Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Cancelled Debts

In my opinion, it is one of the greatest stories told about Jesus. He had been invited to the home of Simon the Pharisee for dinner. While he was eating, a "sinful woman" came in with a jar of perfume. Weeping, she allowed her tears to wet Jesus' feet, and then she cleaned them with her hair and poured perfume on them.

Simon was watching, and said to himself, "If Jesus were a prophet, he would realize that he is allowing a sinner to touch him." Jesus, perceiving his thoughts, told a story about two men: one was forgiven a tremendous monetary debt and the other was forgiven a small debt. Who, he asked, would love the forgiver of the debt more? The obvious answer is the one who has been forgiven the greater debt.

My first thought upon reading this story again was, "Have I been forgiven a tremendous debt, or a small one?" Then it struck me: This really isn't about the size of the debt. Rather, it is about each one of us coming to the realization that we have all been forgiven a tremendous debt. If we think we are only small debtors, then we place ourselves with Simon. But it is to this "sinful woman" that Jesus speaks these words, "Your sins are forgiven." Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving my sin debt! Jesus, I am so in love with you!

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