I recently read a story about Alan Calhoun of Bristol, Connecticut who spoke about a tag sale ... a garage sale ... that he and wife had several years ago.
They had decided to put out a mirror that they had received as a wedding gift.
The reason they were selling it .... was that it had a gaudy aqua-colored metal frame ... and they just could not find a room in their house ... where it looked good.
Shortly after the tag sale began, ... a man who was looking to decorate his apartment bought the mirror ... for one dollar.
He was so excited, and he said to Allen after he bought it:
"This is a great deal - it still has the plastic on it."
Then he peeled off the aqua-colored protective covering ... to reveal a beautiful gold finished frame underneath.
(Pause)
Lots of people go to garage sales looking for bargains like that.
Some people have a saying about garage sales:
"One man's trash ... is another man's ....... treasure,"
The hope of many ... is that once in a while ... you will stumble upon a treasure ... that the owner does not know the value of. (Pause)
Jesus had been preaching Galilee ... for nearly a year now ... and His popularity is growing rapidly, particularly among the common people.
Everyone loved to be near Jesus.
Well... almost everyone.
Most of the Pharisees actually hated Him.
He did not pander to them, ... and occasionally He said things ... that ruffled their feathers ... and challenged their rules.
They do not like Him, but they are not so sure how to handle Him.
They have tried ignoring Him.
They have tried publicly opposing Him.
They have tried entrapping Him in doctrinal disputes.
Yet .... Nothing seemed to work.
But now enters ... Simon the Pharisee who believes he has found a way to take him out.
A way he believes will humiliate this new teacher and render His influence useless.
So Simon invites Jesus to a meal ... and then he snubs Him.
Rabbinical behavior .... in that day required the host to have his servant wash the guest's feet.
That servant was then expected to anoint his visitor's head with oil.
But the host himself was required to greet his guest with a kiss on the cheek.
With the Kiss ... The host was essentially declaring that he regarded his guest as his equal.
It was a signal that this honored guest was like one of the family.
Simon not only did not think of Jesus as ... quote ... "one of the family", he held Him in contempt.
But why did he go to all the trouble of inviting this new teacher to his home, .... To put on a lavish meal ... and perhaps opening his home to the community ... to meet this new teacher .... and then insult Jesus in front of all who are present?
I am convinced that Simon's objective was to get under Jesus' skin.
To throw Him off balance.
He intended to goad Jesus into making a statement ... or behaving in such a manner ... that he could then use ... to compromise his claims. (Pause)
When President Clinton was being challenged by the Republican congress ... which was then led by Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Some believe that the President successfully humiliated Congressman Gingrich ... and then used the situation ... to turn public opinion against the congressman.
Gingrich had been traveling on Air Force One and felt that he had been snubbed and relegated to the back of the plane.
If insulting Gingrich had been what the President or his aides intended ... it worked flawlessly.
For Gingrich rose to the bait ... and openly complained to the press ... about his supposed mistreatment.
The result was that the congressman was publicly viewed as a spoiled kid .... and the President became portrayed as a ... misunderstood statesman.
It was the beginning of the end for Gingrich's career ... and his threat to President Clinton.
It seems that was also Simon the Pharisee's objective with Jesus.
And it could have worked.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15)
Rabbinic literature states ... that if one partakes of a meal in which a scholar is present, ... it is as if he feasted .... on the radiant splendor ... of Divine Presence.
And when Simon addressed Jesus as quote Teacher ... he acknowledged .... that Jesus was indeed a scholar.
The absolute minimum that would be expected would have been a kiss of greeting, ... a little water for his feet ... and olive oil ...which all household had ... with which to anoint himself.
Jesus knew ... and all of the guests were keenly aware ... that Simon's behavior was intended as an insult.
I am sure we have all encountered this type of treatment at one time or another.
And maybe we have said things ... we should not have or... behaved in a less than gracious manner.
The Scriptures share with us that, Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are ... yet was without sin" (Hebrew 4:15)
Jesus could overlook this slight by Simon because Jesus knew Who He was.
He is the King of Kings ... and the Lord of Lords.
With Myriads of angels at his command.
Jesus knew who he was ... and he did not need Simon's approval ... or acceptance.
In the same way, ... we can rise above such pettiness ... if we have confidence in who We are in Christ Jesus.
We are the children of the King ... we are sons and daughters of El Shadi.
And We have an inheritance ... that many in this world will never see ... or experience.
If you know who you are in Christ Jesus ... then what the world throws at you ... is of little significance.
Beloved ... it is valuable for us to remember that Jesus Not Only came to give us everlasting life.
He also came to show us how to live that life.
In our text, ... Jesus refuses to give Simon the satisfaction ... by even initially commenting about this treatment.
Yet he does something very power.
After the omission of these three courtesies ... which no one in the room would have failed to observe ... our text states that ... "he entered and reclined". (Luke 7:36)
By reclining ... Jesus takes the part of the eldest... for the eldest teacher ... according to the Talmud is to recline first.
This was a stunning and highly dramatic action ... which surely caught Simon ... and the others off their guard.
So what happens next?
There was a woman in the room ... who saw the Lord's mistreatment.
She was not the sort of woman you would ordinarily invite ... to a scholarly banquet.
She was a streetwalker, ...a prostitute.
It is the thought by some historians ... that prostitutes of that day ... often wore a vial of perfume by a cord ... around their neck.
In a culture where bathing was infrequent, ... a pleasant fragrance ... would have been a part of her stock in trade.
And here she is at Simon's home.
So What is she doing there?
Our Gospel text informs us that she ... "learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house." (Luke 7:37)
We are told that she begins to weep.
I do not believe she intended to.
I do not believe it was part of her plan.
But I think there was something about being this close to Jesus ... and seeing his mistreatment ... that simply overwhelmed her.
Jesus tells Simon ... "From the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet." (Luke 7:45)
The host refused the traditional courtesies ... very well ... she will compensate for his rudeness ... and offer them herself.
Yet How she has no water, no towel, no oil?
Only someone who had been forgiven much and therefore loved much ...could anoint Jesus feet ... as this woman did.
She is in anguish ... before her eyes this ... this man of God who set her free from sin ...is being publicly humiliated.
She washes his feet with her tears for she has no water.
She dries his feet with her hair ... for she has no towel.
She anoints him with perfume for he has no oil.
Beloved ... in the culture of that time... no women ...not even a prostitute ... would let their hair down in public.
In middle eastern society, ... a bride on the night of her wedding ... lets down her hair and allows it to be seen ... by her husband for the first time.
No one around the room ... could have missed the overtone ... of the women's gesture.
By unloosing her hair, ... she is making some form of ultimate pledge of loyalty ... to Jesus.
The critical question is ... will Jesus accept or reject ... this extraordinary act ... by this woman?
At every turn in the Scriptures ... stories about and from Jesus ... it is important to ask, ... In the light of the cultural world of his day, ... what was Jesus expected to do?
In this case the answer is easy.
He is expected to be embarrassed by the "touching" that he was receiving ... from the woman ... and shocked that she exposed her hair.
Everyone in the room would assume ... We know we should never assume.
But everyone in the room would assume... that he would judge these acts as ... unacceptable behavior ... and ask Simon to have a servant ... remove her.
But to their amazement Jesus says nothing.
Now Simon has been watching this little drama unfold.
A grin must have fallen over his face.
"Gotcha... I have you Jesus!
This man who claims to be a prophet, ... yet he doesn't even know who this woman is ... that is wiping His feet ... with her hair.
He doesn't know that the perfume she has poured on Him ... is part of her foul occupation......... I have him."
All Simon has to do to destroy Jesus... is to destroy this woman.
To expose her for what she is... in front of all of his guests.
Beloved, self-righteousness is an ugly thing.
It puts a nasty "aqua colored" film ... over a person's eyes ... and makes it so they cannot see the inner value ... in the souls of others.
And I have no doubt ... that as he is watching this woman kneel at Jesus' feet ... he is thinking of some sharp, ... ugly comment to make ... that would embarrass this woman, ... and Jesus with her.
Hear God's word: BIBLE "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him -- that she is a sinner." And Jesus answered him "Simon I have something to say to You.
Teacher he replied speak." END (Luke 7:36-50)
From Simon's response we discover a part of the agenda ... Jesus was invited by the Pharisees for an examination.
Jesus then tells his story... the parable.
"There were once two men who owed moneylender a great deal of money.
One owned 500 denarii (about 1 ½ years wages).
Another owed 50 denarii (about 2 months' wages).
Neither could repay their debt, ... and so the money lender ... acting with compassion ...- cancelled the debt of both.
Now, Simon, ... which .... would love the moneylender more?" (Luke 7:36-50)
Simon just could not help himself.
He was a good Pharisee ... and would show his wisdom ... to this upstart teacher.
For in the Old testament as well as the New the phrases "cancelling of debt" and "forgiving a debt or sin" overlap ... and at times are expressed ... with the same words.
So he responded ... "I suppose the one who owed most ... loved most." (Luke 7:43)
Jesus responded: "Well said Simon, you have judged correctly." (Luke 7:43)
Then Jesus literally turned His back on Simon and faced the woman.
He turned away from the judgmental, self-righteousness of the Pharisee toward the simple repentance of this woman.
As Paul Harvey States the rest of the story:
BIBLE "Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet but she bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss but this woman, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins which are many have been forgiven, hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" And Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." END (Luke 7:36-50)
He who has been forgiven little, ... loves little.
What a scathing comment. (Pause)
During an evangelistic service, ... an invitation was given at the close of the Message for all those who wished to turn their lives over to Christ.
One of the first persons to walk down the aisle ... and kneel at the altar ... was a well-known prostitute.
She knelt, ... she wept, ... she asked God to forgive her, ... meanwhile the rest of the congregation looked on approvingly at what she was doing.
Then she stood and testified that she believed God had forgiven her for her past life, ... and that she now wanted to become a member of the church.
For a few moments, ... the silence was deafening.
Finally, ... a man named Samuel Colgate arose and said, ... "I guess we blundered when we prayed that the Lord would save sinners.
We forgot to specify what kind of sinners.
We had better ask him to forgive us for this oversight.
The Holy Spirit has touched this woman and made her truly repentant, ... but the Lord apparently does not understand .... that she's not the type we want him... to rescue.
We'd better spell it out for him just which sinners we had in mind."
Immediately, ... a motion was made and unanimously approved that the woman be accepted into membership in the congregation. (Pause)
Jesus told Simon: "I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-- for she loved much." (Luke 7:47)
The Scriptures are clear "love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7-8)
Without a love and compassion for others, ... Simon neither understood ... nor loved the real God ... of his people.
When Simon the Pharisee looked on this woman, all he saw was a prostitute.
That is all she was... all she'd ever be, .... and she was never going to change.
The evangelist Tony Campolo wrote of a college class he once taught ... where one of his Jewish students commented .... that, "Jesus never met a prostitute.
I jumped at the opening; ... here was my chance, I thought.
I could show this guy a thing or two about Jesus .... and about the New Testament.
"Yes, He did," I responded.
"I'll show you in my Bible where-"
The young man interrupted.
"You didn't hear me, Dr. .... I said Jesus never met a prostitute."
Once again I protested.
Once again I reached for my New Testament.
I started to leaf through the pages of my Bible searching for passages .... which showed Jesus forgiving the "fallen woman."
I searched for the place where He gave the woman at the well .... a chance for spiritual renewal.
Once again, .... my Jewish student spoke out, ... this time with a touch of anger ... in his raised voice.
"You're not listening to me, Doctor.
You aren't listening to what I am saying.
I am saying that Jesus never met a prostitute.
Do you think that when he looked at Mary Magdalene he saw a prostitute?
Do you think he saw only fallen women ... when he looked at women like her?
Doctor, listen to me!
Jesus never met a prostitute!" (Pause)
When Jesus looked on such women ... He didn't see them as they were.
He saw them as they could be.
When he looked at us ... he did not see who we were in sin ... he saw what we could be.
To Jesus, .... sin has always been an ugly aqua colored film ... that hides the true beauty underneath
.
Beloved ... see others as Christs sees them... see others ... and yourself ... through his eyes.
Allow him to remove the aqua colored film and allow yourself and others to shine brightly in the light of the S-O-N.
Amen and Amen!
Much of this Message is from a Book by Kenneth E. Bailey Titled "Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes" and a Sermon by Jeff Strite Titled "Jesus & The Party Crasher" I commend both to you.
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal donation: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead" (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings Jeff.
