Turning
Read Luke 7:36-50
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 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. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Big Idea: When you sin, turn towards Jesus.
As she approached the house of the Pharisee, she knew that others were aware of her sin. Heading to the door holding her bottle of perfume, she must have felt fear in her belly wondering if she would be rejected or turned away from the house. But the need within her outweighed all else, and she threw herself at the feet of Jesus in humility, repentance, and gratitude.
Jesus asked the religious leader, “Do you see this woman?” In truth, Jesus was the only one in the room that did. He knew every tiny detail of her sin and past. As the Light of the world (John 8:12), all is exposed on display before Him. But instead of turning away in disgust, Jesus turned towards her offering the two things she needed more than anything… forgiveness and peace.
When we sin, our response is to run away from God in fear and shame, and the sin eats away within us like a plague. But when we come to Jesus in honest confession and repentance, we leave His presence with forgiveness and peace. No longer does our sin weigh down our heart, but we feel freedom. As we look up from our place of repentance, we see that Jesus is turned towards us with love.
If you are dealing with sin, addictions, or shame, confess it to God, turn, and repent. Ask for help and accountability from a trusted friend or pastor. Read these words of David, allowing the truth of God’s word to get down within your heart. Run towards Jesus today.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32: 1-7
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