1 00:00:05,632 --> 00:00:06,830 Good morning. Please be seated. 2 00:00:07,724 --> 00:00:09,565 My name is Trey Os. If we have 3 00:00:09,565 --> 00:00:12,304 not met, my wife, Melissa and I 4 00:00:12,684 --> 00:00:13,585 joined Cp... 5 00:00:13,884 --> 00:00:15,324 Well, it was Cp back in that day. 6 00:00:15,644 --> 00:00:16,144 Cp, 7 00:00:16,857 --> 00:00:18,365 in 19 96. 8 00:00:18,762 --> 00:00:20,588 We had just graduated from college. 9 00:00:21,381 --> 00:00:22,413 This is my family. 10 00:00:23,207 --> 00:00:23,762 This is 11 00:00:24,334 --> 00:00:26,567 My wife is there between my son and 12 00:00:26,567 --> 00:00:27,285 my third daughter. 13 00:00:28,162 --> 00:00:29,598 This is our dog. We just got a 14 00:00:29,598 --> 00:00:30,634 dog which is a big deal for us. 15 00:00:31,193 --> 00:00:33,346 It's a little dog, but his name is 16 00:00:33,346 --> 00:00:36,297 diesel. So little dog, big name. Mom picked 17 00:00:36,297 --> 00:00:39,310 the dog, boy picks the the the name. 18 00:00:39,548 --> 00:00:42,340 But, Mi michele is number 1. Mariah is 19 00:00:42,340 --> 00:00:44,011 number 2 next between Mc michele and I, 20 00:00:44,727 --> 00:00:46,636 but all 4 of our children were baptized 21 00:00:46,636 --> 00:00:47,931 here at Cp. 22 00:00:48,465 --> 00:00:49,117 And And, 23 00:00:49,753 --> 00:00:51,185 we consider this church home, 24 00:00:51,821 --> 00:00:54,367 we were here, for the first 10 years 25 00:00:54,367 --> 00:00:55,082 of our marriage. 26 00:00:55,813 --> 00:00:57,803 And in the first service, as I was 27 00:00:57,803 --> 00:00:59,713 sitting there, I was I was reflecting on 28 00:00:59,713 --> 00:01:01,066 how this church has been a blessing to 29 00:01:01,066 --> 00:01:03,533 us. When Miriam was born, so she's the 30 00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:04,966 tall 1. She's nearly 6 feet tall. 31 00:01:05,618 --> 00:01:07,454 She had a little bit of a heart 32 00:01:07,454 --> 00:01:09,369 issue. And so she was born at Texas 33 00:01:09,369 --> 00:01:09,609 women's, 34 00:01:10,407 --> 00:01:13,120 and the elders came and prayed over her. 35 00:01:13,614 --> 00:01:16,011 And what was interesting is we were scheduling 36 00:01:16,011 --> 00:01:18,568 her heart surgery. She had a situation that 37 00:01:18,568 --> 00:01:19,447 she needed surgery, 38 00:01:20,006 --> 00:01:21,936 but they came and prayed, And the next 39 00:01:21,936 --> 00:01:24,004 day the doctor came in with tier tears 40 00:01:24,004 --> 00:01:25,674 in her eyes, and she says, I can't 41 00:01:25,674 --> 00:01:27,025 explain it, but your daughter's fine. 42 00:01:27,821 --> 00:01:29,332 And it was the elders at this church. 43 00:01:30,144 --> 00:01:32,139 There was another moment that really impacted my 44 00:01:32,139 --> 00:01:33,576 life and it was in my dad who 45 00:01:33,576 --> 00:01:34,933 my mom and dad and my brother and 46 00:01:34,933 --> 00:01:36,210 his family are there in the back. 47 00:01:37,088 --> 00:01:38,445 He was diagnosed with cancer. 48 00:01:39,180 --> 00:01:40,939 And so we knew nothing better than to 49 00:01:40,939 --> 00:01:42,380 come and be prayed over by the elders 50 00:01:42,380 --> 00:01:42,939 of this church. 51 00:01:43,819 --> 00:01:46,060 And 10 years later, he's cancer free. 52 00:01:46,873 --> 00:01:48,862 And so God has been at work through 53 00:01:48,862 --> 00:01:51,169 you in my life, and this is just 54 00:01:51,169 --> 00:01:52,385 a great honor 55 00:01:52,919 --> 00:01:54,590 to be able to share god's word today 56 00:01:54,590 --> 00:01:54,908 with you. 57 00:01:56,038 --> 00:01:57,634 Today, we are going to look at a 58 00:01:57,634 --> 00:02:00,268 passage in Luke 7. But before we do, 59 00:02:00,428 --> 00:02:02,423 I wanna explain a little bit about what 60 00:02:02,583 --> 00:02:03,881 I do for a living. So 61 00:02:04,353 --> 00:02:06,108 I was here in the marketplace in Houston 62 00:02:06,108 --> 00:02:06,847 after graduating. 63 00:02:07,304 --> 00:02:09,458 Love what I did. Was on the Missions 64 00:02:09,458 --> 00:02:10,176 committee of the church, 65 00:02:10,814 --> 00:02:12,170 and my wife was with me, and we 66 00:02:12,170 --> 00:02:13,446 looked at each other and said, why don't 67 00:02:13,446 --> 00:02:13,900 we 68 00:02:14,257 --> 00:02:16,899 answer our own prayers for others to go 69 00:02:17,272 --> 00:02:19,335 out of this church, and let's let's move. 70 00:02:19,890 --> 00:02:21,104 And so we left 71 00:02:21,572 --> 00:02:24,038 the states and move to China as missionaries. 72 00:02:24,595 --> 00:02:26,505 And we only committed to 1 year. Like, 73 00:02:26,664 --> 00:02:28,096 it was a 1 year deal. God, we're 74 00:02:28,096 --> 00:02:29,948 gonna tie this for you in 75 00:02:30,340 --> 00:02:32,020 somehow 1 year turned into 25. 76 00:02:33,219 --> 00:02:35,780 But we came home to have our our 77 00:02:35,780 --> 00:02:36,500 oldest daughter, 78 00:02:37,394 --> 00:02:39,952 And when we returned the, a friend of 79 00:02:39,952 --> 00:02:41,550 mine said, man, you seem to really love 80 00:02:41,550 --> 00:02:42,829 people from China and I said I do. 81 00:02:43,308 --> 00:02:45,146 And he said, would you consider minister administering 82 00:02:45,146 --> 00:02:46,905 to Chinese students at Rice University. 83 00:02:47,715 --> 00:02:49,858 And I was like, I think we can 84 00:02:49,858 --> 00:02:51,604 do this. And so we gave 1 more 85 00:02:51,604 --> 00:02:54,302 year, and that's where we found Bridges international. 86 00:02:54,873 --> 00:02:56,564 You see many of us 87 00:02:57,335 --> 00:02:59,502 can try to go to places that are 88 00:02:59,876 --> 00:03:00,352 inaccessible, 89 00:03:01,384 --> 00:03:03,386 but the truth is is is that those 90 00:03:03,386 --> 00:03:07,286 same places are sending students to America. So 91 00:03:07,286 --> 00:03:09,514 places like Iran or the parts of the 92 00:03:09,594 --> 00:03:11,990 Middle East. It's parts of India that you 93 00:03:11,990 --> 00:03:13,099 would think oh, I can go anywhere in 94 00:03:13,178 --> 00:03:15,476 India, you can't go long to be honest 95 00:03:15,476 --> 00:03:17,669 with you. But all of these students are 96 00:03:17,789 --> 00:03:20,334 coming to Us universities, and we have the 97 00:03:20,334 --> 00:03:22,028 blessing, but also the privilege 98 00:03:22,641 --> 00:03:24,391 of being able to share the gospel to 99 00:03:24,391 --> 00:03:26,872 love them with love of Christ to show 100 00:03:26,872 --> 00:03:28,065 biblical hospitality. 101 00:03:28,701 --> 00:03:30,451 And 2 of my friends that I I 102 00:03:30,451 --> 00:03:31,962 think of that came from a part of 103 00:03:31,962 --> 00:03:33,575 the world in the Middle East that 104 00:03:34,268 --> 00:03:36,017 we really couldn't meet them there. 105 00:03:36,669 --> 00:03:38,264 Were Oc and fatima. 106 00:03:38,982 --> 00:03:40,418 And when they first arrived, 107 00:03:41,135 --> 00:03:42,672 Ahmed said, look, I 108 00:03:43,289 --> 00:03:45,443 was raised to some muslim, but the truth 109 00:03:45,443 --> 00:03:45,943 is 110 00:03:46,654 --> 00:03:48,565 He said, I'm an atheist. He says my 111 00:03:48,565 --> 00:03:51,114 religion is my academics. And he he was, 112 00:03:51,193 --> 00:03:52,627 like, I have... I want nothing to do 113 00:03:52,627 --> 00:03:54,538 with God. Fatima on the other hand, 114 00:03:55,669 --> 00:03:58,545 was really engaged, really interested in who this 115 00:03:58,545 --> 00:03:59,504 person of Christ was. 116 00:04:00,703 --> 00:04:02,620 She ended up giving her life to Christ. 117 00:04:03,670 --> 00:04:06,210 And which was a wonderful thing. But what 118 00:04:06,210 --> 00:04:08,830 ended up happening is O started to get 119 00:04:08,830 --> 00:04:11,370 mad at her and fight her and argue 120 00:04:11,370 --> 00:04:12,029 with her 121 00:04:12,577 --> 00:04:13,532 And she said, 122 00:04:14,168 --> 00:04:15,999 the Lord was very clear to me, Jesus, 123 00:04:16,715 --> 00:04:19,341 in my spirit said, love him. Just love 124 00:04:19,341 --> 00:04:21,013 him. Don't respond. Just love him. 125 00:04:21,824 --> 00:04:23,974 And so Aqua kept pressuring. And 1 night, 126 00:04:24,054 --> 00:04:25,726 they had an argument or he tried to 127 00:04:25,726 --> 00:04:26,284 have an argument, 128 00:04:26,841 --> 00:04:29,071 and they ended up just going to bed, 129 00:04:29,230 --> 00:04:30,186 and he said, 130 00:04:30,998 --> 00:04:31,498 In 131 00:04:32,036 --> 00:04:34,190 the night, he had a dream. And he 132 00:04:34,190 --> 00:04:36,664 said the Lord used this stream basically to 133 00:04:36,664 --> 00:04:39,632 bring him to himself. He said, I was 134 00:04:39,632 --> 00:04:42,027 in this city, and I was running from 135 00:04:42,027 --> 00:04:43,623 a group a mob, a group of people 136 00:04:43,623 --> 00:04:44,741 and he said I couldn't get away from 137 00:04:44,741 --> 00:04:46,577 the mob, and he kept running until he 138 00:04:46,577 --> 00:04:48,589 got to an alley that was a dead 139 00:04:48,589 --> 00:04:50,990 end. And he said he noticed at this 140 00:04:50,990 --> 00:04:53,550 alley, there was a book. And so he 141 00:04:53,550 --> 00:04:55,229 goes and he opens the book, Well, it's 142 00:04:55,229 --> 00:04:55,629 the Bible. 143 00:04:56,522 --> 00:04:58,114 And he said out of the bible came 144 00:04:58,114 --> 00:04:59,308 this beam of light, 145 00:05:00,024 --> 00:05:01,856 but he said it there also came a 146 00:05:01,856 --> 00:05:03,846 fragrance, a sweet aroma, 147 00:05:04,496 --> 00:05:05,289 out of the bible. 148 00:05:06,161 --> 00:05:07,112 And he said he woke up. 149 00:05:08,302 --> 00:05:10,070 And he explained to his wife 150 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:11,845 what had just happened 151 00:05:12,444 --> 00:05:14,204 and he'd concluded it with, like, there was 152 00:05:14,204 --> 00:05:15,964 a sweet aroma coming from the Bible, and 153 00:05:15,964 --> 00:05:18,045 she said, like the 1 we... I can 154 00:05:18,045 --> 00:05:18,925 smell it in our room. 155 00:05:19,658 --> 00:05:21,331 And he's like, what? And he. He goes, 156 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:22,765 yeah. That was the smell. 157 00:05:23,482 --> 00:05:25,315 And they went out into their living room. 158 00:05:25,474 --> 00:05:26,111 There was no smell. 159 00:05:27,004 --> 00:05:30,037 For 24 hours, there was the sweet aroma 160 00:05:30,037 --> 00:05:31,713 in Oc med Fatima bedroom. 161 00:05:32,511 --> 00:05:34,747 That led him ultimately to faith in Jesus 162 00:05:34,906 --> 00:05:35,146 Christ. 163 00:05:36,037 --> 00:05:38,339 And that's... Those the those are 2 of 164 00:05:38,339 --> 00:05:40,403 the people out of many that we want 165 00:05:40,403 --> 00:05:42,864 to minister to. But I share the story 166 00:05:42,864 --> 00:05:43,817 because for Oc med, 167 00:05:45,976 --> 00:05:47,985 Jesus, as well as the gospel 168 00:05:48,359 --> 00:05:49,574 had to become personal 169 00:05:50,742 --> 00:05:52,251 before it became transformational. 170 00:05:53,458 --> 00:05:55,051 And I think that is true for every 171 00:05:55,051 --> 00:05:55,768 single 1 of us. 172 00:05:56,963 --> 00:05:59,672 Jesus has to become personal to you before 173 00:05:59,672 --> 00:06:02,402 you can see his work in you 174 00:06:02,714 --> 00:06:05,507 transform you. And so today, we're gonna look 175 00:06:05,507 --> 00:06:06,247 at a story 176 00:06:06,624 --> 00:06:07,901 from Luke chapter 7. 177 00:06:08,540 --> 00:06:10,056 It's only told in Luke, 178 00:06:10,869 --> 00:06:12,228 We don't hear of the story in any 179 00:06:12,228 --> 00:06:13,266 of the other gospel. 180 00:06:13,985 --> 00:06:15,125 But it's the story 181 00:06:15,743 --> 00:06:18,061 of a ph who invites Jesus to his 182 00:06:18,061 --> 00:06:18,620 house to eat. 183 00:06:19,511 --> 00:06:20,966 Who gets scandalous 184 00:06:21,579 --> 00:06:22,932 interrupted by a center, 185 00:06:23,647 --> 00:06:24,386 the prostitute 186 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:25,477 of the town, 187 00:06:26,927 --> 00:06:29,718 and Jesus is not bothered. In fact, 188 00:06:30,516 --> 00:06:31,154 he forgive. 189 00:06:32,031 --> 00:06:34,663 And so let's look at luke 07:36 190 00:06:34,663 --> 00:06:36,906 to 51 191 00:06:36,906 --> 00:06:38,493 of the ph asked him to eat with 192 00:06:38,493 --> 00:06:40,636 him, and he went into the Ph house 193 00:06:40,636 --> 00:06:42,937 and recline at the table and behold, 194 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:45,110 a woman of the city who was a 195 00:06:45,110 --> 00:06:47,910 center when she learned that he was refining 196 00:06:47,910 --> 00:06:49,750 at the table in the Far house, 197 00:06:50,310 --> 00:06:51,210 brought an a 198 00:06:51,763 --> 00:06:53,429 flask of ointment or perfume. 199 00:06:54,619 --> 00:06:57,396 And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, 200 00:06:57,713 --> 00:06:59,459 she began to wet his feet with her 201 00:06:59,459 --> 00:07:01,625 tears and wipe them with the hair of 202 00:07:01,625 --> 00:07:04,257 her head and kissed his feet and anointed 203 00:07:04,257 --> 00:07:05,613 them with the ointment. 204 00:07:06,171 --> 00:07:08,165 Now when the ph who had invited him 205 00:07:08,165 --> 00:07:09,760 saw this, he said to himself, 206 00:07:10,491 --> 00:07:12,317 is that if this man were a prophet, 207 00:07:12,635 --> 00:07:14,859 he would have known who and what sort 208 00:07:14,859 --> 00:07:16,924 of woman this is and who was touching 209 00:07:16,924 --> 00:07:17,424 him 210 00:07:18,036 --> 00:07:19,068 for she is a sinner. 211 00:07:19,958 --> 00:07:22,587 And Jesus answered, by answering said to him, 212 00:07:22,826 --> 00:07:24,499 Simon. I have something to say to you. 213 00:07:25,136 --> 00:07:26,331 And he said say a teacher. 214 00:07:27,142 --> 00:07:29,847 A certain money lender had 2 debtors, 1 215 00:07:29,847 --> 00:07:32,075 owed 500 den air and the other 50. 216 00:07:32,552 --> 00:07:34,621 When they could not pay, he canceled the 217 00:07:34,621 --> 00:07:35,416 debt of both. 218 00:07:35,989 --> 00:07:37,903 Now which 1 of them love him more? 219 00:07:38,701 --> 00:07:42,051 Simon answered the 1, I suppose, from whom 220 00:07:42,051 --> 00:07:44,443 he canceled the larger debt. And he said 221 00:07:44,443 --> 00:07:46,214 to him, you have judged rightly. 222 00:07:46,935 --> 00:07:48,694 Then turning toward the woman, he said to 223 00:07:48,854 --> 00:07:51,334 Simon, do you see this woman? I entered 224 00:07:51,334 --> 00:07:52,935 your house and you gave me no water 225 00:07:52,935 --> 00:07:53,629 for my feet 226 00:07:54,146 --> 00:07:56,289 but she was... She has wet my feet 227 00:07:56,289 --> 00:07:58,036 with her tears and wiped them with her 228 00:07:58,036 --> 00:08:00,497 hair. You gave me no kiss, but from 229 00:08:00,497 --> 00:08:02,164 the time I came in, she has not 230 00:08:02,164 --> 00:08:03,768 ceased. To kiss my feet. 231 00:08:04,405 --> 00:08:05,995 You did not annoy my head with oil, 232 00:08:06,154 --> 00:08:07,904 but she is anointed in my head with 233 00:08:07,904 --> 00:08:08,540 the ointment. 234 00:08:09,335 --> 00:08:11,482 Therefore, I tell you her sons, which are 235 00:08:11,482 --> 00:08:12,436 many are forgiven. 236 00:08:13,089 --> 00:08:15,566 For she loved much, but he who is 237 00:08:15,566 --> 00:08:16,765 forgiven Little loves little. 238 00:08:17,644 --> 00:08:19,901 And she said to her, your sons are 239 00:08:19,961 --> 00:08:20,280 forgiven. 240 00:08:21,174 --> 00:08:22,766 Then those who are at the table with 241 00:08:22,766 --> 00:08:24,678 him began to say among themselves, Who is 242 00:08:24,678 --> 00:08:26,271 this? Who even forgive sense, 243 00:08:26,908 --> 00:08:28,740 and he said to the woman, your faith 244 00:08:28,740 --> 00:08:29,456 has saved you. 245 00:08:30,108 --> 00:08:30,745 Go in peace. 246 00:08:31,779 --> 00:08:32,654 Please pray with me. 247 00:08:33,847 --> 00:08:35,756 Father, we, we love you. 248 00:08:37,124 --> 00:08:39,277 God, thank you for this story that is 249 00:08:39,277 --> 00:08:41,750 a great reminder that you really have first 250 00:08:41,750 --> 00:08:42,229 loved us, 251 00:08:43,026 --> 00:08:45,499 and that our love comes from a love 252 00:08:45,499 --> 00:08:46,775 that you've shown us through Christ. 253 00:08:48,066 --> 00:08:50,220 Father, would you use these words to transform 254 00:08:50,220 --> 00:08:51,735 our lives to be a little bit more 255 00:08:51,735 --> 00:08:52,134 like you. 256 00:08:52,852 --> 00:08:54,367 And father, I pray for those in this 257 00:08:54,367 --> 00:08:54,606 room, 258 00:08:55,324 --> 00:08:57,493 Lord, I pray that they would have ears 259 00:08:57,493 --> 00:08:59,247 to hear God that you would set me 260 00:08:59,247 --> 00:09:01,879 aside and just use this time to to 261 00:09:01,879 --> 00:09:04,352 honor your name. And for those father that 262 00:09:04,352 --> 00:09:06,266 maybe are a little too comfortable. I pray 263 00:09:06,266 --> 00:09:07,316 that this would victim. 264 00:09:08,190 --> 00:09:10,176 But honestly, father for those that are feeling 265 00:09:10,176 --> 00:09:11,844 convicted that these words would bring comfort. 266 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,545 And so father, thank you. We pray the 267 00:09:14,545 --> 00:09:15,339 all Jesus name. 268 00:09:16,213 --> 00:09:16,372 Amen. 269 00:09:17,103 --> 00:09:18,719 So we're gonna look at this story 270 00:09:19,096 --> 00:09:19,813 in 4 parts, 271 00:09:20,531 --> 00:09:22,284 and I will try to move quickly through 272 00:09:22,284 --> 00:09:24,437 them all. The the 4 parts are this. 273 00:09:25,488 --> 00:09:28,279 The first is a personal yet sincere invitation, 274 00:09:28,996 --> 00:09:29,815 a scandalous 275 00:09:30,192 --> 00:09:30,352 interruption, 276 00:09:31,388 --> 00:09:33,780 an illustration of great forgiveness, 277 00:09:34,194 --> 00:09:36,340 and then finally the impact of saving faith. 278 00:09:37,056 --> 00:09:38,963 And so let me set the scene of 279 00:09:38,963 --> 00:09:40,815 this personal yet sincere 280 00:09:41,348 --> 00:09:41,507 invitation, 281 00:09:42,159 --> 00:09:44,474 We learn from verse 40 that that the 282 00:09:44,474 --> 00:09:46,390 fair who invited Jesus to his home is 283 00:09:46,390 --> 00:09:48,407 name is Simon. And Simon 284 00:09:48,945 --> 00:09:51,100 is someone of notoriety in the town. 285 00:09:51,914 --> 00:09:53,914 People know him because he's outstanding. 286 00:09:54,634 --> 00:09:56,394 He may be hip critical, but the truth 287 00:09:56,394 --> 00:09:57,455 is is he's 288 00:09:57,835 --> 00:10:01,047 respected. He gives. He's memorized. The torah, he 289 00:10:01,047 --> 00:10:03,601 is a person who you probably wouldn't be 290 00:10:03,601 --> 00:10:04,718 that embarrassed being around. 291 00:10:05,596 --> 00:10:08,310 Because he's the Who's who of that community. 292 00:10:08,804 --> 00:10:11,521 And he extends an invitation to Jesus to 293 00:10:11,521 --> 00:10:12,880 come and dine with him. And if we 294 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,218 look in scripture, Jesus often 295 00:10:15,597 --> 00:10:17,275 is minister administering at a table. 296 00:10:18,087 --> 00:10:19,123 He is inviting, 297 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,948 maybe he's inviting people honestly to himself through 298 00:10:22,948 --> 00:10:25,075 this time together with him. And, 299 00:10:25,514 --> 00:10:27,434 as I reflected on this, I reflected on 300 00:10:27,915 --> 00:10:28,715 Revelation 3, 301 00:10:29,434 --> 00:10:31,915 where Jesus tells us as his followers. 302 00:10:32,408 --> 00:10:34,551 He says I stand at the door and 303 00:10:34,551 --> 00:10:37,249 knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens 304 00:10:37,249 --> 00:10:39,313 the door, I will come in into come 305 00:10:39,313 --> 00:10:41,475 into him. And eat with him and he 306 00:10:41,475 --> 00:10:43,623 with me. He will dine with us. He 307 00:10:43,623 --> 00:10:46,566 is inviting us to a table. But you 308 00:10:46,566 --> 00:10:48,237 see Simon had invited Jesus. 309 00:10:48,809 --> 00:10:49,529 And Simon, 310 00:10:50,409 --> 00:10:52,250 we can't fully know his motives. 311 00:10:52,889 --> 00:10:53,709 We would 312 00:10:54,089 --> 00:10:55,769 believe, you know, hey, let's believe the best. 313 00:10:56,344 --> 00:10:58,884 He was just curious, like nico dim, maybe. 314 00:10:59,122 --> 00:11:00,869 He wanted to know more about this person. 315 00:11:01,425 --> 00:11:03,512 But the truth is is that the ph 316 00:11:03,568 --> 00:11:06,606 were often working together to try to ent 317 00:11:06,686 --> 00:11:07,005 Jesus. 318 00:11:07,722 --> 00:11:09,876 And so the reason we know that maybe 319 00:11:09,876 --> 00:11:11,471 his motives were not all pure that they 320 00:11:11,471 --> 00:11:13,784 were actually inc sincere is what we read 321 00:11:13,784 --> 00:11:14,922 later. But 322 00:11:15,633 --> 00:11:17,144 Before we go there, I wanna read a 323 00:11:17,144 --> 00:11:18,973 quote from John Macarthur that I think explains 324 00:11:18,973 --> 00:11:19,291 it well. 325 00:11:20,165 --> 00:11:22,472 Now here Jesus was willing to go into 326 00:11:22,472 --> 00:11:24,141 the house of a man that he knew 327 00:11:24,141 --> 00:11:24,857 was a hypo. 328 00:11:25,746 --> 00:11:27,648 He knew the man had evil intentions toward 329 00:11:27,648 --> 00:11:29,551 him. He knew the man was going to 330 00:11:29,551 --> 00:11:31,557 do everything he could to get some inc 331 00:11:31,691 --> 00:11:32,722 evidence against Jesus. 332 00:11:33,374 --> 00:11:35,612 By something that Jesus did or said, 333 00:11:36,411 --> 00:11:38,968 he knew he was looking to mount the 334 00:11:38,968 --> 00:11:40,826 case for him, but nonetheless, 335 00:11:41,285 --> 00:11:41,740 Jesus 336 00:11:42,256 --> 00:11:44,325 gracious says he always is and coming to 337 00:11:44,325 --> 00:11:46,075 seek and to save that which is lost, 338 00:11:46,552 --> 00:11:48,541 is willing to expose this wicked. 339 00:11:49,353 --> 00:11:51,746 The hip critical ph to the power that 340 00:11:51,746 --> 00:11:52,885 he had to transform. 341 00:11:53,502 --> 00:11:55,656 And so he entered the Far house. 342 00:11:56,389 --> 00:11:58,225 You see this invitation was personal, 343 00:11:59,023 --> 00:11:59,923 but it was 344 00:12:00,381 --> 00:12:03,175 sincere. And so verse 44 345 00:12:03,175 --> 00:12:05,822 to 46 kinda help us say, okay. This 346 00:12:05,822 --> 00:12:07,327 is how we know it was sincere. 347 00:12:08,357 --> 00:12:09,491 This is when Jesus 348 00:12:09,942 --> 00:12:12,160 after having his feet washed by this woman, 349 00:12:13,208 --> 00:12:15,757 ends up speaking to Simon about what he 350 00:12:15,757 --> 00:12:17,908 didn't do. And it says this. Do you 351 00:12:17,908 --> 00:12:18,625 see this woman? 352 00:12:19,422 --> 00:12:21,015 I entered your house and you gave me 353 00:12:21,015 --> 00:12:23,338 no... Water for my feet but she has 354 00:12:23,338 --> 00:12:25,325 wet my feet with her tears and wiped 355 00:12:25,325 --> 00:12:26,914 them with her hair. You gave me no 356 00:12:26,914 --> 00:12:28,900 kiss, but from the time I came in, 357 00:12:29,059 --> 00:12:30,807 she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 358 00:12:31,379 --> 00:12:33,299 You did not annoy my head with oil, 359 00:12:33,620 --> 00:12:35,700 but she has annoyed in my feet with 360 00:12:35,700 --> 00:12:36,019 ointment. 361 00:12:36,580 --> 00:12:38,899 You see there's 3 things that would happen 362 00:12:38,899 --> 00:12:41,394 in that day that everyone knew you would 363 00:12:41,394 --> 00:12:42,514 do if you had a guest, 364 00:12:43,235 --> 00:12:45,875 especially a guest of notoriety like Jesus, a 365 00:12:45,875 --> 00:12:46,274 rabbi. 366 00:12:46,914 --> 00:12:48,834 You see you first, you would actually greet 367 00:12:48,834 --> 00:12:49,334 them 368 00:12:49,729 --> 00:12:52,042 with a kiss. And that that that kiss 369 00:12:52,042 --> 00:12:52,781 was a 370 00:12:53,318 --> 00:12:54,913 it was a sign of respect. If sign 371 00:12:54,913 --> 00:12:56,907 of friendship, you would... They would put their 372 00:12:56,907 --> 00:12:58,901 hand on their shoulder and just greet them. 373 00:12:59,874 --> 00:13:02,511 I took my son once I was appreciating 374 00:13:02,511 --> 00:13:04,348 a wedding in that part of the world. 375 00:13:04,588 --> 00:13:06,026 And so he's only 10 at the time 376 00:13:06,026 --> 00:13:06,925 and I remember 377 00:13:07,398 --> 00:13:08,994 being able to take him, but we were 378 00:13:08,994 --> 00:13:10,669 greeting people that way. And to watch my 379 00:13:10,669 --> 00:13:12,583 10 year boy, like, trying to greet... It's 380 00:13:12,583 --> 00:13:14,098 a kiss on the cheek. Who was like, 381 00:13:14,178 --> 00:13:15,454 oh my gosh, Dad. Why did you bring 382 00:13:15,454 --> 00:13:16,810 me here? Like it was overwhelming. 383 00:13:17,384 --> 00:13:18,762 But that was custom 384 00:13:19,379 --> 00:13:21,454 for thousands of years. It was a sign 385 00:13:21,454 --> 00:13:23,609 of friendship. So the first thing was a 386 00:13:23,609 --> 00:13:26,096 the kiss. The second part was that they 387 00:13:26,096 --> 00:13:27,607 would walk on these dusty roads. 388 00:13:28,402 --> 00:13:30,232 They had sandals on, they would come in 389 00:13:30,232 --> 00:13:32,953 dirty. Their feet were incredibly dirty. And so 390 00:13:32,953 --> 00:13:35,369 as a sign of just courtesy, 391 00:13:36,546 --> 00:13:38,781 either if you had servants, they would wash 392 00:13:38,781 --> 00:13:41,415 your guest feet. If you didn't have servants. 393 00:13:42,067 --> 00:13:44,471 You would provide a basin and some water 394 00:13:44,605 --> 00:13:46,113 for your guests to wash their own feed. 395 00:13:47,144 --> 00:13:48,493 Simon didn't neither of those 2. 396 00:13:49,063 --> 00:13:51,687 The third thing Simon did not do was 397 00:13:51,687 --> 00:13:53,516 provide oil or perfume. 398 00:13:54,391 --> 00:13:55,504 Imagine walking you're hot. 399 00:13:56,777 --> 00:13:58,708 And you get to the place where 400 00:13:59,018 --> 00:14:00,712 you're going to dine and 401 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,191 you smell. You have a little bit of 402 00:14:04,191 --> 00:14:05,146 a stink. Well, 403 00:14:05,862 --> 00:14:07,533 they would use rose oil. 404 00:14:08,343 --> 00:14:09,770 To just freshen things up, 405 00:14:10,563 --> 00:14:11,039 and 406 00:14:11,436 --> 00:14:12,863 they would put a dab on, 407 00:14:13,814 --> 00:14:15,400 the person's head, the guests head. 408 00:14:16,288 --> 00:14:18,750 Those 3 things were customary at any point. 409 00:14:18,908 --> 00:14:20,894 Like, it was just known. Everyone knew. That's 410 00:14:20,894 --> 00:14:22,958 what you do. I think back to being 411 00:14:22,958 --> 00:14:25,261 in China, and when we first arrived, like, 412 00:14:25,594 --> 00:14:27,189 we would have friends over to our house 413 00:14:27,189 --> 00:14:30,380 and or to the apartment. And when they 414 00:14:30,380 --> 00:14:31,815 would leave, I would say, hey, it was 415 00:14:31,815 --> 00:14:34,767 great having See, which is totally normal for 416 00:14:34,926 --> 00:14:35,245 America. 417 00:14:36,137 --> 00:14:37,810 But as I got to know them, I 418 00:14:37,810 --> 00:14:40,062 noticed that they would walk with me 419 00:14:40,438 --> 00:14:42,032 out of their dorm room or wherever they 420 00:14:42,032 --> 00:14:44,363 lived, down to the street, I'd get on 421 00:14:44,363 --> 00:14:46,361 my bike, and they'd be standing waving at 422 00:14:46,361 --> 00:14:48,359 me as I wrote off. And so when 423 00:14:48,438 --> 00:14:50,197 I had the courage, I said, what why 424 00:14:50,197 --> 00:14:51,875 do you do that? And they said, oh, 425 00:14:52,449 --> 00:14:53,326 in our culture, 426 00:14:55,001 --> 00:14:57,313 you song. It's called so it's seeing someone 427 00:14:57,313 --> 00:14:57,553 off. 428 00:14:58,510 --> 00:15:00,105 And and and I said, so when I 429 00:15:00,105 --> 00:15:01,954 tell you buy from my my house, like 430 00:15:02,033 --> 00:15:03,171 I don't leave my 431 00:15:03,706 --> 00:15:06,255 couch. What does that communicate to you? They 432 00:15:06,255 --> 00:15:08,167 were like, you don't like me. I'm like, 433 00:15:08,406 --> 00:15:08,566 oh, 434 00:15:09,615 --> 00:15:12,738 You see, I learned pretty quickly to song 435 00:15:13,272 --> 00:15:16,054 my Chinese friends all the way to when 436 00:15:16,054 --> 00:15:17,976 they left. To tell them by, It was 437 00:15:17,976 --> 00:15:19,565 almost like a game to tell them by. 438 00:15:20,041 --> 00:15:22,663 But that was culturally appropriate for me as 439 00:15:22,663 --> 00:15:23,378 a missionary there. 440 00:15:24,426 --> 00:15:26,892 And what's so interesting is Simon knew exactly 441 00:15:26,892 --> 00:15:29,199 what he was doing. Simon knew what the 442 00:15:29,199 --> 00:15:30,392 culture required, 443 00:15:30,948 --> 00:15:31,823 but he did not do it. 444 00:15:32,794 --> 00:15:34,788 Here is what John bloom from desi and 445 00:15:34,867 --> 00:15:35,984 God said about this moment. 446 00:15:36,622 --> 00:15:38,616 And Jesus feet were still dirty. 447 00:15:39,174 --> 00:15:41,727 Offering foot Washing guests had been a deeply 448 00:15:41,727 --> 00:15:44,876 ingrained custom for near east peoples for thousands 449 00:15:45,094 --> 00:15:45,653 of years. 450 00:15:46,212 --> 00:15:48,368 To not offer it was to disarm one's 451 00:15:48,368 --> 00:15:48,607 guests. 452 00:15:49,246 --> 00:15:51,981 It's not like not likely that Simon simply 453 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,028 forgot but Jesus showed no sign of fence 454 00:15:55,405 --> 00:15:57,000 and the meal on the table, 455 00:15:57,718 --> 00:16:00,372 superficial pleasant trees were exchanged, and a few 456 00:16:00,430 --> 00:16:01,786 polite questions were asked. 457 00:16:02,598 --> 00:16:04,586 So Jesus overlooked the offense. 458 00:16:05,540 --> 00:16:07,608 So we're not here to focus on Simon, 459 00:16:08,562 --> 00:16:10,550 and it's not just about Simon who invited 460 00:16:10,629 --> 00:16:13,355 Jesus. It's about this woman. A center. And 461 00:16:13,355 --> 00:16:15,215 so our next point is the scandalous 462 00:16:15,595 --> 00:16:15,754 interruption. 463 00:16:16,555 --> 00:16:18,235 And so it goes on and it says 464 00:16:18,235 --> 00:16:20,235 and behold in verse 37. 465 00:16:20,649 --> 00:16:22,245 A woman of the city who was a 466 00:16:22,245 --> 00:16:22,564 sinner, 467 00:16:23,522 --> 00:16:25,517 learned that he was refining at the table 468 00:16:25,517 --> 00:16:26,475 in a Far house. 469 00:16:27,113 --> 00:16:28,230 Now that word behold, 470 00:16:29,121 --> 00:16:31,827 is truly there to say, look, this is 471 00:16:31,827 --> 00:16:34,294 a big deal. Like, this does not normally 472 00:16:34,294 --> 00:16:36,761 happen. So let me paint a picture further 473 00:16:36,761 --> 00:16:37,580 of what was 474 00:16:38,289 --> 00:16:40,759 this meal was like. This is not like 475 00:16:40,759 --> 00:16:42,433 a traditional meal that we would have here, 476 00:16:42,752 --> 00:16:44,505 where you're in a dining room at a 477 00:16:44,505 --> 00:16:45,621 table with chairs. 478 00:16:46,274 --> 00:16:48,434 This is 1 where it's a low sitting 479 00:16:48,434 --> 00:16:48,934 table 480 00:16:49,475 --> 00:16:51,794 where men would only be the ones eating 481 00:16:51,794 --> 00:16:54,115 by the way. It would be typically in 482 00:16:54,115 --> 00:16:54,754 a courtyard. 483 00:16:55,489 --> 00:16:58,126 And the courtyard would be big enough that 484 00:16:58,126 --> 00:17:00,124 people from town if they wanted to come 485 00:17:00,124 --> 00:17:02,682 and listen to this rabbi or the distinguished 486 00:17:02,682 --> 00:17:04,540 guest. They would be able to 487 00:17:04,934 --> 00:17:07,086 gather around the edges of the courtyard. 488 00:17:07,644 --> 00:17:09,399 And so this is what that woman did. 489 00:17:10,116 --> 00:17:11,015 She came 490 00:17:11,711 --> 00:17:13,067 because she heard Jesus was there. 491 00:17:13,799 --> 00:17:15,076 And when she shows up, 492 00:17:16,113 --> 00:17:16,432 you know, 493 00:17:17,150 --> 00:17:19,304 Jesus is sitting there and the way he's 494 00:17:19,304 --> 00:17:21,630 having to recline, which was tradition of the 495 00:17:21,630 --> 00:17:23,778 day, his feet were behind him. It's almost 496 00:17:23,778 --> 00:17:25,789 like he's laying on 1 side, eating 497 00:17:26,402 --> 00:17:28,391 and his feet are behind him. And as 498 00:17:28,391 --> 00:17:29,209 this woman 499 00:17:30,239 --> 00:17:33,115 breaks away from the the crowd that Sydney 500 00:17:33,115 --> 00:17:35,373 against the wall. She gains courage 501 00:17:36,392 --> 00:17:37,590 to go to the feet of Christ. 502 00:17:38,643 --> 00:17:39,780 You see this woman 503 00:17:41,349 --> 00:17:42,144 needed Jesus. 504 00:17:43,099 --> 00:17:44,236 And my guess 505 00:17:45,168 --> 00:17:46,521 is that even though this is the only 506 00:17:46,521 --> 00:17:48,286 time we hear about this woman, in look 507 00:17:48,286 --> 00:17:48,604 7, 508 00:17:49,398 --> 00:17:52,020 is that she likely heard the words of 509 00:17:52,179 --> 00:17:52,679 Jesus 510 00:17:53,133 --> 00:17:54,348 in Matthew 11 511 00:17:55,199 --> 00:17:56,414 that said come 512 00:17:56,804 --> 00:17:59,592 all y who are bare burdened and and 513 00:17:59,592 --> 00:18:00,150 heavy laden, 514 00:18:00,947 --> 00:18:02,460 and I will give you rest. 515 00:18:03,656 --> 00:18:05,988 I am guessing that she had heard Jesus 516 00:18:06,046 --> 00:18:06,205 teach. 517 00:18:07,097 --> 00:18:09,193 And she had figured out that Jesus 518 00:18:09,730 --> 00:18:11,564 was the lover of her soul. 519 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,834 And so she could do nothing. She could 520 00:18:14,834 --> 00:18:16,211 care less of the crowd 521 00:18:16,842 --> 00:18:17,898 she had to go 522 00:18:18,909 --> 00:18:19,546 to his feet. 523 00:18:20,420 --> 00:18:21,159 And so 524 00:18:22,170 --> 00:18:23,283 it's it's interesting, 525 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,009 Charles Spur says that she was 526 00:18:26,479 --> 00:18:28,393 a particular kind of center. You see here 527 00:18:28,393 --> 00:18:29,988 on this on the screen. She was not 528 00:18:29,988 --> 00:18:32,142 a center in the ordinary sense of the 529 00:18:32,142 --> 00:18:34,534 word. She was a center by trade, 530 00:18:35,252 --> 00:18:35,991 a center 531 00:18:36,303 --> 00:18:36,940 by profession. 532 00:18:38,690 --> 00:18:39,406 You see, I... 533 00:18:40,519 --> 00:18:42,031 She was known in the city. 534 00:18:43,238 --> 00:18:45,140 And I realized this is con, and I 535 00:18:45,140 --> 00:18:46,883 could be totally off. But as I was 536 00:18:46,883 --> 00:18:47,675 praying about this, 537 00:18:48,547 --> 00:18:50,345 I was comp I'm confident that 538 00:18:50,703 --> 00:18:52,538 that Simon knew who she was because of 539 00:18:52,538 --> 00:18:53,256 how he responded. 540 00:18:54,214 --> 00:18:55,809 But did he ever pay her for her 541 00:18:55,809 --> 00:18:56,288 services? 542 00:18:57,738 --> 00:18:59,170 It's convict to think about. 543 00:18:59,966 --> 00:19:02,454 But that is the type of person 544 00:19:03,227 --> 00:19:04,555 that I think Simon could have been 545 00:19:05,312 --> 00:19:06,189 But it's also, 546 00:19:07,066 --> 00:19:09,219 she was not hiding the fact that she 547 00:19:09,219 --> 00:19:09,697 was there, 548 00:19:10,414 --> 00:19:12,487 and she had the courage because she was 549 00:19:12,487 --> 00:19:12,886 desperate. 550 00:19:13,859 --> 00:19:15,696 To walk up to the feet of Jesus. 551 00:19:16,496 --> 00:19:17,235 And so 552 00:19:18,253 --> 00:19:19,292 let's look at what 553 00:19:19,931 --> 00:19:21,230 John Macarthur says 554 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:24,169 about the the the scene here. 555 00:19:24,964 --> 00:19:27,192 Jesus was declining at a low table as 556 00:19:27,192 --> 00:19:27,988 was the custom. 557 00:19:28,704 --> 00:19:30,159 It would have been shocking 558 00:19:30,629 --> 00:19:32,728 to all for a woman of such low 559 00:19:32,947 --> 00:19:34,945 reputation to come to the Far house. 560 00:19:35,664 --> 00:19:39,101 Such dinners involving dig militaries were often open 561 00:19:39,101 --> 00:19:39,820 to spectators. 562 00:19:40,472 --> 00:19:42,723 But no 1 would have expected a prostitute 563 00:19:42,859 --> 00:19:43,496 to attend. 564 00:19:44,212 --> 00:19:46,940 Her coming took great courage and reveals the 565 00:19:47,156 --> 00:19:48,906 desperation in which she sought forgiveness. 566 00:19:49,558 --> 00:19:52,744 Her weeping was an expression of deep repentance. 567 00:19:53,939 --> 00:19:55,294 And as you look at the scene, 568 00:19:55,851 --> 00:19:57,785 you have her weeping 569 00:19:58,815 --> 00:20:00,815 and enough that she was sobbing. 570 00:20:02,095 --> 00:20:03,634 She had enough tears 571 00:20:04,575 --> 00:20:06,115 to literally cleanse 572 00:20:06,414 --> 00:20:07,295 the feet of Jesus. 573 00:20:08,109 --> 00:20:09,884 But where it gets really, 574 00:20:10,660 --> 00:20:13,051 really scandalous is that she let down her 575 00:20:13,051 --> 00:20:13,211 hair. 576 00:20:14,167 --> 00:20:16,001 And as a woman of that age, 577 00:20:17,212 --> 00:20:19,047 You do not let down your hair. That 578 00:20:19,047 --> 00:20:21,280 was akin to basically starting to un undo. 579 00:20:21,519 --> 00:20:24,311 Like, it was completely a modest. So she's 580 00:20:24,311 --> 00:20:26,167 creating this comp... This scene 581 00:20:27,992 --> 00:20:30,722 And and and what's fascinating to me is 582 00:20:30,780 --> 00:20:31,497 everyone is bothered, 583 00:20:32,134 --> 00:20:32,771 but Jesus. 584 00:20:34,205 --> 00:20:34,921 Everyone is bothered. 585 00:20:35,812 --> 00:20:38,038 And yet, she doesn't stop there. She takes 586 00:20:38,038 --> 00:20:40,844 this vial a perfume that more than likely 587 00:20:40,900 --> 00:20:41,719 she made 588 00:20:42,332 --> 00:20:43,150 the money 589 00:20:43,699 --> 00:20:46,656 to pay for that through her prostitution. And 590 00:20:46,656 --> 00:20:49,453 yet she takes this rose oil perfume and 591 00:20:49,453 --> 00:20:50,912 the fragrance of 592 00:20:51,451 --> 00:20:52,431 her forgiveness 593 00:20:53,464 --> 00:20:55,941 is filling the air. You see she's putting 594 00:20:55,941 --> 00:20:57,160 that on his feet 595 00:20:58,178 --> 00:20:59,317 because she loves 596 00:20:59,776 --> 00:21:00,895 Jesus so much. 597 00:21:01,945 --> 00:21:04,968 And there's nothing inappropriate about this scene. Jesus 598 00:21:04,968 --> 00:21:07,434 again is very, very comfortable. 599 00:21:08,722 --> 00:21:09,461 And so 600 00:21:09,996 --> 00:21:11,292 as we look at her 601 00:21:12,226 --> 00:21:13,102 in this moment, 602 00:21:14,456 --> 00:21:16,708 the attention goes back, Jesus is 603 00:21:17,099 --> 00:21:19,574 focus turns to Simon. And why is that? 604 00:21:19,813 --> 00:21:20,931 Look at verse 39. 605 00:21:21,888 --> 00:21:24,044 Now when the ph who had invited him 606 00:21:24,044 --> 00:21:25,560 saw this. So when Simon saw what was 607 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,403 happening, he said to himself. 608 00:21:29,229 --> 00:21:30,817 If this man were a prophet, 609 00:21:31,293 --> 00:21:33,436 he would have known who and what of 610 00:21:33,436 --> 00:21:36,388 what sort of woman this... Is touching him 611 00:21:36,388 --> 00:21:37,420 for she is a sinner. 612 00:21:38,929 --> 00:21:40,461 You see, I think Simon 613 00:21:41,390 --> 00:21:43,692 was too caught up and who she was. 614 00:21:44,822 --> 00:21:45,322 Before 615 00:21:45,939 --> 00:21:48,810 to realize who had she had become because 616 00:21:48,810 --> 00:21:49,368 of Christ. 617 00:21:50,804 --> 00:21:52,878 He was too caught up in her past 618 00:21:52,878 --> 00:21:55,839 and her profession and to realize that God 619 00:21:55,839 --> 00:21:56,976 had redeemed her 620 00:21:57,430 --> 00:21:59,021 that Jesus was doing a work. 621 00:21:59,976 --> 00:22:02,222 He was far from the Lord, and yet 622 00:22:02,222 --> 00:22:03,339 she was yet so near. 623 00:22:04,616 --> 00:22:05,116 And 624 00:22:05,494 --> 00:22:06,532 I love what 625 00:22:07,968 --> 00:22:10,536 John Blu says again. He says Simon watched 626 00:22:10,536 --> 00:22:12,232 the woman pour fragrant oil 627 00:22:12,768 --> 00:22:15,398 from her jar on Jesus feet. He felt 628 00:22:15,398 --> 00:22:17,231 both contempt and pleasure. 629 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:19,339 His appraisal 630 00:22:19,715 --> 00:22:22,184 of Jesus was being vin before his eyes. 631 00:22:22,343 --> 00:22:23,697 See, he's he's testing. 632 00:22:24,414 --> 00:22:25,949 He's wondering is this really 633 00:22:27,135 --> 00:22:27,931 a man of God, 634 00:22:28,646 --> 00:22:31,350 but he's concluding no, not at all. Nothing 635 00:22:31,350 --> 00:22:33,815 spoke more eloquently of the false of this 636 00:22:33,815 --> 00:22:36,542 so called prophet, then his stunning lack of 637 00:22:36,542 --> 00:22:37,042 discernment 638 00:22:37,501 --> 00:22:40,058 regarding this immoral woman. No holy man would 639 00:22:40,058 --> 00:22:41,975 have ever let her poll him with her 640 00:22:41,975 --> 00:22:42,215 touch. 641 00:22:43,108 --> 00:22:46,080 He began to rehearse what he would report 642 00:22:46,378 --> 00:22:47,096 to the council. 643 00:22:48,212 --> 00:22:48,952 You see 644 00:22:49,489 --> 00:22:52,041 in those days, a woman touching a man 645 00:22:52,041 --> 00:22:53,885 like that would def file the man too. 646 00:22:54,838 --> 00:22:55,950 It was not okay. 647 00:22:57,142 --> 00:23:00,581 And I just love the fact that Jesus 648 00:23:01,432 --> 00:23:02,226 was completely fine. 649 00:23:03,590 --> 00:23:04,090 Jesus 650 00:23:04,859 --> 00:23:05,677 was willing 651 00:23:06,288 --> 00:23:07,001 to have her touch, 652 00:23:07,954 --> 00:23:09,699 and it was not an inappropriate touch. 653 00:23:11,624 --> 00:23:13,242 And as I think about 654 00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:15,399 how much 655 00:23:16,178 --> 00:23:18,175 god loves each 1 of us. 656 00:23:18,910 --> 00:23:20,049 I am overwhelmed 657 00:23:21,710 --> 00:23:23,490 by the fact that we can love 658 00:23:24,349 --> 00:23:25,390 because he first loved us. 659 00:23:26,269 --> 00:23:28,029 And I think that's what the woman knew. 660 00:23:28,763 --> 00:23:30,198 I think she had heard that she could 661 00:23:30,198 --> 00:23:31,952 come to him despite her profession. 662 00:23:33,706 --> 00:23:34,445 She could 663 00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:36,816 give herself to him. 664 00:23:37,388 --> 00:23:38,502 There could be a new life. 665 00:23:40,650 --> 00:23:42,161 And my prayer for you is that that 666 00:23:42,161 --> 00:23:43,991 is something that you've encountered personally. 667 00:23:44,804 --> 00:23:46,322 That it's not just a lot of head 668 00:23:46,322 --> 00:23:48,798 knowledge that you want to learn the Bible 669 00:23:48,798 --> 00:23:51,035 similar to Simon. Like, yeah. I'm gonna memorize 670 00:23:51,035 --> 00:23:51,355 this. 671 00:23:52,247 --> 00:23:54,792 It doesn't become a ritual. It's not functional. 672 00:23:56,383 --> 00:23:57,974 It's at the heart level. Sorry. I don't 673 00:23:57,974 --> 00:23:59,262 wanna tap the micro phone here. 674 00:24:00,696 --> 00:24:01,196 It's 675 00:24:01,573 --> 00:24:02,073 transformational 676 00:24:02,768 --> 00:24:03,564 because it's personal. 677 00:24:04,918 --> 00:24:05,657 And so 678 00:24:06,208 --> 00:24:09,398 it fa me that the way Jesus responds 679 00:24:09,398 --> 00:24:12,190 to Simon. Again, Simon did not speak those 680 00:24:12,190 --> 00:24:14,742 words of, oh. You know, he doesn't know 681 00:24:14,742 --> 00:24:16,835 who this is. He thinks those words. 682 00:24:17,714 --> 00:24:18,994 And so what does Jesus do? 683 00:24:19,634 --> 00:24:20,194 0.3. 684 00:24:20,994 --> 00:24:23,815 He he gives a parable. He illustrates 685 00:24:24,369 --> 00:24:25,887 what it looks like to have great for... 686 00:24:26,207 --> 00:24:26,527 Forgiveness. 687 00:24:27,645 --> 00:24:28,924 So he goes on and says Jesus, 688 00:24:29,803 --> 00:24:31,401 answering him said to him Simon have something 689 00:24:31,401 --> 00:24:31,960 to say to you, 690 00:24:32,613 --> 00:24:34,760 and he answered, say a teacher. A certain 691 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,145 money lender had 2 debtors, 105 hundred an 692 00:24:37,225 --> 00:24:38,440 Air, the other 50 693 00:24:39,054 --> 00:24:41,376 when they could not pay. That's the key. 694 00:24:41,775 --> 00:24:43,926 Don't worry about how much. Once 10 times 695 00:24:43,926 --> 00:24:46,556 more than the other, there's comment that say 696 00:24:46,556 --> 00:24:49,039 it's like a year's wage versus 10 years 697 00:24:49,039 --> 00:24:51,740 wage, but the truth is this, neither debtor 698 00:24:51,740 --> 00:24:53,408 could pay. That's the point. 699 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,370 He canceled the debt of both 700 00:24:57,079 --> 00:24:59,079 Now, which of them will love him more. 701 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,400 Simon answered the 1 and check it out. 702 00:25:01,559 --> 00:25:03,960 He goes, I suppose. Is that snarky? 703 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:05,559 You know, 704 00:25:06,610 --> 00:25:08,200 Is he thinking he's about to be trapped? 705 00:25:09,075 --> 00:25:11,460 The 1 I suppose for whom he canceled 706 00:25:11,460 --> 00:25:12,255 the larger debt, 707 00:25:13,049 --> 00:25:14,719 and he said to him, you have judged 708 00:25:14,719 --> 00:25:15,037 rightly. 709 00:25:15,689 --> 00:25:18,486 Then turning toward the woman, he said to 710 00:25:18,646 --> 00:25:18,966 Simon. 711 00:25:20,325 --> 00:25:21,044 You know what? I... 712 00:25:21,763 --> 00:25:24,241 I'm fascinated by this interaction because as we 713 00:25:24,241 --> 00:25:25,040 look at the scene, 714 00:25:26,015 --> 00:25:27,534 Jesus is talking to Simon, 715 00:25:28,414 --> 00:25:30,174 but he's looking at the woman. 716 00:25:30,974 --> 00:25:32,974 So before everyone's looking at the woman, 717 00:25:34,265 --> 00:25:35,139 Jesus is fine. 718 00:25:35,775 --> 00:25:37,602 He's not paying attention to the woman. Actually, 719 00:25:37,761 --> 00:25:39,747 he's paying attention to assignment. But in this 720 00:25:39,747 --> 00:25:41,574 moment he directs his attention to her. 721 00:25:42,304 --> 00:25:42,939 To the center. 722 00:25:44,050 --> 00:25:46,670 And he teaches Simon a great lesson. And 723 00:25:46,670 --> 00:25:48,496 that lesson is the lesson for all of 724 00:25:48,496 --> 00:25:48,655 us. 725 00:25:49,846 --> 00:25:51,037 We have a debt we can't pay. 726 00:25:52,409 --> 00:25:53,710 But we have a creditor 727 00:25:54,409 --> 00:25:56,169 in Christ who has. 728 00:25:57,450 --> 00:25:58,990 And you see, I 729 00:25:59,929 --> 00:26:00,990 am overwhelmed 730 00:26:02,175 --> 00:26:03,602 by what that means for each and every 731 00:26:03,602 --> 00:26:05,529 1 of us. We have access 732 00:26:07,407 --> 00:26:08,621 to the God of heaven 733 00:26:09,246 --> 00:26:10,991 because he made a way through his son, 734 00:26:11,547 --> 00:26:12,816 and it is the only way. 735 00:26:14,006 --> 00:26:16,466 And so yet this woman sees this understands 736 00:26:16,466 --> 00:26:16,704 this, 737 00:26:17,433 --> 00:26:19,206 The other aspect of Jesus 738 00:26:19,581 --> 00:26:20,456 talking to Simon, 739 00:26:20,933 --> 00:26:21,831 but looking 740 00:26:22,286 --> 00:26:23,399 at the woman is this. 741 00:26:24,450 --> 00:26:26,150 You really can't love someone 742 00:26:27,009 --> 00:26:29,170 until you begin to look towards them. 743 00:26:29,890 --> 00:26:31,490 Any of you in your marriage ever have 744 00:26:31,490 --> 00:26:33,305 that going on where you think your spouse 745 00:26:33,503 --> 00:26:35,095 talking to you, but they're watching the football 746 00:26:35,095 --> 00:26:37,243 game. I'll just own that maybe that's happened 747 00:26:37,243 --> 00:26:37,721 to me. And, 748 00:26:39,074 --> 00:26:40,824 so when my wife and I talk, we 749 00:26:40,824 --> 00:26:42,018 have to have eyes on each other. 750 00:26:43,147 --> 00:26:44,817 My daughter taught me that well. I won't 751 00:26:44,817 --> 00:26:47,442 say which 1 because, it... It's a it's 752 00:26:47,442 --> 00:26:49,033 a compliment to her. When she was really 753 00:26:49,033 --> 00:26:49,192 little, 754 00:26:49,843 --> 00:26:51,273 we would come up to, like, this... You 755 00:26:51,273 --> 00:26:53,260 know, in the car, panhandle or, you know, 756 00:26:53,339 --> 00:26:54,236 like, wanting money 757 00:26:54,690 --> 00:26:56,200 and Mara... Oh, it's I already said it. 758 00:26:56,358 --> 00:26:57,312 Mori mariah. That's the 1. 759 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:00,599 She would go daddy. Do you have money 760 00:27:00,599 --> 00:27:01,640 in your wallet I give it to that 761 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:01,880 person. 762 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:04,519 But the truth is is why I share 763 00:27:04,519 --> 00:27:06,039 that it's because in my heart, 764 00:27:06,852 --> 00:27:08,606 I wouldn't even put my eyes on that 765 00:27:08,606 --> 00:27:10,041 person because I'm like, I wanna give them 766 00:27:10,041 --> 00:27:10,440 my money. 767 00:27:11,556 --> 00:27:13,789 But she knew my daughter, like, 4 or 768 00:27:13,789 --> 00:27:15,635 5 years old knew that the The first 769 00:27:15,635 --> 00:27:16,589 step was to look. 770 00:27:17,383 --> 00:27:19,449 So my question is, do you look or 771 00:27:19,449 --> 00:27:20,163 do you turn away? 772 00:27:21,276 --> 00:27:23,555 You see Jesus was looking at her? The 773 00:27:24,308 --> 00:27:26,372 just as he looks with fondness at each 774 00:27:26,372 --> 00:27:27,324 and every 1 of you. 775 00:27:28,593 --> 00:27:29,148 And so, 776 00:27:32,745 --> 00:27:34,044 III 777 00:27:34,102 --> 00:27:37,077 can truth be told just I'm overwhelmed 778 00:27:37,455 --> 00:27:39,690 by the extent of God's goodness to us. 779 00:27:40,260 --> 00:27:42,642 When we don't deserve it. Here's what Macarthur 780 00:27:42,642 --> 00:27:42,880 says. 781 00:27:43,674 --> 00:27:46,055 He says if I lend you 500 air 782 00:27:46,055 --> 00:27:47,881 and can't pay you, and I say forgive 783 00:27:47,881 --> 00:27:50,445 that and Then I incur that debt, then 784 00:27:50,525 --> 00:27:52,441 I have now incurred that debt completely. 785 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:54,277 That debt is now mine. 786 00:27:54,915 --> 00:27:57,070 The cost is transferred to me, I pay. 787 00:27:57,644 --> 00:28:00,058 To understand that is to get get an 788 00:28:00,117 --> 00:28:02,829 insight into the forgiveness of God. When God 789 00:28:02,829 --> 00:28:03,626 forgave your sins, 790 00:28:04,583 --> 00:28:07,136 he then incurred the dead and Jesus Christ 791 00:28:07,136 --> 00:28:07,375 paid it. 792 00:28:08,424 --> 00:28:10,969 The debt doesn't go away. It must still 793 00:28:10,969 --> 00:28:11,446 be paid, 794 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:14,013 but the forgive incur 795 00:28:14,388 --> 00:28:15,343 incur it and pays it. 796 00:28:15,994 --> 00:28:18,539 So it's not just forgiveness and it's done. 797 00:28:18,778 --> 00:28:21,801 It's forgiveness and then the debt is transferred 798 00:28:21,801 --> 00:28:22,357 to the debtor. 799 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:26,286 So what's the difference between this woman 800 00:28:27,849 --> 00:28:28,405 and Simon. 801 00:28:29,436 --> 00:28:31,024 And I would propose really 1 thing? 802 00:28:32,552 --> 00:28:33,749 She knew her desperation. 803 00:28:35,026 --> 00:28:37,819 She knew she was desperate for a savior. 804 00:28:38,298 --> 00:28:39,117 She knew 805 00:28:39,906 --> 00:28:42,313 how much sin she had in her life 806 00:28:42,448 --> 00:28:44,275 and how much cleansing she needed. 807 00:28:45,228 --> 00:28:47,634 And she had heard of this person Christ 808 00:28:48,899 --> 00:28:50,514 Jesus and she 809 00:28:51,368 --> 00:28:53,699 desired to be near him. She could only 810 00:28:53,836 --> 00:28:56,088 respond with being broken down in gratitude 811 00:28:56,798 --> 00:28:57,991 because of that desperation. 812 00:28:59,503 --> 00:29:01,334 You see what it says here as we 813 00:29:01,334 --> 00:29:03,324 look at the last point, the impact of 814 00:29:03,324 --> 00:29:04,174 saving faith 815 00:29:04,532 --> 00:29:06,440 Therefore, I tell you her sins, which are 816 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,062 many are forgiven. For she loved much, 817 00:29:09,698 --> 00:29:12,559 but he who is forgiven little loves, little. 818 00:29:13,368 --> 00:29:14,876 And he said to her your sins are 819 00:29:14,876 --> 00:29:15,194 forgiving, 820 00:29:16,067 --> 00:29:18,290 then those who are at the table with 821 00:29:18,290 --> 00:29:20,354 him began to say among themselves. Who is 822 00:29:20,354 --> 00:29:23,148 this? That even forgive sins, and he said 823 00:29:23,148 --> 00:29:24,442 to the woman your faith 824 00:29:24,894 --> 00:29:26,244 has saved you go in peace. 825 00:29:27,117 --> 00:29:29,023 You see, she's not saved for her love 826 00:29:29,023 --> 00:29:29,658 for Jesus. 827 00:29:30,709 --> 00:29:31,768 Her her 828 00:29:32,226 --> 00:29:34,543 salvation comes because of faith in Jesus, 829 00:29:35,102 --> 00:29:36,381 and that is true for each and every 830 00:29:36,381 --> 00:29:36,940 1 of us. 831 00:29:37,590 --> 00:29:39,809 We have to put our faith in Christ 832 00:29:39,809 --> 00:29:41,023 in Christ alone 833 00:29:41,870 --> 00:29:44,327 in order to experience the type of love. 834 00:29:44,818 --> 00:29:46,966 That God is intended for you to experience. 835 00:29:47,602 --> 00:29:48,716 For you to know, 836 00:29:49,432 --> 00:29:50,250 it comes 837 00:29:51,181 --> 00:29:53,224 not only with an element of 838 00:29:53,979 --> 00:29:54,853 desperation like the woman, 839 00:29:55,568 --> 00:29:57,952 but also this realization of your... The the 840 00:29:57,952 --> 00:29:58,349 forgiveness. 841 00:29:58,985 --> 00:30:01,051 And so I... There's a little equation I 842 00:30:01,051 --> 00:30:01,868 like to use 843 00:30:02,656 --> 00:30:03,475 saying that 844 00:30:05,284 --> 00:30:05,443 desperation, 845 00:30:06,717 --> 00:30:07,615 plus forgiveness 846 00:30:08,309 --> 00:30:09,345 equals left for a savior. 847 00:30:10,953 --> 00:30:12,149 She understood this. 848 00:30:13,026 --> 00:30:14,461 The ph had no idea. 849 00:30:15,178 --> 00:30:17,650 You see he was in his mind forgiven 850 00:30:17,650 --> 00:30:19,005 of he's a good guy. 851 00:30:19,736 --> 00:30:20,847 He doesn't have much need. 852 00:30:22,038 --> 00:30:25,135 And yet, she knew the depths of her 853 00:30:25,135 --> 00:30:25,374 need. 854 00:30:26,962 --> 00:30:27,994 Where are you this morning? 855 00:30:28,884 --> 00:30:31,204 Are you possibly relating more to the fair 856 00:30:31,204 --> 00:30:33,605 sea, and that's okay. There been many days 857 00:30:33,605 --> 00:30:35,285 in my life where I honestly relate to 858 00:30:35,285 --> 00:30:35,845 the fair. 859 00:30:36,659 --> 00:30:38,337 You see the root of every sin is 860 00:30:38,337 --> 00:30:38,657 pride. 861 00:30:39,616 --> 00:30:40,255 It really is. 862 00:30:40,974 --> 00:30:42,413 And maybe you're feeling like, I'm pretty good. 863 00:30:42,573 --> 00:30:44,411 You know, I've been memorizing the book of. 864 00:30:44,570 --> 00:30:46,579 You know, I'm good. But what you notice 865 00:30:46,579 --> 00:30:48,173 if you take a true audit of your 866 00:30:48,173 --> 00:30:48,412 soul, 867 00:30:49,288 --> 00:30:50,482 is it your distant from God? 868 00:30:51,518 --> 00:30:53,907 That that knowledge is not drawing you any 869 00:30:53,907 --> 00:30:55,838 closer to the person or the work of 870 00:30:55,998 --> 00:30:56,237 Christ. 871 00:30:57,356 --> 00:30:59,593 And my prayer for you this morning is 872 00:30:59,593 --> 00:31:01,351 that you would just take a moment and 873 00:31:01,351 --> 00:31:03,836 realize to how desperate you truly are. 874 00:31:06,304 --> 00:31:08,215 Kind of a goofy story and in confession 875 00:31:08,215 --> 00:31:09,989 here. I deal with, claus. 876 00:31:11,257 --> 00:31:12,373 And I don't know if you've ever been 877 00:31:12,373 --> 00:31:14,366 in a situation where you have felt really 878 00:31:14,366 --> 00:31:17,875 desperate. Like, recently, I... I've had my wife 879 00:31:17,875 --> 00:31:19,962 and I've had way too many... Ortho orthopedic 880 00:31:19,962 --> 00:31:22,586 surgeries. We've tried to remain active, and went 881 00:31:22,586 --> 00:31:24,097 before you get 1 as many of you 882 00:31:24,097 --> 00:31:26,006 probably know, you have to have an Mri. 883 00:31:26,642 --> 00:31:28,710 And I had to have an Mri for 884 00:31:28,710 --> 00:31:29,107 my hip. 885 00:31:30,155 --> 00:31:32,459 And when they put me into the Mri, 886 00:31:32,856 --> 00:31:34,126 I'd had never been in 1 before. 887 00:31:34,841 --> 00:31:35,953 I don't know if it's an open or 888 00:31:35,953 --> 00:31:37,835 closed. I just remember someone asking after the 889 00:31:37,954 --> 00:31:39,939 for service. It just felt like I was, 890 00:31:40,097 --> 00:31:42,480 like, I was gonna be crunch. You know? 891 00:31:42,718 --> 00:31:43,909 Like, just crushed. 892 00:31:44,624 --> 00:31:46,465 And so I was, like, for remember I 893 00:31:46,544 --> 00:31:48,767 I had memorized scripture, I was singing praise 894 00:31:48,767 --> 00:31:49,164 songs, 895 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:51,308 but within, like, a minute of being in 896 00:31:51,308 --> 00:31:52,816 that Mri where I could feel it on 897 00:31:52,816 --> 00:31:53,372 my shoulders. 898 00:31:53,865 --> 00:31:55,625 My feet just started to shake. 899 00:31:56,265 --> 00:31:58,025 I could not control the fact that I 900 00:31:58,025 --> 00:31:59,625 was the claustrophobic kicked in. 901 00:32:00,664 --> 00:32:02,445 And I couldn't think of anything 902 00:32:03,239 --> 00:32:04,355 except for get me out of here. 903 00:32:05,392 --> 00:32:08,365 And I remember when the woman, the technician 904 00:32:09,779 --> 00:32:11,055 put me in. She's second, are you gonna 905 00:32:11,055 --> 00:32:12,650 be okay? I'm like, I'll be fine. You 906 00:32:12,650 --> 00:32:14,183 know, a wash egg over my eyes. She 907 00:32:14,183 --> 00:32:15,302 said, but if you need me, 908 00:32:16,101 --> 00:32:18,179 push the button and I'll come get you. 909 00:32:19,138 --> 00:32:21,696 And I'll I'll never forget how much... Like, 910 00:32:21,855 --> 00:32:23,308 when I started to push the button. 911 00:32:24,186 --> 00:32:26,021 It wasn't like I pushed it once. I 912 00:32:26,021 --> 00:32:27,378 just started pushing it like it was a 913 00:32:27,378 --> 00:32:28,734 video game. Like, just get me out of 914 00:32:28,734 --> 00:32:31,060 here. Like, please, please, you know, the and 915 00:32:31,060 --> 00:32:32,805 she... It... It was 30 seconds, but it 916 00:32:32,805 --> 00:32:35,027 felt like 30 minutes. She pulled me out. 917 00:32:35,978 --> 00:32:37,486 And and I almost wanted to hug her. 918 00:32:37,740 --> 00:32:39,579 Like, I was like, oh, you've you've saved 919 00:32:39,579 --> 00:32:40,940 me. Thank you. You know? But it's just 920 00:32:40,940 --> 00:32:42,619 funny how your mind when you have a 921 00:32:42,619 --> 00:32:43,339 struggle like that, 922 00:32:44,299 --> 00:32:45,339 you... How you respond. 923 00:32:46,394 --> 00:32:47,835 But see, the fact of the matter is 924 00:32:47,835 --> 00:32:48,075 this, 925 00:32:49,994 --> 00:32:50,634 without Christ, 926 00:32:52,634 --> 00:32:55,521 we are destined to an eternity separated from 927 00:32:55,521 --> 00:32:55,760 him. 928 00:32:56,478 --> 00:32:58,549 We are going to a place that is 929 00:32:58,549 --> 00:33:00,541 way worse than being in an Mri machine. 930 00:33:01,749 --> 00:33:02,965 We need him desperately? 931 00:33:03,976 --> 00:33:05,804 Are you in a place that you're like, 932 00:33:05,963 --> 00:33:07,872 you know what Jesus, I really do need 933 00:33:07,872 --> 00:33:10,257 you, and I feel that desperate need for 934 00:33:10,257 --> 00:33:10,416 you. 935 00:33:11,788 --> 00:33:13,547 You may not have a silly example like 936 00:33:13,547 --> 00:33:15,464 this, but there's gotta be something in your 937 00:33:15,464 --> 00:33:15,704 life, 938 00:33:16,663 --> 00:33:19,460 a season, a time where all you had 939 00:33:19,460 --> 00:33:20,020 was Christ. 940 00:33:20,833 --> 00:33:22,348 All you could do is cry out and 941 00:33:22,348 --> 00:33:23,465 say, Lord, I need you. 942 00:33:24,342 --> 00:33:25,299 I need you desperately. 943 00:33:26,017 --> 00:33:27,533 And the fact of the matter is this, 944 00:33:28,011 --> 00:33:30,085 when you realize that, when you are desperate, 945 00:33:30,500 --> 00:33:32,100 but you also realize just how much you've 946 00:33:32,100 --> 00:33:32,740 been forgiven. 947 00:33:33,779 --> 00:33:35,460 It creates such a great love. 948 00:33:36,740 --> 00:33:39,220 A love for our lord, and again, we 949 00:33:39,220 --> 00:33:41,543 love because he first left us, and that's 950 00:33:41,543 --> 00:33:42,180 what the woman knew. 951 00:33:43,373 --> 00:33:45,202 And so the impact of our saving faith 952 00:33:45,202 --> 00:33:46,316 is that we can go in peace. 953 00:33:47,289 --> 00:33:48,807 That we can go in peace like the 954 00:33:48,807 --> 00:33:49,046 woman. 955 00:33:49,925 --> 00:33:51,443 We can be salty and bright as a 956 00:33:51,443 --> 00:33:52,961 dear friend of mine here in Houston says, 957 00:33:53,601 --> 00:33:54,480 to those around us, 958 00:33:55,211 --> 00:33:56,108 who are desperately 959 00:33:56,642 --> 00:33:59,345 grasping for other things just like we prayed 960 00:33:59,345 --> 00:34:00,299 earlier in our confession. 961 00:34:01,333 --> 00:34:03,082 They're they're looking to things that will never 962 00:34:03,082 --> 00:34:03,559 give life. 963 00:34:04,449 --> 00:34:05,805 And yet Christ is here. 964 00:34:08,358 --> 00:34:10,750 I wanna close with a somewhat hard story. 965 00:34:11,707 --> 00:34:13,802 You see the fragrance of forgiveness 966 00:34:14,911 --> 00:34:15,968 yields of gratitude. 967 00:34:17,218 --> 00:34:17,718 And 968 00:34:18,490 --> 00:34:20,081 maybe you're sitting in the audience and you 969 00:34:20,081 --> 00:34:21,139 can relate to this 970 00:34:21,928 --> 00:34:24,081 the question of I've been forgiven of much. 971 00:34:25,118 --> 00:34:27,032 You know, I I turned 50 this year, 972 00:34:27,272 --> 00:34:27,511 and, 973 00:34:28,309 --> 00:34:30,781 for the first, probably 49 years, I I 974 00:34:30,781 --> 00:34:32,234 could say I think a lot of times 975 00:34:32,315 --> 00:34:33,594 I'd relate more to the fair sea than 976 00:34:33,675 --> 00:34:34,554 I would this sinful woman. 977 00:34:35,434 --> 00:34:36,155 If I'm honest, 978 00:34:37,434 --> 00:34:38,574 But there was a night, 979 00:34:39,114 --> 00:34:41,444 where I realized just how much I've been 980 00:34:41,444 --> 00:34:43,677 forgiven, and it happened because a friend forgave. 981 00:34:44,475 --> 00:34:46,788 You see on April first of 20 23, 982 00:34:47,745 --> 00:34:48,304 my son, 983 00:34:49,021 --> 00:34:49,521 and 984 00:34:49,914 --> 00:34:51,827 had a party at our family ranch. My 985 00:34:51,827 --> 00:34:53,821 dad was born on the ranch, and we 986 00:34:53,821 --> 00:34:54,379 love the ranch. 987 00:34:55,336 --> 00:34:57,409 We did a number of activities. There were 988 00:34:57,409 --> 00:34:59,339 6 boys, including my son. It was he, 989 00:35:00,697 --> 00:35:02,455 I'm gonna brag on him. He's a godly 990 00:35:02,455 --> 00:35:04,932 boy. The... He and his best friend we're 991 00:35:04,932 --> 00:35:07,010 the class president and vice president. 992 00:35:07,425 --> 00:35:09,105 And they invited a boy that was kinda 993 00:35:09,105 --> 00:35:09,664 on the fringe, 994 00:35:10,385 --> 00:35:12,005 and they would go from an activity 995 00:35:12,385 --> 00:35:14,144 to bible study. And I didn't tell him 996 00:35:14,144 --> 00:35:15,918 to do this. And so they would go 997 00:35:15,918 --> 00:35:19,195 from fishing to studying John. They go back 998 00:35:19,195 --> 00:35:21,592 out and I'd go ski shooting skate with 999 00:35:21,592 --> 00:35:22,971 them, and then 1000 00:35:23,925 --> 00:35:25,125 finishing the book of john. Like, it was 1001 00:35:25,125 --> 00:35:26,565 just a wonderful weekend. 1002 00:35:27,364 --> 00:35:29,045 And so 24 hours in, I had to 1003 00:35:29,045 --> 00:35:30,405 run an Errand. My wife was there. 1004 00:35:31,219 --> 00:35:31,938 And I... 1005 00:35:32,657 --> 00:35:34,416 We have an Atv that's a side by 1006 00:35:34,416 --> 00:35:37,692 side, very powerful, you know, ranch tool. And 1007 00:35:37,772 --> 00:35:39,051 I had lecture the boys because they had 1008 00:35:39,051 --> 00:35:40,423 been on it all day I said be 1009 00:35:40,423 --> 00:35:42,497 careful. They're 15. I didn't think I need 1010 00:35:42,497 --> 00:35:43,135 to take the key. 1011 00:35:44,013 --> 00:35:45,688 But unfortunately, the 1 boy got in with 1012 00:35:45,847 --> 00:35:48,080 Cad, and he rolled it, and it killed 1013 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:48,660 Cad 1014 00:35:49,037 --> 00:35:49,755 at our property. 1015 00:35:50,488 --> 00:35:51,206 On April first. 1016 00:35:52,721 --> 00:35:53,938 I share it because 1017 00:35:54,395 --> 00:35:56,389 we were undone by the accident. 1018 00:35:56,947 --> 00:35:58,780 I mean, it's it's devastating. 1019 00:36:00,546 --> 00:36:01,023 And yet, 1020 00:36:01,739 --> 00:36:04,364 here we are at the hospital knowing that 1021 00:36:04,364 --> 00:36:05,420 cad is deceased 1022 00:36:05,795 --> 00:36:07,148 and income his mom and dad. 1023 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:09,960 His dad is a very large man. Probably 1024 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:10,839 643 1025 00:36:10,839 --> 00:36:11,719 hundred and 20 pounds, 1026 00:36:12,599 --> 00:36:13,639 play football college. 1027 00:36:15,014 --> 00:36:17,974 Honestly, I I just... We hugged, they saw 1028 00:36:17,974 --> 00:36:20,135 our faces and knew that something was terribly 1029 00:36:20,135 --> 00:36:20,295 wrong. 1030 00:36:21,655 --> 00:36:23,175 They go into the room right behind us 1031 00:36:23,175 --> 00:36:24,947 as we're in the waiting room and you 1032 00:36:24,947 --> 00:36:26,858 hear his mom cry, you know, cry out 1033 00:36:26,858 --> 00:36:27,813 because they learned he's gone. 1034 00:36:29,166 --> 00:36:30,997 But in the very moment that they learned 1035 00:36:30,997 --> 00:36:33,002 he's gone, his dad, very large man comes 1036 00:36:33,002 --> 00:36:34,354 out. And I'm like, okay, Here it goes. 1037 00:36:34,514 --> 00:36:36,502 He is going to assault me, and I 1038 00:36:36,502 --> 00:36:38,332 don't mind. Like, send me to Heaven with 1039 00:36:38,411 --> 00:36:39,923 Cad right now. Like, on it, it was 1040 00:36:39,923 --> 00:36:40,241 awful. 1041 00:36:42,005 --> 00:36:42,877 And he looks at me. 1042 00:36:46,605 --> 00:36:47,239 And he says, 1043 00:36:48,826 --> 00:36:49,381 I love you. 1044 00:36:50,432 --> 00:36:51,469 This was not your fault. 1045 00:36:52,665 --> 00:36:53,702 This was an accident. 1046 00:36:54,579 --> 00:36:55,776 It because, but I forgive you. 1047 00:36:56,653 --> 00:36:58,567 And then he goes, my son is with 1048 00:36:58,727 --> 00:36:59,227 Jesus 1049 00:37:03,765 --> 00:37:04,722 It was overwhelming. 1050 00:37:05,838 --> 00:37:07,512 You see I love cadence stat. 1051 00:37:08,405 --> 00:37:09,925 Our daughters are roommates in college. 1052 00:37:10,724 --> 00:37:13,284 We do life together. 72 kids put their 1053 00:37:13,284 --> 00:37:15,125 faith in Jesus as a result of this 1054 00:37:15,125 --> 00:37:16,085 family's response. 1055 00:37:17,215 --> 00:37:19,282 But I love Rob. I would do anything 1056 00:37:19,282 --> 00:37:19,759 for Rob. 1057 00:37:21,111 --> 00:37:22,804 And my love for him has 1058 00:37:23,178 --> 00:37:23,916 been magnified. 1059 00:37:24,864 --> 00:37:26,777 Because of the forgiveness he showed when I 1060 00:37:26,777 --> 00:37:28,052 felt like I had sent much. 1061 00:37:29,408 --> 00:37:31,800 You see that same type of forgiveness comes 1062 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:34,289 from Jesus because guess what? You may not 1063 00:37:34,289 --> 00:37:36,210 feel responsible for a young boy's death, 1064 00:37:37,410 --> 00:37:39,090 but you have sin that would send you 1065 00:37:39,090 --> 00:37:40,769 separate to... It would send you to hell. 1066 00:37:42,143 --> 00:37:43,121 And yet Jesus 1067 00:37:44,212 --> 00:37:44,689 loves you. 1068 00:37:46,041 --> 00:37:48,507 He loves you enough to redeem you. 1069 00:37:49,479 --> 00:37:51,396 So my prayer today is that if you 1070 00:37:51,396 --> 00:37:53,314 don't know of that saving love that at 1071 00:37:53,314 --> 00:37:54,433 the end of the service, you would come 1072 00:37:54,433 --> 00:37:55,232 up and we could talk. 1073 00:37:56,031 --> 00:37:58,199 All you need to ask is say Jesus, 1074 00:37:58,358 --> 00:37:58,915 I need you. 1075 00:38:00,188 --> 00:38:00,903 I need you. 1076 00:38:01,699 --> 00:38:03,608 Forgive me for my sins. I trust you. 1077 00:38:05,132 --> 00:38:06,640 You can begin a new life like the 1078 00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:07,117 woman did. 1079 00:38:08,545 --> 00:38:09,204 You see 1080 00:38:10,609 --> 00:38:11,109 desperation 1081 00:38:12,276 --> 00:38:12,776 plus 1082 00:38:13,563 --> 00:38:14,063 forgiveness 1083 00:38:14,679 --> 00:38:17,308 equals a great love for our savior. That 1084 00:38:17,308 --> 00:38:19,699 is the fragrance of forgiveness. Let's pray. 1085 00:38:24,570 --> 00:38:24,889 Lord, 1086 00:38:27,275 --> 00:38:28,731 we are just overwhelmed 1087 00:38:29,185 --> 00:38:29,981 by your goodness. 1088 00:38:31,348 --> 00:38:33,337 Thank you that you demonstrated your love for 1089 00:38:33,337 --> 00:38:35,485 us and that while we were still sinner 1090 00:38:35,644 --> 00:38:36,916 Christ would die for us. 1091 00:38:38,050 --> 00:38:39,650 Thank you that in this room, 1092 00:38:40,289 --> 00:38:42,309 there are people who come from every background. 1093 00:38:43,250 --> 00:38:45,010 God some of them are very near to 1094 00:38:45,010 --> 00:38:46,610 you at the moment and then some, 1095 00:38:47,183 --> 00:38:49,656 are honestly far. And so would you allow 1096 00:38:49,656 --> 00:38:51,251 this to be the moment where they come 1097 00:38:51,251 --> 00:38:53,426 in their desperation and say, Lord, I just 1098 00:38:53,724 --> 00:38:54,442 really need you. 1099 00:38:55,159 --> 00:38:56,536 God, if we've grown cold 1100 00:38:57,485 --> 00:38:59,473 because it's just head knowledge, God, would you 1101 00:38:59,473 --> 00:39:00,905 refresh our hearts in Christ. 1102 00:39:01,780 --> 00:39:03,370 Would you be glorified in us? 1103 00:39:04,483 --> 00:39:07,203 Thank you for all that you do and 1104 00:39:07,203 --> 00:39:08,960 have done and will do. 1105 00:39:10,077 --> 00:39:11,993 Not because we deserve any of it, but 1106 00:39:11,993 --> 00:39:13,829 because you are a good good father. We 1107 00:39:13,829 --> 00:39:15,585 pray in Jesus name. Amen.