Jesus is The Great Saviour of Great Sinners (Luke 7:36-50)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
11 August 2024
Jesus forgave a prostitute who had committed many sins. He is a great Saviour to great sinners. The forgiven woman now demonstrates her devotion to Jesus. Cleansed sinners become committed saints.
She finds her way to Jesus in the house of Simon a Pharisee. Simon had invited Jesus to his house. He most likely wanted to trap Jesus in something Jesus would say and thus accuse him of wrongdoing. Beware of those who are outwardly hospitable but inwardly hostile to Jesus.
The woman is determined to get through the crowd and get close to Jesus. She has a mission—to anoint Jesus with precious perfume.
Her devotion is costly for she brings the best. People who know the Lord’s forgiveness give their best to him.
The woman’s devotion is heart-felt. She weeps and washes the feet of Jesus with her tears and wipes his feet with her hair. She kisses his feet and anoints them with oil.
Jesus declares her sins are forgiven. Most likely she had met Jesus earlier and received forgiveness. Her devotion therefore is an expression of thanksgiving. She is fearless. She is not embarrassed. She is ready to face the wrath of the public. She has the makings of a martyr.
Jesus exposes the heart of Simon. Simon secretly questioned whether Jesus was truly a prophet of Israel for allowing this woman of low repute to touch him. But Jesus knew the heart of Simon. Jesus knows the hidden thoughts of everyone. He exposed Simon by telling a parable the point of which was people who have been forgiven the most, love the most. This woman was forgiven for great sins. She loved the most.
Jesus declares the woman has been forgiven. Those who sat at the table began to murmur among themselves as to who this was who even forgives sin. The whole episode is about the person of Jesus. Who is this Jesus who declares a person’s sin to be forgiven? Only God can forgive a sinner before the heavenly throne.
Jesus tells the woman to go in peace. This is a lasting peace. There is no condemnation on forgiven sinners. The woman must not condemn herself. She is forgiven; she is a new person. Jesus has cleansed her and has purged her of a guilty conscience.
Jesus is truly the great Saviour of great sinners.