Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.
Hebrews 13:15 (NASB)
Series: The Gift of Faith
Nothing in life is free. You’ve probably heard this or said it yourself a thousand times. But when it comes to our faith, we’ve been told, “Salvation is a free gift.” While this is true—your salvation is free to you—it was paid for by Jesus through His death on the cross. Accepting Christ as our Savior shows we recognize our need for redemption, and because of His grace, we are free from the stronghold of sin. His death paid our debt in full. Though it may be difficult to believe God sent His only Son in order to rescue us, if we look back at His life on earth we see time and time again Jesus’ mission was to save the lost, glorify God, and make a way for us to be reconciled to the Father.
Why was this concept so incomprehensible to the religious leaders at the time? Why did they fight so hard against Jesus being recognized as the Messiah? Because they clung to the religious law so intensely, they missed the joy of who was sitting in their midst. Even so, Jesus continued teaching and trying to help them understand. In Luke 7:36-50 we read:
One of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 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, 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. 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.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 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. You gave Me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
The courage and faith of this woman astounds me. She knew others looked down upon her, yet she walked into the home of a religious leader to get close to Jesus. He was her only hope. She washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with ointment. Her faith had to be secure to have done all of this to Him in the sight of others. It would not have been customary for a woman of her reputation to approach a man in this way. It would have been seen as sinful to let her hair down, and kiss His feet. The Pharisees were too busy pointing out her sin to witness the faith she had in her Savior. But Jesus noticed, forgave her sins and sent her on her way in peace. Her sins were great, but her faith was greater. What a generous God we have.
Any of us could be this sinful woman and our faith can save any of us. How about you? Have you put your trust in Him? There is nothing too big or too hard for Him to walk you through. You don’t have to walk into a room full of strangers, you need only to proclaim your faith to Him. If you have already accepted this gift of salvation, rejoice that you are debt free! May your life reflect the love and light of Jesus as you continue walking with Him.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Hebrews 13:15; Luke 7:36-50; Romans 3:23; Romans 10:9-11