Forgiven

Zachary (our 8 year old) and I are in an Easter production at our church called The Thorn (http://thethorn.net/). We have sat in the audience for this amazing story and drama about the life of Jesus. A few years ago, after Zachary watched it with us, he said, “Daddy, can we be in The Thorn some day?” Working out schedules and plans, we are able to do it together this year. We are part of the general crowd that witnesses the miracles of Jesus as well as his death and resurrection portrayed in this amazing story.

It has been an amazing experience for both of us as we are involved in the miracles of Jesus. As he heals the sick, a blind man, a young girl who is dying, and many others, I am in awe of the love shown by this son of God – Jesus. Another moving part is when an adulterous woman is brought to Jesus and all of us are yelling, “stone her, stone her.” She is thrown down on the floor and Jesus walks up to her, talks to her, and forgives her. All of us in the crowd and the Pharisees are stunned that he would do such a thing (at least that is our role we are acting out). This scene really touched me deeply and got me thinking about forgiveness. The next morning I was reading in Luke 7 where Jesus is anointed by a sinful woman. The essence of the story is that a woman comes to the house of Simon the Pharisee and anoints Jesus with a jar of perfume, weeping, and wiping his feet with her hair. It is an incredible act of love. Simon the Pharisee is shocked that Jesus would let this woman do this. I love the parable Jesus tells next and the interaction with Simon in Luke 7: 41-43:

Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Some have read this passage as Jesus then forgiving her sins because of this act. In other words she had to “work” for it. But that doesn’t seem right given the parable he just told. The parable talks about two owing money and both debts are forgiven. Then Jesus illustrates, through a question and Simon’s answer, that the one with the bigger debt will love more. The essence of this story then is that this woman had been forgiven a huge debt (her sin) and she was expressing huge love.

This act of love in response to her recognizing that Jesus was the source of her forgiveness really impacted me. And it was watching the scene in The Thorn of the adulteress woman where she turns after having been forgiven and has the most stunning expression of love and wonder on her face. Although it was just a practice session for an upcoming Easter production, it was incredible to watch. It reminds me of how much I am forgiven every day and what my response should be. I don’t have to earn this forgiveness. Jesus gives it freely and it should motivate our love response. And the more we are forgiven, the greater the love.

Amazed by His Love,

Terence