Articles
Do I Love Jesus Little or Much?
People find it hard to do the Lord's work in every congregation. When we struggle, we often attribute it to burnout or discouragement. Indeed, things discourage us, such as when a brother or sister falls to sin and away from the Lord. When we cannot take a break and recharge, we experience burnout. Why do we find it hard to prioritize working for Jesus? Let me suggest another possibility. Do I love Jesus little or much?
In Luke 7:36-50, Luke records Jesus' dinner with Simon the Pharisee. The dinner is significant because the Pharisees were furious with Jesus due to his opposition to their traditions (6:11). In all probability, Simon was more or less curious about Jesus but did not see him as worthy of the respect he would have shown to his colleagues. As the narrative shows, Simon does not believe he needs anything from Jesus.
When Jesus enters Simon's house, "a woman of the city" approaches Jesus from behind his dining couch. She is weeping and begins to wash Jesus' feet with her tears and wipe them clean with her hair. The guests cannot ignore her because she breaks open an alabaster jar of ointment and anoints Jesus' feet. The aroma of the ointment filled the room. Simon notices her and makes a judgment about Jesus, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner. " In Simon's estimation, a prophet would not let a sinner touch and defile him.
Jesus knew what Simon was thinking. He challenged Simon's assumptions with a parable. Jesus said to him, "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon said, "I suppose the one, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." Jesus said, "You have judged rightly."
As a master teacher, Jesus makes application by contrasting the woman's actions with Simon's. Simon invited Jesus to dine with him but did not show him the common courtesies of hospitality. He did not greet Jesus with a kiss, offer water to wash his feet, and did not anoint Jesus' head with oil. In a hot and dusty climate, where walking involved maneuvering around animal waste, it was simply common courtesy to offer guests the opportunity to clean their feet. Offering to anoint your guest's head with oil was similar to offering lotion for dry skin when traveling in the desert. Simon did none of these things for Jesus. Through his inaction, Simon disrespected Jesus and revealed his disregard for his teaching.
The "woman of the city" humbled herself, washing Jesus' feet with her tears and hair, anointing his feet with ointment, and constantly kissing his feet. She sought repentance and forgiveness of her sins. Her actions revealed a desperate need for Jesus. Jesus knew her many sins. Her penitent actions brought forgiveness from the Lord.
The unspoken contrast is that Simon felt no need to repent or seek forgiveness from Jesus. The woman knew her sins were many and begged for forgiveness. Simon showed Jesus no courtesy because he loved little. The woman of the city loved Jesus much because her sins were many.
Did you "grow up in the church?" When you were baptized, did you think you needed forgiveness? Did you see yourself with "many" sins? Do you contrast yourself with people of the world and conclude you are a good person? A failure to understand our sinfulness leads to Simon's attitude. Remember Jesus' application: "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."
When you struggle with doing Jesus' work, ask, do I love Jesus little or much?
