1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Simon answered and said, I suppose that 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: he to whom he forgave most. And he said, unto them, 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: thou hast rightly judged Luke seven forty three. When I 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: feel the weight and burden of my past, when I 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: begin to feel the shame and guilt from the abuse 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: of my past, I will come before you Jesus, then 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: bring to you whatever strength and worship I have left. 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: I will pour out my praise and worship to you 9 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: like the woman with the alabaster box of oil, because 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: I know that in your presence is love, acceptance, and forgiveness. 11 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: As I bow before you in prayer, I thank you 12 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: for forgiving me and redeeming me from any past afflictions. 13 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: Even in the midst of scoffers and haters, I know 14 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:13,199 Speaker 1: that you are pleased and touched by my active surrender. Lord, 15 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: Use me to help redeem others who may be in 16 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: a similar position. Use me to take those who feel 17 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 1: unworthy and to reconnect them to their value and true 18 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: worth in Jesus name. Amen. Listening to these daily prayers 19 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord 20 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: by listening to today's Bible in a Year brought to 21 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot. 22 00:01:46,480 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: Com Broken and forgiven. In our last story, Jesus healed 23 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: the centurion servant. He was restored because the centurion believed 24 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: and clung to the authority of Jesus. He recognized that 25 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: Jesus held authority over death and sickness. Now we are 26 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: introduced to a woman who had been completely broken by 27 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 2: her past. She approaches Jesus in the den of the 28 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 2: religious leaders and worships him unlike anyone had before, as 29 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 2: inspired by the Gospels. 30 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 31 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In our last episode, we heard 32 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 3: how Jesus healed in ways that left people speechless and 33 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 3: astounded at this man who was among them. His power 34 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 3: to heal with just a word, even to bring the 35 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 3: dead back to life, brought many followers. Still, they did 36 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 3: not truly understand his purpose or power. Even as they 37 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 3: had heard him speak and watched him heal, they did 38 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 3: not know this was the long awaited messiah who brought 39 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 3: the ultimate and complete healing that they really needed. Today 40 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 3: we'll meet a woman who approached Jesus boldly in her 41 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 3: brokenness to worship at his feet. Her presence would disturb 42 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 3: the legalistic establishment, but Jesus would recognize her sacrifice and 43 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 3: her deep need of him, and honor her for her actions. 44 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 3: Let's listen now to the reading of God's word. 45 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: Jesus sat among the Pharisees at a great feast. He 46 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 2: watched as they mingled among themselves. There were laughs and 47 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: deep discussions and the things of God. However, there was 48 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: something beneath the surface of their smiles. Jesus could see. 49 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: Beyond the polished exterior of the religious leaders. They wore 50 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: their outward righteousness as a mask to hide their broken 51 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: and selfish hearts. Jesus declined at the table, making small 52 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 2: talk with the men to his right and left. He 53 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 2: knew they hated him. He knew he was only invited 54 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: because they wanted him comfortable. It broke Jesus's heart to 55 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: see such deception underneath kind gestures. As the men spoke, 56 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: Jesus saw a woman come in through the back door. 57 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: She wore the face of someone who had been abused 58 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 2: her entire life. Judging by the looks of the men 59 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: gave her, she was a notorious sinner in the city. 60 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: She was equally enticing and revolting to the religious elite. 61 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: She was not supposed to be there, but she had 62 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 2: come to see Jesus. Jesus watched as the woman approached him, weeping. 63 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 2: Around her neck was a small alabaster flask filled with 64 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 2: precious ointment. Each woman in the city had one. It 65 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: was the most valuable possession and meant to sell in 66 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: hard times or give to one's husband. Tears streamed down 67 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 2: the woman's cheeks as she fell before Jesus. She bore 68 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: the tears of a broken heart. The tears fell on 69 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 2: the Lord's feet, and the woman began to wash him 70 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: with her tears and hair. Then she broke the flask 71 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 2: around her neck and anointed Jesus's hands, head, and feet 72 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 2: with the fragrance. The smell filled the as the Pharisees 73 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 2: watched in uncomfortable silence. Jesus's heart broke for the woman. 74 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: She fell at his feet, worshiping him the only way 75 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: she knew how she had been used and abused her 76 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: whole life. She believed that her identity and love came 77 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 2: from the men she shared her body with. Yet Jesus 78 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: offered her something else. He offered purpose. He offered unconditional love. 79 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 2: He offered a healed and clean heart. As the woman 80 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 2: was still kneeling on the floor, one of the pharisees, Simon, 81 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: spoke up. If Jesus was truly a prophet, he would 82 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: not let this woman anywhere near him. He scoffed. Everyone 83 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 2: knows she is one of those women. Be careful, Jesus, 84 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 2: or she might tempt you Simon. Jesus said sternly as 85 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: he stood to his feet. His eyes darted in the 86 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: pharisees direction. I have something to say directly to you. 87 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: Simon stepped back for a moment. He looked around the room. 88 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 2: Everyone was incredibly tense. They knew that Jesus was a gentleman, 89 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 2: but they had also heard how he single handedly cleared 90 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 2: the temple with a whip. Simon did his best to 91 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: feign confidence. He did a poor job. He nodded towards 92 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 2: Jesus and said, yes, of course, say a teacher. Jesus 93 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 2: approached Simon. With each step Jesus took forward, Simon took 94 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: a step back. There was a money lender who had 95 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: two debaters. One of them ode five hundred and the 96 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: other ode fifty. Neither of them could pay so the 97 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 2: money lender forgave them both and canceled their debt. Jesus 98 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 2: got closer to Simon, there was an intense silence. Tell me, 99 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 2: which one of those debaters will love the money lender more? 100 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 2: Simon shrugged, still doing his best to seem confident. The 101 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: one who was forgiven more money. I suppose, he answered, correct, 102 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 2: Jesus said. Then he went back to the woman and 103 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 2: helped her to her feet. Do you see this woman, Simon, 104 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 2: I entered your house. You gave me no water to 105 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: wash my feet, which is custom for any guest. Yet 106 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 2: this woman washed my feet with her own tears. You 107 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: did not welcome me into this home. But this woman 108 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 2: has anointed my head with her finest oil. I tell 109 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 2: you this before all your guests. Her sins will be 110 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 2: forgiven because she loved much. And listen to me closely. 111 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 2: He who forgives little. 112 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: Will love little. 113 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: Then Jesus sent the woman on her way, and the 114 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: whole house grumbled at their own inadequacy. 115 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 3: We begin today scripture at a great banquet, where Jesus 116 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: is the guest at the home of a pharisee. It 117 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 3: may seem unusual that those who seemed to despise Jesus 118 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 3: so much would invite him to a feast, But their 119 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 3: motives were not pure. They intended to challenge him on 120 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 3: matters of the law. They wanted to gain the upper 121 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 3: hand and expose Jesus in order to restore their own 122 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 3: power among the people. It is a reminder that showiness 123 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 3: and extravagant displays are not always a good indicator of 124 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: a person's heart intentions. But as we've heard from Jesus 125 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 3: on teaching, God sees through our outward appearance and perceives 126 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: our true motives. So as he reclined at the table, 127 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 3: Jesus would have been well aware of the purpose of 128 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 3: these men. But we should also remember that Jesus's heart 129 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 3: was not too shame or defeat them, but rather to 130 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 3: bring them to repentance and fellowship with God. God's desire 131 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 3: is that all would come to repentance, and that everyone 132 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 3: would turn to him and see Jesus not as a rival, 133 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 3: but as the savior of all sins, including the sins 134 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 3: of self righteousness. As we discover, there was one person 135 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 3: who came into the feast who knew her need for Jesus, 136 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 3: a woman whose reputation preceded her, and that's not in 137 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 3: a good way. She came to the house to see Jesus. 138 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,080 Speaker 3: She wasn't a guest, She was a party crisher. It 139 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 3: wasn't welcomed. Her appearance would have angered the righteous leaders. 140 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 3: How dare she think she could be in their presence? 141 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 3: But this woman wasn't afraid, and she wasn't seeking the 142 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 3: approval of the religious crowd. She went straight to Jesus 143 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 3: and fell at his feet in tears. She wept until 144 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 3: her tears moistened the feet of Jesus. His feet would 145 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 3: have been dusty and dirty from walking along the road 146 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 3: that day in his sandals. Having no towel, she used 147 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 3: what she had her hair to wipe his feet dry 148 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 3: before she kissed them and poured perfume all over his feet. 149 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 3: It was such a lavish display of devotion. The perfume 150 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 3: was no chief fragrance from a roadside stand. It was 151 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 3: an expensive perfume, a true sacrifice for this woman, who 152 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 3: surely was not wealthy. Seeing what was going on the host, 153 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 3: a pharisee named Simon began to murmur that Jesus couldn't 154 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 3: be a prophet, otherwise he would have known what kind 155 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 3: of woman this was? She was a sinner, unfit for 156 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 3: their company, and certainly unworthy of touching him. Jesus turned 157 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 3: to Simon and posed a question, supposing two men owe 158 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 3: a lender money, and that neither could repay their debt. 159 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 3: Thelender forgave both debts, so they both were off the hook. 160 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 3: But one owed a very large sum, while the other 161 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 3: a smaller sum. In this story, Jesus asked which man 162 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 3: would love the lender more. Simon correctly judged that it 163 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: was the man who owed more. Jesus then turned back 164 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 3: to the woman and compared her to the man who 165 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 3: owed a great deal. Yes, she was a sinner, but 166 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 3: her lavish display demonstrated a depth of love and honor 167 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 3: that Simon the Pharisee had failed to show Jesus his 168 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 3: invited guests. Then Jesus brought it all home for Simon 169 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 3: and for us with these words found in Luke seven 170 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 3: forty seven. Therefore I tell you her many sins have 171 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 3: been forgiven, as her great love has been shown. But 172 00:10:55,640 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 3: whoever has been forgiven little loves little. He then turned 173 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 3: to the woman and forgave her sins, saying that her 174 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 3: faith had saved her. Here's the great irony in his story. 175 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 3: Neither of the debt ors could repay the debt in 176 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 3: the same way Simon and the other religious leaders could 177 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 3: not repay the debt for their sins. And yet, because 178 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 3: they saw themselves as righteous, not owing much, they felt 179 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 3: entitled for forgiveness. They did not demonstrate true love for 180 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 3: God as this woman did. She was a hopeless sinner 181 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 3: in desperate need of forgiveness. The reality is that everyone 182 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 3: in that room, everyone who has ever walked on this earth, 183 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 3: apart from Jesus himself, is a sinner in need of salvation. 184 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 3: We owed a debt we could not pay, but Jesus 185 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 3: paid the debt on the cross so that we could 186 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 3: be forgiven. It is only those who recognize their deep 187 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 3: need for Jesus who will experience forgiveness and respond with 188 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 3: great love towards the one who has forgiven them. Dear God, 189 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 3: we thank you and praise you for your grace, for 190 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 3: the gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of our 191 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 3: sins that we have in Jesus Christ. Thank you for 192 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 3: today's scripture that reminds us that we owe so much. 193 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 3: May we also lavish our love in devotion and commitment 194 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 3: to you, that you may know of our worship and 195 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 3: our reverence for you. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you 196 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 3: for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm 197 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 3: Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray 198 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 3: dot com app and make prayer and Bible study the 199 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 3: priority of your life, and I would encourage you to 200 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 3: do it. If you have enjoyed this podcast, let others know. 201 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 3: We're grateful that over twenty million people have downloaded the 202 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 3: Bible in a year. We're thankful that we can get 203 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 3: the word of God out to so many people. I 204 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 3: want to encourage you to check out Jack Graham dot org. 205 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 3: That's Jack Graham dot org where you will find resources 206 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 3: for Christian living and faith. God bless you and have 207 00:12:58,120 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 3: a great day.