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*Jesus, Friend of Sinners*
*April 9, 2000 Luke 7:36-8:3*
*Introduction:*
In last week's message (Lk.
7:18-35) we learned that:
/Jesus is the power of God that is applied differently than our expectations./
/Jesus is the grace of God that gives us a message greater than John the Baptist./
/Jesus is the promise of God that sets those who believe in him above those who do/ /not./
And now in this morning's passage (Lk.
7:36-8:3) we will see a marvelous enactment of these three great truths in an actual event, and in the opportunity for instruction that follows it.
We see yet another aspect of who Jesus is.
He is the friend of sinners (Lk.
7:34).
And it is sinners who will be called his children and will vindicate his wisdom Lk. 7:35).
*What is the Subject: The Big Question of the passage?*
How is it possible to become friends with Jesus?
Have you ever felt like you didn't have any friends?
Have you ever felt forsaken and alone, even when surrounded by the members of your own family?
Have you ever felt so misunderstood that you wondered if real communication would ever be possible with anyone?
Have friends and family either abandoned you or passed away?
Perhaps you feel like you've messed up so bad that no one could ever truly accept you again.
You feel judged and condemned and you can't even accept yourself.
Listen on!
There is hope!
There is a friend who will never leave you nor forsake you.
I.
Cycle One – The Dinner
A.
Narrative (7:36-38)
1.
The Pharisee
This event is strikingly similar to an event recorded in Mt. 26, Mk. 14, and Jn. 12 that takes place in Bethany later in Jesus' ministry.
In that event, a woman pours costly perfume over Jesus' head in preparation for his burial, and the question of wasting the value of the perfume on such a use rather than giving the money to the poor becomes primary.
This event probably takes place in the vicinity of Nain, since that is the last location that Luke gives us where Jesus raised the widow's son.
A Pharisee invites Jesus to his home for dinner.
Now this Pharisee may be one that had heard the convicting message that Jesus had just given about John the Baptist.
Jesus concluded that message by essentially condemning those like the Pharisees who would not come to God either through the way John presented his message or the way he presented his.
The Pharisees found fault with both judgment and grace since they did not want to be accountable to God.
But this Pharisee was seeking, although somewhat tentatively.
At least he invited this one, Jesus, who was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard to dinner to find out.
It remained to be seen by him whether wisdom would be "proved right by her children."
The Pharisee, named Simon, had not yet formed a fully negative opinion of Jesus.
And so they reclined at the table, talking and eating.
Presumably the discussion was well in hand.
2.
The Prostitute
But then a woman comes to the house.
She is on a mission.
This dining situation must have been relatively open because she was free to enter.
But considering the events that follow, I doubt that would normally have been the case.
You see, she was a prostitute.
And that is how the Pharisee saw her.
She had a reputation in that town.
She was impure and unholy and filled with sin.
She was likely a victim of social degeneration - not unlike many today.
But she had choices to make.
That is the beauty of Jesus.
He gives us choices to make.
He is both pro-choice and pro-life because he gives us the opportunity to choose life where seemingly little choice existed before.
She is one of the "poor" to whom Jesus has been anointed to bring the good news.
But how do people get into these situations that we might call "social realities" both then and now?
She may have been forced into the sexual marketplace by lack of attachment to, or identification with, a man.
She had no other source or prospect of income.
She may have been sold into sexual slavery by her parents to pay the debts that they had fallen into either from bad choices or circumstances.
She was one of the "poor" that Luke so pointedly upholds in the ministry of his gospel.
But note in verse 37 that she had lived a sinful life in that town.
Something was in process here.
Perhaps she had seen Jesus in his powerful compassion raise the widow's son.
Perhaps she had heard his message that those who were least in the kingdom of God were greater than John the Baptist.
Perhaps she had heard him say that he was a friend of sinners and that wisdom would be proved right by her children.
She was one of those who acknowledged that God's way was right.
She was convicted and repentant.
She had found hope and came in utter devotion.
Nothing could deter her – not even the judgmental prospect of entering the Pharisee's house – this one who disdained her as unclean and a consort with Gentiles.
She has confidence that Jesus will not reject her.
And the genuine attraction of his friendship overcomes all obstacles.
3.
The Outpouring
She comes with an alabaster jar of perfume.
And she knows now what she wants to do with it.
This is the sum of her wealth.
It is the fruit of all her labors in pedaling the deceitfulness of pleasure.
It was what she used to attract her lovers like a moth around the firelight.
It is the wages of sin.
It is her capital investment.
She had been a successful prostitute.
But now she spends it all on the love of her life as she kneels behind Jesus and pours it on his feet.
And why on his feet?
Because in the humility that comes with repentance and devotion and worship, it is where we all belong.
She is so overcome with him and his genuine love for her that her emotions bring forth a flood of tears that also fall at his feet.
They are the tears of joy, the tears of remorse, the tears of repentance.
Her faith is expressed by action- it is a faith response.
Faith in Jesus prompts acts of love toward Jesus.
What a beautiful offering this is indeed.
Perfume, yes, but with the heavenly fragrance of personal worship.
It is a fragrance compounded.
It is heaven scent.
But it is outrageous when seen from the perspective of the Pharisee.
She is touching him – Jesus, her new lover - her eternal lover.
She will never need another, and she knows it.
And he permissively receives her devotion.
All her life she has longed to give herself in this way without reservation or fear.
She has found life – new life.
She has found what no other man can give her.
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