breesee was building the very first Church of the Nazarene. It was located in the poorer section of the city of Los Angeles and its congregation was made up of a great many poor and disfranchised people. It was Breese's intention that the Church of the Nazarene be a church that reached out to everyone; especially those who did not have anything or did not have a great reputation. Listen to his words:
"We were convinced that houses of worship should be plain and cheap, to save from financial burdens, and that everything should say welcome to the poor. We went feeling that food and clothing and shelter were the open doors to the hearts of the unsaved poor, and that through these doors we could bear to them the life of God. We went in poverty, to give ourselves -- and what God might give us-determined to forego provision for the future and old age, in order to see the salvation of God while we were yet here. God has not disappointed us. While we would be glad to do much more, yet hundreds of dollars have gone to the poor, with loving ministry of every kind, and with it a way has been opened up to the hearts of men and women, that has been unutterable joy. The gospel comes to a multitude without money and without price, and the poorest of the poor are entitled to a front seat at the Church of the Nazarene, the only condition being that they come early enough to get there." (From Called Unto Holiness by Timothy L. Smith - Phineas Breesee and the Church of the Nazarene)
Phineas F. Breesee was a lot like his Lord and Savior Jesus. He didn't care about a person's reputation, he just wanted to have a relationship with them. He just wanted the opportunity to share life with them and share the message of salvation with them.
The difference between God's Church and a Club is that a club can have rules that keep people out. A club can exist knowing that it can accept some people while at the same time reject some people. It can have an inward mentality and philosophy. God's Church is radically different. It exists with an open heart and open arms. God's Church always has a WELCOME SIGN on its door no matter who wants to come inside. Everyone is wanted, accepted and needed.
II. Jesus focuses on moving towards all people whereas Simon did his best to keep his distance from certain people.
Simon must have thought that sin was contagious the way that he treated this woman. He thought that the only way to be pure and holy was to stay away from people like her. He thought that the farther away you stayed from people like her the more holier you became. Simon was wrong.
Simon also needed her to be a sinner. He needed her to be different than him so that he could contrast his life against her life. He needed to focus on her impurity. He needed to humiliate and condemn her. As long as she was "a sinner" he could be Simon the Pharisee. He could be Simon the one who has followed all the right rules. He could be Simon the Pharisee who knew the Torah by heart. He could be Simon who prayed and thanked God he was not like this "sinner" woman. He could be Simon the one who could point out the mistakes and the unrighteousness of others.
Simon needed her to be different. He needed someone to be different and today it was her turn. It was the only way he could prove that he was righteous and holy. Simon had spent his life distancing himself from such people.
Jesus on the other hand did everything he could to move towards this woman. He shared space with her as she washed and anointed his feet. He broke all kinds of social barriers to let this woman know that he loved her, accepted her and needed her.
Many scholars have focused on the expense of the perfume, but would it destroy us if:
+The reason she had it in the first place was because she made money as a prostitute or as an escort? Would that cheapen the gift?
+It was a gift given to her by a person with a worse sinful past than hers?
+Instead of some great smelling alabaster perfume the jar contained something far less expensive and far less aromatic.
The focus in the story is not on how much the alabaster jar cost but on the fact that Jesus moves towards this woman and receives her. Jesus embraces her. He considers her to be a person of great worth. He gives her dignity and honor. He moves closer to her rather than like Simon doing all he can to keep his distance.
It causes us to take a moment here and reflect. What for example would we do this morning if we found out through a vision from the LORD that this woman was a prostitute? Would we welcome her into our midst as Jesus did or would we want to keep our distance?
What would we do this morning if we found out that she was a drug addict, someone who had abused her children, a thief, a lesbian or a person who was an ancient transgendered person? Would we find ourselves moving away from her or would we do as Jesus did, would we receive her? Would we allow her to wash our feet with her tears and anoint our feet with her perfume? Or would we do our best to sit on the other side of the church? Would we wonder if we should go somewhere else to church? Would we shun her?
In John 17, Jesus prays for exactly these type of situations. Listen again to verses 15ff
"I do not ask that you (Father) take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."
The Son of God came for all of us; no matter if we think we are the best or worst of sinners. He receives us. He embraces us. He loves us. He accepts us. He wants us. He will redeem all of us who are willing to repent and surrender our lives to him. St. Paul reminds all of us in Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. To a righteous God there is no difference between Simon and this woman or us. God so loved us that He moved all the way from Heaven to earth to be near us.
III. Finally, we see Jesus focusing on Forgiving and Disciplining this woman whereas Simon does his best to Dismiss and Disregard her
There is a point as you read this story that you think that perhaps this woman came to Simon's party on purpose. That perhaps her presence was not so much an interruption as it was a part of Simon's testing of Jesus. Perhaps she had been paid to be the bait to see if Jesus was genuine or a fake.
Jesus had just recently raised the young man to life (Luke 7:11 - 17). Jesus had spent some time in Nain telling people about salvation and the Kingdom of God. The people had proclaimed Jesus to be a great prophet and that through him, the LORD was once again visiting his people.
Perhaps, just perhaps the woman being there was all a part of Simon's plan. After all, everyone around Nain knew that she was a sinner. If Jesus recognized it and acted accordingly then it would be yet another sign that he was in fact the real deal. It would mean that Jesus really was a prophet. He would be accepted. However, if she walked in and he didn't shy away from her or quickly condemn her then perhaps Jesus was in fact not a prophet but demon possessed. Perhaps instead of being a prophet, Jesus was the exact opposite - a man controlled and guided by Satan. Later on that is the very charge other scribes and Pharisees leveled against Jesus. (Matthew 12:22 - 37).
Whatever was the case, whether she had been invited to be a test or simply walked in on her own we can very quickly see her heart. It's not very long before she is overwhelmed by her guilt and sins. Her heart breaks as she begins to weep. As she washed and anointed Jesus' feet, I have no doubt she poured out her heart. I believe she very quietly ask Jesus to help her and to forgive her. No one had to convince her of her sins. She knew more than anyone else what she had done. I believe she was now doing all she could to ask for mercy and grace while she was washing, drying and anointing Jesus' feet.
Simon wanted to dismiss her and disregard her. He wanted her to disappear. She had become a major embarrassment. What she was doing was socially inappropriate. You don't come to a party to repent of your sins. You don't pour out your heart like this in public. You don't act this way.
But notice what Jesus does. Jesus reaches out and disciples her, forgives her and saves her.
I love the words we find in verse 48 - "And he said to her, "YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN."
Jesus pulls back the curtain of heaven for this woman and allows her to see his true identity. She is able to see that Jesus is more than just a prophet. He is the Messiah. He is the Savior of the World. He is her savior. Jesus shares His Life with her.
Some years ago a church was in the middle of an attendance drive. The Sunday School Chairman, the pastor and others were determined to reach the goal they had set for themselves. On one particular Sunday, after they added up the count they discovered that they needed two more people to make their goal for that day. They wondered what they could do.
Suddenly, someone suggested that they go outside and flag down the next car or two going down the street and asked the people if they would to just come into the church for 5 - 10 minutes. They could go to the restroom, get something to drink or eat or just rest. All they needed to do was to get them in the building for a few minutes. If they could do that they would meet their goal.
Sure enough, with a little convincing they were able to stop the next car. The people agreed to come in for a few minutes and then they were allowed to go on their way. As they left everyone rejoiced and celebrated. Their brilliant plan had worked. The couple had come in, stayed long enough to be counted. They had done their job. The church's attendance goal had been met.
That church was operating in the spirit as our Pharisee Simon. They had opened their doors so that they could reach a certain number. After they got what they wanted they dismissed the people. They didn't need them anymore. They had done their job. The attendance goal was the most important thing that day.
Jesus didn't and doesn't operate that way nor does he want us to operate that way. St. Luke is clear when she tells us that Jesus acknowledges this woman, he moves towards her, he begins to disciple her and forgive her sins. When she left that day, she wasn't dismissed, instead she was transformed. She was now a vital part of His Salvation Story. She was a Child of the King. Sadly, we don't know if that happened with Simon. In heaven's eyes, Simon was the true outsider. He just wouldn't recognize it.
Our position this morning then is to always be in the forgiveness and discipleship mode. No one in our lives should ever be simply dismissed or disregarded. No one should ever be treated as a number. No one should ever be treated anything less than God's Holy Child.
Jesus did not condone this woman's sin nor did he dismiss it. He did not attempt to hide her sins or act like they did not exist. Instead, he reached out in amazing forgiveness and offered her salvation. Jesus reached out and forgave her sins and sent her out in peace. Jesus removed her sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalms 103:12).
You and I this morning as we meet people St. Luke tells us that we have a choice - we can treat them as outsiders - in the spirit of Simon the Pharisee. We can focus on their reputation (good or bad), we can try to keep our distance and we can disregard them and dismiss them. We can treat them as if they do not matter. However, to do so would be to act more like the Devil than to act like the LORD.
Or we can do all we can to be Jesus to them. We can do all we can to develop a relationship. We can do all we can to move towards them and we can do all we can to bring about a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation in their lives. We can do all we can to make their lives richer, fuller and better.
This morning as we close let's allow the Holy Spirit to ask us some questions:
+How open is our hearts? Would we allow someone with a bad reputation to sit beside us? Would we scoot over and welcome a thief, an abuser, an addict, an idolater, an adulterer, a gay, lesbian or transgendered person to sit beside us? Would we welcome a person with a foul mouth or a sinful past? Would we reach out and receive them so that they could met Jesus and have their lives transformed?
If we are Simon we can't and we won't. After all we need to keep our distance. We need them to be sinful so that we can look good. We need them to stay unholy so that we can preach against the things that they are doing and to prove to others that we are different, that we are righteous and just.
If we are like Jesus then we reach out with open hearts and lives. If we are like Jesus we reach out and help them find salvation, forgiveness and peace. If we are like Jesus we help them discover how to live so that they can experience a life of freedom. A life free from sin, addictions and wrong lifestyles. If we are like Jesus we say - Sit right here beside me. We both need Jesus.
I don't think St. Luke shared this story to promote shame or blame. I do believe he shared it to help us know how to be better reach and help others in need. I believe he shared it so that we could welcome the stranger, the disenfranchised and even the sinner like Jesus. I think he shared it to inspire us to be like Jesus - a friend and Savior to all sinners.
This morning we are going to close with singing that great old hymn - WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.
This morning as we close - let's ask Jesus to help us to be like Jesus - a true friend to all sinners. If you would like to pray for someone or for yourself to be more open and more receiving our altars are open. If you would like to come and pray that our church will be more open to all people - regardless of their past - our altars are open. Let us sing.
1 When it comes to customer service strategies, Jeff didn't just read the book - he wrote it! He's the author of the best-selling business books, Becoming a Service Icon in 90 Minutes a Month and Influence with Ease. He is a Hall of Fame motivational speaker and has produced several training tools. His Influence with Ease® column has been syndicated and featured in over 200 business and on-line publications.
