47 Therefore, I tell you, HER MANY SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN —FOR SHE LOVED MUCH. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7
Jesus acknowledged that this unnamed woman who’d wet His feet with her tears and then dried them with her hair. Who’d kissed His unwashed feet and poured perfume on them, had been ‘Forgiven Her Many Sins’. She’d publicly demonstrated her sorrow for her past life and the Lord accepted her repentance and remorse, but He also made a telling remark to Simon, the Pharisee. ‘He who has been Forgiven Little Loves Little’.
It would seem from Jesus’ words that our lack of love or lukewarmness may be due to failing to acknowledge the true condition of our lives before God. Jesus compared the heart of His host, who’d judged Him in his heart (internal and unseen) for allowing this woman to touch Him (external and public). The woman’s deep repentance won her total Forgiveness.
3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “WOE TO ME!” I cried. “I AM RUINED! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6
The words of the prophet Isaiah, before the throne of God. He had no Saviour to plead for him and was completely undone in the presence of God. Yet the lips of Isaiah were touched and he became the messenger of God to Israel. The Lord Himself quoted the words spoken to Isaiah in this chapter. Then in the next chapter we’re told of the coming of the Messiah as a child on earth, before men.
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7
Isaiah saw the coming of the Lord, who would be our sacrifice to open the way to the presence of God. How grateful we should be to the Lord for coming and taking our place on the cross, outside Jerusalem at this Easter time. He bore all our shame!
Immanuel, Stay Strong, God is with us.