Asking the Right Question
I’ve referenced before while preaching, that Jennifer and I have been trained by Christian friends to make sure that we are “asking the right question.” This means that when we’re praying or talking to other believers we need to make sure that the “right” questions are asked. For example, when asking for God to show you what company will be best for you; perhaps you are asking the wrong questions and you should ask ‘what company do You want me to work at?’ The focus is very important.
Luke 7:36-39; 44-49
36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Traditional View
Traditionally I see Pastors talking about this scripture reference from the aspect of the woman’s convictions and faith saving her. But what if the focus is wrong, and the focus is not on the relationship of Christ and the woman?
We’ve seen over and over the “marketable” Christ. The Christ where it’s easy for everyone to accept, the Christ that is easy to approach as a buddy and runs about blessing the little children. However, we miss the ubiquitous instances where Christ is stressing his masculinity and authority.
The Authority
See, when I read this scripture, I see Christ standing boldly before the religious leaders of the time, the rulers who can and will eventually kill Christ – but only in His time – and only because He ordained it. I see Christ standing and telling this religious leaders “You say that only God can forgive sins – I say that I am God and this woman’s sins are forgiven.”
Imagine the scene! Do you think that this was a soft spoken cowering man, that whispered these words? These words were His death penalty! No, I see a strong man, with an ability to command an audience just by His presence. I see Him looking each Pharisee in the eye; ensuring that He had their direct attention and then with the same voice that commanded the creation of the earth, speaking forgiveness to a prostitute; and using that instant to stand in for her penalty. Understand, that in order for Him to forgive that sin; He would have to go to the cross and die. His blood washed those sins away.
We glance through this scripture with an almost casual respect for what we believe to be a predictable story. We get shivers with the rousing speeches of man; yet when we read the actual words of God we scan over them. Why!?! Because the focus is on us and not Him.
I pray that our focus will be on Him, I pray that our vision of Christ is refelctive of who He is and now who we want Him to be.
