Christ Takes Our Debt

Read Luke 7:36-50

The woman, labeled as a “sinner” by the Pharisee, was probably looked down on by her whole community. However, not only did the woman receive forgiveness from Jesus, but He used her as an example of how we should respond to God taking our debts.
Her sins were not forgiven as a result of her sacrificing expensive perfume or wetting Jesus’ feet with her tears. As Jesus said, “her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown”. No human “good works” we do can gain forgiveness. The woman’s faith in God saved her, and her grateful actions reflect this.
The Pharisee, high in rank and in “religiousness”, is represented by the person in Jesus’ story that borrowed fifty denarii. He borrowed less, was forgiven for less, and thus loved Jesus less. Jesus makes it clear that this response is erroneous, and rebukes him for it. I read the sentence “but whoever has been forgiven little loves little” almost as a sarcastic statement—does Jesus ever forgive “little”? According to God’s standards, no sin is little. God is perfect and just; even as His heart breaks as His sheep sin against Him, He extends endless mercy for the world’s endless waywardness.
Jesus ungrudgingly forgave both the woman and the Pharisee, and Jesus loves both the woman and the Pharisee—regardless of how much they love Him. God sent His only begotten son to die on the cross; He not only endured tremendous physical pain but also shouldered for us the burden of our sins and absorbed for us God’s wrath. His sacrifice extends past Bible times and into our daily lives. Our appropriate response should be a constant outpouring of gratitude, a lifestyle of worship.
Being sinful human beings, living a lifestyle of worship is not easy. Jesus says, “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Mathew 16:25). The spiritual discipline of stewardship means realizing that everything we have, including time, money, abilities, relationships, etc. is a gift from God and should be used for God’s glory and God’s kingdom. I have learned from my failures, and am still learning, that I cannot always make the right choices by myself. True strength and comfort always comes from God. We must pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit first, before the Fruit of the Spirit blossoms in us.
Spend some time in thanksgiving for God’s endless and unconditional mercy and friendship.