Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven –for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)

Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, healing the sick, preaching the gospel, and forgiving sins. Fantastic! Excellent! Non-Christians – and some Christians too – worship actors, musicians, and athletes. They set their sights too low. Jesus Christ slept during a fatal storm, woke up, and rebuked the winds and the waves, and they ceased. Then he turned and rebuked his disciples, as if to say, “What? You woke me up for this?” Thousands followed him and they had nothing to eat. Jesus said to his disciples, “You give them to something to eat.” They stuttered and choked. So he took some food and multiplied it, and made too much of it so that there were leftovers. Pilate said to him, “Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you or to put you to death?” Jesus replied, “You have no power over me except that which is given to you from heaven.” They spat on him, whipped him, and nailed him to the cross, and he said, “Father, forgive them.” He died, so they put him in a grave. He waited a few days and walked right back out.

Jesus was the most spectacular man who ever walked the earth. He makes the world’s idols look like losers, and all non-Christian religious figures look like clowns. In the light of his blinding glory, it is difficult to admire someone who runs a little faster than others, or who can hit a ball harder than the rest. Some theologians will tell you that the goodness of creation renders it acceptable, and even obligatory, to pursue the lesser things of this world, and then they go to church and sing, “And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”

They say that God’s authority is over all things, so you must watch some movies and play some sports, and invest in the stocks. It is strange that the doctrine seems to justify just about anything that they already want to do. Paul writes, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” One theologian replies that this is not a spatial distinction, but an ethical one. But the previous verse says, “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” The ascension of Christ was spatial – his body was taken up and placed on a seat of power. The theologian’s statement, which aims to protect his tradition, implies a denial of this. And when a theologian’s attempt to justify his own desires (he wishes to set his mind on earthly things) becomes blatant heresy, surely a cry of anathema is in order.

So I remain undeterred and unashamed in the pursuit of spiritual-mindedness, and in fixing my thoughts on the Lord Jesus. Forgiveness intrigues me — music and sports, politics and culture, not so much. Even if all things are acceptable, not all things are worthwhile. My attention remains captured by the forgiveness of sins — my sins. Let me think about Jesus some more. What a beautiful savior! The Pharisee did not think so, because he assumed that Jesus should have and would have behaved differently if he had known what kind of person this woman was. But Jesus did know; rather, it was the Pharisee who lacked understanding about sin and shame, repentance and gratitude, and love toward God.

Jesus likened sin to an objective debt. A person who owes money lives with much fear and embarrassment. And there are dreadful consequences to his failure to pay. The more he owes, the greater the pressure and desperation. But the forgiveness of his debt fills him with relief and gratitude, probably in an even greater measure than the darkness that clouded him.

Here is the story of the gospel. Were those tears of shame or gratitude? Jesus had not pronounced forgiveness upon her at this point. She knew to come to him. She did not go to the Pharisee, to wet his feet with her tears, nor did she entreat any of the other guests. She went to the one to whom the debt was owed. Jesus did not preach self-acceptance, but seeing the woman’s self-rejection, he accepted her. He did not ignore or beautify her wrongdoing, but he referred to her “many sins,” and forgave her for them. He noted that her behavior was a sign of faith. She became conscious of her many sins, and she cast her all on Christ. Is this not the essence of the gospel, and of a faith that leads to salvation? Assuring her of her pardon, he sent her on her way. The Pharisee, on the other hand, was left with nothing.

Sinners shun the acknowledgment of their transgressions, and of the debt that they have incurred before God. They lash out at those who shine the light of God’s word upon their many sins. They regard it as impolite and harsh. However, an acute awareness of an insurmountable debt toward God is a manifestation of grace. By this, God prepares us to love him, and love toward God is the grandest saving virtue in man. By it, we know that a man has truly been redeemed. Thus we welcome the knowledge of our debt with all its fearsome despair, for it is followed by faith and love, but reprobates are blinded, and remaining in their ignorance, they await a terrible judgment. Their debt remains, and there is One who comes to collect.