1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Simon answered and said, I suppose that 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: he to whom he forgave most. And he said, unto them, 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: thou hast rightly judged Luke seven forty three. When I 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:22,000 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 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: of my past, I will come before you Jesus, then 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,640 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 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: like the woman with the alabaster box of oil, because 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: I know that in your presence is love, acceptance, and forgiveness. 11 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: As I bow before you in prayer, I thank you 12 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,920 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 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: Use me to help redeem others who may be in 16 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: a similar position. Use me to take those who feel 17 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:27,839 Speaker 1: unworthy and to reconnect them to their value and true worth. 18 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, Amen, Listening to these daily prayers strengthens 19 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord by 20 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: listening to today's Bible in a Year brought to you 21 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: by Bible in a Year dot com. 22 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: Many choices in life can be scary, but your healthcare 23 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: shouldn't be one of them. Did you know that traditional 24 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: insurance isn't your only option to take care of your 25 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: medical costs? Christian health Care MINISTRYESUS created for you Believers 26 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: who expect more from their health care. Embrace a faith 27 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: based alternative that puts you in control, plus experience flexibility 28 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 2: to pick your provider of choice with programs as lo 29 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: as ninety two dollars per month. Enroll today at Cchministries 30 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: dot org. 31 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 3: Slash prey, broken and forgiven. 32 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 4: In our last story, Jesus healed the centurion servant. He 33 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 4: was restored because the centurion believed and clung to the 34 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 4: authority of Jesus. He recognized that Jesus held authority over 35 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 4: death and sickness. Now we are introduced to a woman 36 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 4: who had been completely broken by her past. She approaches 37 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 4: Jesus in the den of the religious leaders and worships 38 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 4: him unlike any one had before, as inspired by the Gospels. 39 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 5: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of The 40 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 5: Bible in a Year. In our last episode, we heard 41 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 5: how Jesus healed in ways that left people speechless and 42 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 5: astounded at this man who was among them. His power 43 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 5: to heal with just a word, even to bring the 44 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 5: dead back to life, brought many followers. Still, they did 45 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 5: not truly understand his purpose or power. Even as they 46 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 5: had heard him speak and watched him heal, they did 47 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 5: not know this was the long awaited Messiah who brought 48 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 5: the ultimate and complete healing that they really needed. Today, 49 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 5: we'll meet a woman who approached Jesus boldly in her 50 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 5: brokenness to worship at his feet. Her presence would disturb 51 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 5: the legalistic establishment, but Jesus would recognize her sacrifice and 52 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 5: her deep need of him, and honor her for her actions. 53 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 5: Let's listen now to the reading of God's word. 54 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 4: Jesus sat among the Pharisees at a great feast. He 55 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 4: watched as they mingled among themselves. There were laughs and 56 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 4: deep discussions and the things of God. However, there was 57 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 4: something beneath the surface of their smiles Jesus could see 58 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 4: beyond the polished exterior of the religious leaders. They wore 59 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 4: their outward righteousness as a mask to hide their broken 60 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 4: and selfish hearts. Jesus declined at the table, making small 61 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 4: talk with the men to his right, and left. He 62 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 4: knew they hated him. He knew he was only invited 63 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 4: because they wanted him comfortable. It broke Jesus's heart to 64 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 4: see such deception underneath kind gestures. As the men spoke, 65 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 4: Jesus saw a woman come in through the back door. 66 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 4: She wore the face of someone who had been abused 67 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 4: her entire life. Judging by the looks of the men 68 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 4: gave her, she was a notorious sinner in the city. 69 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 4: She was equally enticing and revolting to the religious elite. 70 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 4: She was not supposed to be there, but she had 71 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 4: come to see Jesus. Jesus watched as the woman approached him, weeping. 72 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 4: Around her neck was a small alabaster flask filled with 73 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 4: precious ointment. Each woman in the city had one. It 74 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 4: was the most valuable possession and meant to sell in 75 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 4: hard times or give to one's husband. Tears streamed down 76 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 4: the woman's cheeks as she fell before Jesus. She bore 77 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 4: the tears of a broken heart. The tears fell on 78 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 4: the Lord's feet, and the woman began to wash him 79 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 4: with her tears and hair. Then she broke the flask 80 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 4: around her neck and anointed Jesus's hands, head, and feet 81 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 4: with the fragrance. The smell filled the air as the 82 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 4: pharisees watched in uncomfortable silence. Jesus's heart broke for the woman. 83 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 4: She fell at his feet, worshiping him the only way 84 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 4: she knew how she had been used and abused her 85 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 4: whole life. She believed that her identity and love came 86 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 4: from the men she shared her body with. Yet Jesus 87 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 4: offered her something else. He offered purpose, He offered unconditional 88 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 4: life of he offered a healed and clean heart. As 89 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 4: the woman was still kneeling on the floor, one of 90 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 4: the pharisees, Simon, spoke up. If Jesus was truly a prophet, 91 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 4: he would not let this woman anywhere near him. 92 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 5: He scoffed. 93 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 4: Everyone knows she is one of those women. Be careful, Jesus, 94 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 4: or she might tempt you, Simon. Jesus said sternly as 95 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 4: he stood to his feet. His eyes darted in the 96 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 4: pharisees direction. I have something to say directly to you. 97 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 4: Simon stepped back for a moment. He looked around the room. 98 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 4: Everyone was incredibly tense. They knew that Jesus was a gentleman, 99 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 4: but they had also heard how he single handedly cleared 100 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 4: the temple with a whip. Simon did his best to 101 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 4: feign confidence. He did a poor job. He nodded towards 102 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 4: Jesus and said, yes, of course, say a teacher. Jesus 103 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 4: approached Simon. With each step Jesus took forward, Simon took 104 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 4: a step back. There was a money lender who had 105 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 4: two two debaters. One of them owe five hundred and 106 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 4: the other ode fifty. Neither of them could pay, so 107 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 4: the money lender forgave them both and canceled their debt. 108 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 4: Jesus got closer to Simon, there was an intense silence. 109 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 4: Tell me which one of those debuters will love the 110 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 4: money lender more? Simon shrugged, still doing his best to 111 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 4: seem confident. The one who was forgiven more money? I suppose, 112 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 4: he answered, correct, Jesus said. Then he went back to 113 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 4: the woman and helped her to her feet. Do you 114 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 4: see this woman, Simon, I entered your house. You gave 115 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 4: me no water to wash my feet, which is custom 116 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 4: for any guest. Yet this woman washed my feet with 117 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 4: her own tears. You did not welcome me into this home. 118 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 4: But this woman has anointed my head with her finest oil. 119 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 4: I tell you this before all your guests. Her sins 120 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 4: will be forgiven because she loved much and listened. 121 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: To me closely. 122 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 4: He who forgives little, we'll love little. Then Jesus sent 123 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 4: the woman on her way, and the whole house grumbled 124 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 4: at their own inadequacy. 125 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 5: We begin today's scripture at a great banquet, where Jesus 126 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 5: is the guest at the home of a pharisee. It 127 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 5: may seem unusual that those who seem to despise Jesus 128 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 5: so much would invite him to a feast, but their 129 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 5: motives were not pure. They intended to challenge him on 130 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 5: matters of the law. They wanted to gain the upper 131 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 5: hand and expose Jesus in order to restore their own 132 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 5: power among the people. It is a reminder that showiness 133 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 5: and extravagant displays are not always a good indicator of 134 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 5: a person's heart intentions. But as we've heard from Jesus 135 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 5: on teaching, God sees through our outward appearance and perceives 136 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 5: our true motives. So as he reclined at the table, 137 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 5: Jesus would have been well aware of the purpose of 138 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 5: these men. But we should also remember that Jesus heart 139 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 5: was not too shame or defeat them, but rather to 140 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 5: bring them to repentance and fellowship with God. God's desire 141 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 5: is that all would come to repentance, and that everyone 142 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 5: would turn to him and see Jesus not as a rival, 143 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 5: but as the savior of all sins, including the sins 144 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 5: of self righteousness. As we discovered, there was one person 145 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 5: who came into the feast who knew her need for Jesus, 146 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 5: a woman whose reputation preceded her, and that's not in 147 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 5: a good way. She came to the house to see Jesus. 148 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 5: She wasn't a guest. She was a party crasher. She 149 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 5: wasn't welcomed. Her appearance would have angered the righteous leaders. 150 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 5: How dare she think she could be in their presence? 151 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 5: But this woman wasn't afraid, and she wasn't seeking the 152 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 5: approval of the religious crowd. She went straight to Jesus 153 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 5: and fell at his feet in tears. She wept until 154 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 5: her tears moistened the feet of Jesus. His feet would 155 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 5: have been dusty and dirty from walking along the road 156 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 5: that day in his sandals. Having no towel, she used 157 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 5: what she had her hair to wipe his feet dry 158 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 5: before she kissed them and poured perfume all over his feet. 159 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 5: It was such a lavish display of devotion. The perfume 160 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 5: was no cheap fragrance from a roadside stand. It was 161 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 5: an expensive perfume, a true sacrifice for this woman, who 162 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 5: surely was not wealthy. Seeing what was going on the host, 163 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 5: a pharisee named Simon began to murmur that Jesus couldn't 164 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 5: be a prophet, otherwise he would have known what kind 165 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 5: of woman this was. She was a sinner, unfit for 166 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 5: their company, and certainly unworthy of touching him. Jesus turned 167 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 5: to Simon imposed a question. Supposing two men owe to 168 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 5: lender money, and that neither could repay their debt. The 169 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 5: lender forgave both debts, so they both were off the hook. 170 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 5: But one owed a very large sum, while the other 171 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 5: a smaller sum. In this story, Jesus asked which man 172 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 5: would love the lender more. Simon correctly judged that it 173 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 5: was the man who owed more. Jesus then turned back 174 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 5: to the woman and compared her to the man who 175 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 5: owed a great deal. Yes, she was a sinner, but 176 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 5: her lavish display demonstrated a depth of love and honor 177 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 5: that Simon the Pharisee had failed to show Jesus his 178 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 5: invited guests. Then Jesus brought it all home for Simon 179 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 5: and for us with these words found in Luke seven 180 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 5: forty seven. Therefore I tell you her many sins have 181 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 5: been forgiven, as her great love has been shown. But 182 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 5: whoever has been forgiven little loves little. He then turned 183 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 5: to the woman and forgave her sins, saying that her 184 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 5: faith had saved her. Here's the great irony in his story. 185 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 5: Neither of the debt ors could repay the debt in 186 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 5: the same way Simon and the other religious leaders could 187 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 5: not repay the debt for their sins. And yet, because 188 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 5: they saw themselves as righteous, not owing much, they felt 189 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 5: entitled for forgiveness. They did not demonstrate true love for 190 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 5: God as this woman did. She was a hopeless sinner 191 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 5: in desperate need of forgiveness. The reality is that everyone 192 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 5: in that room, everyone who has ever walked on this earth, 193 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 5: apart from Jesus himself, is a sinner in need of salvation. 194 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 5: We owe a debt we could not pay, but Jesus 195 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 5: paid the debt on the cross so that we could 196 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 5: be forgiven. It is only those who recognize their deep 197 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 5: need for Jesus who will experience forgiveness and respond with 198 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 5: great love towards the one who has forgiven them. Dear God, 199 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 5: we thank you and praise you for your grace, for 200 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 5: the gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of our 201 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 5: sins that we have in Jesus Christ. Thank you for 202 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 5: today's scripture that reminds us that we owe so much. 203 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 5: May we also lavish our love in devotion and commitment 204 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 5: to you, that you may know of our worship and 205 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 5: our reverence for you in Jesus's name. Amen, thank you 206 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 5: for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm 207 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 5: Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the Prey 208 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 5: dot com app and make prayer and Bible study the 209 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 5: priority of your life, and I would encourage you to 210 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 5: do it. If you have enjoyed this podcast, let others know. 211 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 5: We're grateful that over twenty million people have downloaded the 212 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 5: Bible in a year. We're thankful that we can get 213 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 5: the word of God out to so many people. I 214 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 5: want to encourage you to check out Jack Graham dot org. 215 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 5: That's Jack Graham dot org, where you will find resources 216 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 5: for Christian living and faith. God bless you and have 217 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 5: a great day.