Jesus Looking at His Own Cross

A Walk with Luke(2)

#isovs Gu Na3i Ir Qa[in

>ovgasi Tidangivnen (2)

Luke 7:36-50

We have just studied the story of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Publican). We saw that the center of the story is not just how to pray but how Christ became the Lamb of God whose sacrifice on the cross brought redemption for our sins resulting in our reconciliation with God.

We move to another account again told by Luke, this time Jesus is invited to have dinner with Simon the Pharisee.

When we invite someone for dinner, we as hosts do whatever it takes to honor the invited guest. In our society, we open the door, we greet them either shaking hands or hugging, we take their coat, and ask them to have a seat and feel comfortable.

In those days, the things one did to honor guests were quite different.

First they would kiss the guests. If the one who invited was a Rabbi and the invitee was Rabbi, they would kiss each other’s cheeks. If the invitee was a student, the invitee would kiss the hand of the Rabbi. If the invitee was a slave, he would kiss the feet of the Rabbi.

Then they would offer olive oil for refreshing. It is good for hair and skin. Remember they did not take showers every day!

Last thing before the meal the host will provide water for washing the feet. If he had salve the slave will do that.

Now Simon, who knew all this, did not do any of them.

How come this woman was in the house?

The main invitees would recline and eat; the beggars and others would stay behind, near the wall and would start telling praises towards the host family, so that at the end they would get some leftover food. It seems this woman, who heard that Jesus will be dining in this house, also came. ??

I believe this woman heard Jesus’ teaching. She experienced God’s love towards the sinner. Now she is following Jesus and has tremendous respect, love and adoration towards him.

She took a big risk.

She realized that Simon is not honoring his guest in the proper way.

-She took the risk, by revealing her hair (that was only done in front of the husband), then touching a man (who is not her husband), then washing the feet of Jesus with her tears; more than that, she poured the expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus. She took a major risk by doing all this.

-She loved Jesus very much. She was broken in tears. I believe part of the tears is due to her shame and guilt, and the other part is because she was sad that this rabbi did not receive the respect he deserved.

-By pouring the expensive perfume, which was used in her profession, she is declaring that she does not need this anymore. She gives up her old life. She surrenders completely to this Savior.

Simon did not like this. Simon accused Jesus for allowing that WOMAN to touch him. If Jesus were a prophet, he would know what kind of a woman that person was. What kind of Rabbi is Jesus?

Now Jesus tells a parable of debtors. (explain)

Let us continue:

“Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. (44-47)

You see Jesus was very strongly telling Simon his problem.

Jesus did not play a political game. He could say to the woman, “Thank you, not now, later….” No, Jesus allowed the woman to do whatever she wanted to do. WHY?

Praising this woman in public and rebuking Simon (the Pharisee) in his house was a strong statement.

Jesus took on him all the blames and accusations of the woman.

If the woman represented the “sinner” in the story, Jesus took on his shoulders the sins of this woman.

If society pointed fingers at this woman as an unworthy and bad woman, Jesus took all those sins on his shoulder.

Now, instead of staring at this woman, the people were looking at Jesus with anger. No wonder they crucified him.

The story of the cross is not told here directly, yet it is in the actions of Jesus. Jesus is looking to his own cross; he is absorbing the sins, guilt, and the shame of the people. No wonder they crucified him.

The same scenario happened with Zacchaeus. He was tax collector hated by everyone. Yet he wanted to see Jesus. He accepted the invitation of Jesus. He wanted to be found by Jesus. He surrendered to Jesus. The audience hated Zacchaeus. But Jesus took all the blame, and all eyes turned toward Jesus. No wonder they crucified him.

We are studying our Lord Jesus, who is looking at His own cross. Yes, he knows exactly that these events were going to be very costly.

Application: subjective way to look at this events.

The common denominator between the Publican, the tax collector, the woman, and Zacchaeus is that they all realized they needed Jesus. They need atonement. They needed repentance.

Last Sunday someone told me that my sermons are depressing him. He did not commit any crimes; he did not steal; he did not feel he was a sinner.

You know, this is the main problem in our churches. The intention of these sermons is not to put guilt feelings or feelings of shame in you. I hope the Word of God will alert you to wake up from a long sleep in self-justification.

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

How do we go out from this sanctuary?

Allow Jesus to come and restore you.

Amen