Looking at the contrast of reactions, we could narrow our focus to just the final incident in chapter 7 -- Jesus' foot washing by the "fallen woman" at the home of a Pharisee -- and still see that when confronted by the person of Jesus, some get it right, and some get it wrong, in their response to Him. As I look at both incidents, I see the makings of a great sermon theme. Or a really long blog post. Which I don't want to happen.
So, while you can think about the faith of the centurion, and his understanding of authority, and his recognition of such in Jesus, I'm going to skip to the end of the chapter and talk about just one small piece of the narrative that struck a chord in me this morning. Here's the passage:
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:47-50 NET)
In order to keep this post short, I won't recap all that's happened to this point. You've read it, so you know that at this moment, Simon has been taught by Jesus the reason He would allow a sinful woman such intimate physical contact. In fact, Jesus led Simon to teach himself, through a brief story and a relevant question. Jesus has also pointed out that this woman had taken care of a responsibility that should have been Simon's as host -- a kiss of greeting, a foot washing, and an anointing for the guest. (The foot washing should have been done by a servant, at a minimum, although a true receiving of Jesus as a respected teacher might have required that Simon himself do it.)
As these lessons are sinking in, Jesus tells the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." And rather than reflecting on all that has taken place up to this moment, both in Simon's house, and all around the countryside, the men of the law can only respond with affront, that Jesus would say such a thing. They miss the point, completely. Not without reason, of course, but nevertheless, one has hope in the fact that Simon has invited Jesus to his house. Maybe this Pharisee has taken into account the reports of Jesus circulating through the villages of Galilee. Good grief, they've probably at least heard that something amazing happened in Nain to the dead son of a widow.
But they miss the point, because those words of Jesus bang head on into their preconceived ideas of how God works, and their inability to grasp the possibility that God continues to work. God's work and His continued revelation had always brought on new understandings of Who He is, and what He would do in honoring His covenant with Israel. Before Moses at Mt. Sinai there was no law. But there was the covenant. The law was a new work of God, that changed the nature of the relationship of Him with His covenant people. Later, Jeremiah told the people that God would bring a new covenant, one that would be written on the peoples' hearts. And recently, John the baptizer had come with a new message, recognized by the people as a message from God, that they needed to repent and do something new -- demonstrate their repentance in a ceremonial washing. New stuff.
And look at what has just taken place in Simon's house. Jesus arrived, a woman of sordid reputation (earned) came to Him in response to the message of Jesus of God's love for her and the opportunity for her to be a part of His kingdom. The good old boys thought Jesus would have nothing to do with her because of her past, and therefore He must not be a prophet. But Jesus demonstrated that He was a prophet by calling them out on their thinking, and that as a prophet He wanted everything to do with her. He further demonstrated His effectiveness as a teacher, forcing Simon to an understanding of both the woman's motivation and God's love, almost against his will ("I suppose..."). And he did that while also forcing Simon to recognize his failures as a host. While all of what Jesus did, except the prophetic part, could have been accomplished by a really good teacher, think of the intensity in this situation, all brought to bear in a matter of moments. The Pharisees sitting in judgment in one moment, only to have it all turned upside down in the time it takes to tell a quick story, ask a question, and expand on the answer. Maybe 5 minutes at the most.
Having said all of that, here's what got to me this morning. I'm just like those Pharisees. I seem to always be missing the main point. (You might think I've missed it in this blog entry.) I hear something, I read something, I see something, and a little piece sticks out, and all of a sudden I've missed the big picture. Maybe it goes like this: I'm introduced to someone new. There's an importance to the one doing the introduction that the two of us meet. And I should know that because, the person doing the introduction has spoken of the person I'm meeting before this moment. But all I hear is that they're from Phoenix and I remember my brief time living there. Or I'm put off by a limp handshake. Or any number of irrelevant details. And it's only later that I realize what the connection should have been, what the points of commonality should have been, and the opportunity missed. Ouch.
While that's hard stuff, there's often an opportunity to make up for it. But when it comes to Jesus, if we miss the main point, if we don't get it right, eventually we'll run out of opportunities to get it right. We'll even build up a hardness to ever getting it right. Simon and the boys may have already been there. God was doing a new thing, the ultimate thing, and they missed it.
Lord, while I've gotten it right when it comes to acknowledging your Son and His death and resurrection, help me get the other stuff right, too. Especially when it comes to sharing your truths with others -- getting the truths right, and getting the relationships right. Let my tears fall in gratitude and wash your feet.
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