Those amazing words “Your sins have been forgiven.” Not the evasive and evaporating forgiveness of self – or the rationalizing obscure feeling of trying forgiving each other.
The confusion and question of Simon and his friends echo through the centuries --“Who is this man who even forgives sins?” It would seem, sadly, that Simon never was able to answer that question. Why a sinful immoral woman could find the way, yet a learned man could not, are both great mystery, and a revealed truth. How can something so wonderful be hidden to one, yet revealed to another? – Shadow and fantasy to one – yet Truth and Life itself to another. The same Jesus is seen by the woman and the man, yet one sees Christ and the other a devil – One sees hope and salvation, the other sees only a man to be rejected and reviled.
The woman knew little about theology, philosophy and reason and yet was able to grasp the deepest and highest of knowledge – all she knew was that she had no where else to go – she was tired of the abyss and Jesus offered her a way out. Simon, was content with who he was, believed he had the system figured, and did not see himself in need of Jesus.
It would look as if it comes down one small word -- faith. Who do you have faith in? Simon and many other have their faith securely established in themselves or their systems of thought – even when it talked about God. The sinful woman – she had her faith in the person of Christ. I pray I come as simply as she– with as much abandonment, completely aware of my own un-re-payable debt. “And he said to the woman ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace”’
To all who would come, fall at the feet of Christ, weep and hold on to him He would say “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”
We long for peace in our lives. We all want and long to hear those words that we are forgiven and have been given salvation – that peace is within our grasp. When Jesus made that freeing statement to the woman, Simon and guests thought Jesus was minimizing sin, letting the woman off and ignoring the law – He wasn’t. He knew that the cost of turning in compassion to the woman and speaking those words she so longed to hear. It would mean He himself would have to fulfill the law. Her forgiveness, Simon’s potential forgiveness, would be at the cost of His own life.
You see, Simon and Jesus agreed about one fact at the conclusion of that dinner. Simon was probably convinced, ‘this guy has got to die’ if I’m going to find peace – What Simon couldn’t know is that the very person he was convinced had to die – had come to do just that. Jesus knew He had to die.
You’ve probably heard it said that salvation and peace are both the simplest – and most difficult decision one will every make. We come full circle to the question we asked at the opening. Who are you? When all is stripped away what are you left with? The answer to that question can be – alone and wandering – but it can also be, that who I am when all is stripped away, is a Child of God and a friend of Jesus – and that is more than enough.
Anyway I was just thinking.
Neil
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