Jesus Still Changes Lives (Luke 7:36-50)
Gary McManus, 03/13/2016Part of the Mercy series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
March 13, 2016 The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Luke 7:36-50 (p. 1023 / p. 1035)
No penalty = mercy
Mercy is by definition UNDESERVED
PRACTICE mercy
How to cultivate mercy:
1.Pray for the person.
(at least once a day for four weeks)
Whatever needs to be forgiven. . .
mercy is letting go of that
“you owe me” idea.
(Matthew 5:44-5; Pastor likes the KJV here.)
See also Luke 6:28, Matthew 5:7.
Mercy exercise #2:
give more thought to your wrong doer.
Can you discern a reason or motivation
for their wrong doing?
[We don’t excuse them but have compassion.
Your offender may have been ignorant.
But Jesus forgave saying: (Luke 23:24)
Father, they don’t know what they are doing.]
Jesus didn’t come to change ALL things
in his lifetime but Jesus changed the most
fundamental problem humanity had.
Jesus changed the relationship humans had with
God.
The woman is a problem for Simon the Pharisee.
She produces anxiety for Simon and raises concerns
for Simon about Jesus.
Then Jesus speaks to Simon; a parable.
It is about mercy. . .forgiveness. . .indebtedness,
two debtors. Jesus has two debtors in his story
and Jesus has two debtors next to him.
Notice the woman’s hair, tears and perfume.
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
What was the woman’s faith?
God could change people and
Jesus came with that message.
She believed that even SHE could
have a good relationship with God.
God was a God who could forgive.
the late General Robbie Risner, The Passing of the Night
Risner was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross.
POWs, faith in God, worship, prayer, the Lord’s Prayer
and forgiveness. Amen.
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