Do you and I understand the depths of God’s grace and the forgiveness we’ve received through Jesus Christ?  How has that understanding shaped our relationship with God?

In Luke 7, we read the beautiful story of a woman finding Jesus at Simon’s house.   Simon, a Pharisee, has invited Jesus to dinner and is put off by Jesus allowing “this kind of woman” to kiss his feet.  What kind of woman was she?   Could she have been a prostitute?  Could this be the same woman Jesus forgives and rescues from an angry mob ready to stone her for adultery in John 8?   Likely not.  The Feeding of the 5000 comes in Luke 9, after this story.  In John’s Gospel, we read this same story in chapter 6, before the adulterous woman account account in John 8.

How did this woman respond to being in Jesus’ love and acceptance for her?   She wept.  Her tears fell on his feet.  She wiped them up with her hair.  She took her expensive perfume and anointed his feet, and then she kissed his feet repeatedly.  Wow!  Such an overwhelming display of humility.  Such extravagant gratitude.

What is Jesus’ response?  What does He say?   This woman loves much because she has been forgiven much.   Simon is scolded by Jesus for nor demonstrating love and gratitude.   Simon doesn’t see the magnitude of his own sin.  Simon sees himself as righteous, as good enough.

Oh, how often I approach my Savior more like Simon rather than like this woman.  I forget the magnitude of my sin and the extravagance of God’s grace.  How about you?

“He who has been forgiven much loves much.”

Father, help me to see my sin for what it is so I can see your grace for what it is.  I want to love much!