01.03.21 I NEVER LOVED JESUS LIKE THIS WOMAN LOVED HIM, sermon at Trinity Baptist Church

I always learn a lot from Bro. Avery’s sermons. He is so clear and breaks it all down so well that even this girl gets it!. This Sunday’s sermon was exceptional. I hope if you haven’t listened to one before you will listen to this one. The sermon begins around minute 30.

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH sermon January 2, 2021

SERMON TITLE: I NEVER LOVED JESUS LIKE THIS

Click here to watch the Worship Service. The sermon begins around minute 30 https://fb.watch/ai-QQQ1lGR/

The scripture that this week’s sermon walks us through is Luke 7:36-50

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. ³⁷ And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, ³⁸ and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “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.” ⁴⁰ And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

⁴¹ “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ Then those who were at table with him began to say among^[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Introduction

* I do not think I have ever loved Jesus like this woman loved Him

* I have wept before my Lord, I have begged for His forgiveness, I have believed in His power and His person, but like this?? Never. This is something different

1) The Setting

* Luke 7:36

* The woman is described only as a sinner

* We do not know what sort of sinner she was… just that it was obvious… which means bad

* It is likely she was some sort of prostitute but we do not know that

* She is simply referred to as a sinner… and it seems she was well know as a sinful woman

2) The Act of Love

* Luke 7:38

* Notice what that woman does and the humility and gratitude and love displayed

* She gets behind Him… she does not get to His side or to His front

* She is not trying to be seen by Him… she says nothing… And she goes to the dirtiest part of Jesus

* His feet… likely very dirty from traveling

* And as we know from the text… He had not had His feet washed yet

* The woman is weeping… an overflow of emotion… This is an emotional devotion

* She seems to be compelled by her emotions

* Knowing what others think of her, she comes anyway… And she comes behind Jesus and she is weeping

* Her tears wet His feet and she begins to wipe them with her hair

* The hair that God had given her became a rag

* She then began to kiss His feet and anoint them with expensive oil

3) The Loveless Reaction

* Luke 7:39

* The Pharisee began to question the character and quality of who Jesus is

* And he also put down on the woman saying to himself… if Jesus only knew what this woman was

* And in the process guess who He was elevating? Himself! The Pharisee was exalting himself…

* The Pharisee questioned the nature of Jesus… he put down on the sinful woman

* And all the while… he thought himself as a worthy judge of character

4) The Parable

* Luke 7:40-43

* Notice in the parable neither debtors could pay

* Not the one with little debt… nor the one with a lot of debt… They we’re both unable to pay

* And then Jesus asks the question… Which forgiven debtor will love the money lender more

* Essentially… who will be more appreciative… And Simon answers correctly

* It will be the one who is forgiven more

5) Jesus’ Response to Simon

* Like 7:44-47

* Jesus says to Simon… Do you see this woman? Do you see her?

* Jesus is about to show Simon the error of His ways….

* The sinful woman is the object lesson for this Pharisee

* This established religious elitist is getting schooled on what devotion to God truly looks like

* Do you see this woman? Notice her actions… Jesus says…

* She wet my feet with her tears… She wiped my feet with her hair

* She has not ceased to kiss my feet… She just stayed there, knowing who He was

* Kissing His feet as an act of love and devotion and recognition of who He was

* He tells Simon that her sins are forgiven

* On first reading this… you may think that Jesus is going to forgive her of her sins

* But you would be missing out on this verb here that says…

* Her sins ARE forgiven… Which means they were and still continue to be

* I want you to understand the Pharisee is not off the hook

* This does not mean his sins are forgiven… It simply means he can’t see them

* He is blind to his sin

* So he doesn’t see the great need like the woman did

6) The Grace of Jesus

* Luke 7:48-50

* Jesus makes sure this is know… He said it was her faith that saved her…

* Not the actions… not the weeping and kissing and the wiping…

* It was the faith… faith in Jesus as God to forgive sins and grant eternal life

YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!