Sermon

Jesus Has Something to Say to You

Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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  1. Well, let's turn for a short time now to Luke chapter 7.

    Luke 7 chapter mention

  2. ! We're going to look especially at verses 36 to 50,

  3. I have something to say to you.

  4. And he answered, said, teacher.

  5. In many ways, we could summarize this passage by focusing on two of the questions that are asked in the process of the passage.

  6. In verse 44, he said to Simon, do you see this woman?

  7. In other words, Jesus is drawing Simon's attention to this woman, to who she is,

  8. but especially what she has just done in anointing the feet of Jesus and wiping them with her hair.

  9. And when you go to verse 49, it's a comment there by Luke when he comes to write this for us.

  10. He said to her, your sins are forgiven.

  11. And then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, who is this who even forgives sins?

  12. And in many ways, you can summarize the passage from both of these questions.

  13. Do you see this woman?

  14. Do you see who she is, what she's done?

  15. And do you see this person, this Jesus, and who he is and what he himself is able to do?

  16. So in other words, the first question there in verse 44, it's really a challenge to Simon, Simon the Pharisee,

  17. a challenge as to how he should see people, how he should view people, how he should come to an opinion about people,

  18. what are the characteristics of his assessment, what is right and what is wrong in making assessments of people.

  19. The second question is a challenge, and of course that's a challenge to us as well,

  20. but the second question is a challenge to us too, verse 49,

  21. who is this who even forgives sins?

  22. How do we view Jesus?

  23. Not just how we view other people and how we assess their lives,

  24. what we make of them, what we think of them,

  25. what our conclusions are,

  26. but especially what do we make of him?

  27. What is Jesus for?

  28. What have we done with him?

  29. Who is he to us today?

  30. An issue which runs right through the Bible,

  31. but Luke's gospel, in the framework of Luke's gospel,

  32. that question frequently comes up.

  33. Who is this man?

  34. Who is he?

  35. What is he about?

  36. So let's see, first of all, this woman.

  37. Simon, do you see this woman?

  38. Who was this woman?

  39. Well, she came to this house of Simon when Jesus was here,

  40. and we're told that she had something of a reputation.

  41. A woman of the city who was a sinner,

  42. when she learned that he was reclining at table,

  43. brought an alabaster flask of ointment.

  44. The word sinner, and Simon uses the word as well,

  45. when he thought about what Jesus had allowed this woman to do.

  46. If he were a prophet, he wouldn't have allowed this.

  47. He's saying, for she is a sinner.

  48. Now, that word could mean a lot of things.

  49. We're all sinners to some extent.

  50. To a great extent, we're all sinners deep down,

  51. and we're sinners by practice as well.

  52. But when this word is used in this kind of context,

  53. it means she was a woman who had a reputation,

  54. a woman who had a lifestyle that just wasn't becoming

  55. as it should be of a woman in society,

  56. or of anyone in society.

  57. It means she had a reputation for being prominently

  58. or obviously a sinner.

  59. She lived in a sinful lifestyle,

  60. possibly a sinful relationship.

  61. Who knows?

  62. Maybe she was a prostitute.

  63. Maybe she was somebody who lived an immoral lifestyle.

  64. But in any case, she was known as a sinner.

  65. She was known as somebody who had that sort of reputation,

  66. that sort of background and practice.

  67. And she would not be welcome in this kind of society,

  68. in this kind of situation, in this man's house especially.

  69. But she came in,

  70. and as she came in,

  71. she came to Jesus,

  72. and she anointed his feet with her tears

  73. and wiped them with the hair off her head.

  74. She came weeping.

  75. She came with his ointment.

  76. She came and kissed his feet.

  77. She came and anointed them.

  78. What is all that telling us?

  79. Well, it's telling us that she recognized in Jesus

  80. things which this Pharisee certainly did not.

  81. It tells us that she loved this Jesus,

  82. which this Pharisee did not.

  83. It tells us that despite the fact that she had this reputation,

  84. she came to love this person, Jesus,

  85. and she loved him particularly

  86. because he had forgiven her sins.

  87. It was all from her love for him

  88. that she did this.

  89. Look at verse 47,

  90. where Jesus says to the Pharisee,

  91. You didn't anoint my head with oil.

  92. She has anointed my feet with ointment.

  93. Therefore I tell you,

  94. her sins which are many are forgiven,

  95. for she loved much.

  96. But he who is forgiven little,

  97. loves little.

  98. Now Jesus is not saying,

  99. because she has done this,

  100. I've decided to forgive her sins.

  101. He's not saying,

  102. by virtue of what she has done,

  103. by virtue of her action here,

  104. her doings,

  105. she has come to be forgiven her sin.

  106. That's not what he's saying.

  107. He's saying,

  108. what she has done shows,

  109. it's evidence of the fact that her sin has been forgiven.

  110. She loves me because I have forgiven her sins,

  111. because her sins which are many are forgiven.

  112. Her love for Christ grew out of her knowledge of forgiveness,

  113. grew out of her situation where her sins had actually been covered,

  114. had been dealt with by the Lord.

  115. And that's why she loved him.

  116. But her love took the form of acting like a slave would act.

  117. When you came into a house like this,

  118. for a meal or on a special occasion,

  119. there were slaves employed to actually wash your feet.

  120. John chapter 13 has a very famous passage

    John 13 chapter mention

  121. that uses that as a background to it,

  122. if you like,

  123. where Jesus began to wash the feet of the disciples.

  124. You gathered some dust when you walked through the streets

  125. on the way to wherever you were going,

  126. and slaves were employed,

  127. among other things,

  128. to wash the feet of guests

  129. who were invited to come to dinner

  130. or to come to a supper.

  131. And that's what this woman is really doing.

  132. She's acting the part of a slave.

  133. She's taking this position

  134. in the presence of Simon and his guests

  135. and Jesus in Simon's house.

  136. She's taking the lowest position.

  137. She's happy to do it

  138. because she loves this Jesus.

  139. Now there's a challenge in that for ourselves,

  140. isn't there?

  141. Our discipleship is not about prominence in public.

  142. It's not about getting for ourselves

  143. a position that people can talk about.

  144. Our discipleship is being prepared

  145. to take the lowest,

  146. the smallest,

  147. the most menial position

  148. and tasks for the Lord.

  149. Being able to say to the Lord,

  150. whatever you give me, Lord,

  151. whatever you ask me to do,

  152. whatever service I can be to you,

  153. I'll be happy to do it

  154. because it's what I owe you.

  155. Because it's all too little

  156. compared to what you have done for me.

  157. What is washing someone's feet

  158. compared to having your sins washed?

  159. That's the point that Jesus is making.

  160. When your sins are washed away,

  161. the least you can do for Jesus

  162. is something you will do most happily.

  163. The most you can do for Jesus,

  164. you will do it most happily.

  165. Why?

  166. Because you love Him

  167. and He's worth doing this for Him.

  168. After all, as we mentioned,

  169. John chapter 13

    John 13 chapter mention

  170. has a wonderful passage

  171. where Jesus Himself

  172. acts the part of a slave

  173. or a bond servant.

  174. You remember He

  175. took off His outer garments.

  176. He wrapped a towel around Himself.

  177. All of these details are important.

  178. And He began to wash

  179. the feet of the disciples.

  180. And there's a theological symbolism

  181. in that in John's Gospel.

  182. John loves to have

  183. that symbolism brought out,

  184. especially where it relates

  185. to God's love and to Jesus

  186. and all that Jesus came to do.

  187. And here is Jesus demonstrating

  188. by way, if you like,

  189. of a parable in action

  190. rather than in words,

  191. where He had divested Himself

  192. of the glory that is His as God.

  193. He's still God.

  194. It still belongs to Him,

  195. but He's masked that

  196. by His place in the world

  197. as a servant of the Father.

  198. He's come to be,

  199. not to be served,

  200. as He put it Himself,

  201. but to serve

  202. and to give His life

  203. a ransom for many.

  204. And as He does,

  205. as He washes these disciples' feet,

  206. He's demonstrating,

  207. He's come into the world

  208. to act the part of a slave,

  209. the part of a servant,

  210. bonded to the Father

  211. and bonded to His people

  212. and being prepared

  213. to carry this through

  214. to the very end.

  215. And when He had finished

  216. washing the disciples' feet,

  217. He took up His place again.

  218. The towel had done its work.

  219. He sat again

  220. where He was to begin with.

  221. And there's John's symbolism for you.

  222. The Lord came into this world

  223. in the form of a servant

  224. and He humbled Himself

  225. to the death of the cross,

  226. as Philippians 2 put it.

  227. And what happened then?

  228. Well, He went back

  229. to the glory He had with the Father

  230. before the world was.

  231. But what a wonderful,

  232. wonderful service

  233. in between those two great points

  234. of His coming

  235. and His going back to the Father.

  236. He came to wash

  237. the feet of His disciples

  238. spiritually,

  239. as well as literally.

  240. He came

  241. to be the Savior of sinners.

  242. He came into the world

  243. to show the Father's love

  244. and to be,

  245. for us too,

  246. the example

  247. above all other examples

  248. of what it means

  249. to serve God

  250. humbly,

  251. willingly,

  252. consistently.

  253. So there's a challenge

  254. in this woman

  255. for ourselves.

  256. Are we today

  257. prepared

  258. to follow Jesus?

  259. To follow Him

  260. into the most menial tasks?

  261. Will we go

  262. wherever He sends us?

  263. Will we do

  264. whatever He requires

  265. of us?

  266. Will we say,

  267. Lord,

  268. when I think

  269. of what You have done,

  270. what You ask of me

  271. to do for You

  272. is all too little.

  273. But then you see

  274. Simon's conclusions.

  275. Jesus said to him,

  276. Do you see this woman?

  277. But he had concluded beforehand,

  278. and I think this is one of the reasons

  279. Jesus drew His attention again

  280. to this woman

  281. when the Pharisee,

  282. when He saw this woman

  283. doing what she'd done,

  284. He said,

  285. If this man were a prophet,

  286. he would have known

  287. who and what sort of woman

  288. this is

  289. who is touching him,

  290. for she is a sinner.

  291. What is Simon doing

  292. with this woman?

  293. What are his conclusions

  294. based upon?

  295. They're based upon

  296. his own ideas

  297. of what's right and wrong.

  298. He's putting her

  299. in a category,

  300. not regarding her

  301. as a person.

  302. He just says,

  303. This woman is a sinner.

  304. This man, Jesus,

  305. shouldn't have allowed

  306. this woman to touch Him.

  307. She's a sinner.

  308. She's in the category

  309. of being a sinner.

  310. He should have just

  311. excluded her.

  312. He should have put her aside.

  313. How do we assess people?

  314. Do we put them

  315. in categories?

  316. Do we say about them,

  317. Well, yes,

  318. but they're of the world

  319. and just ignore them?

  320. Or do we say,

  321. Oh, yeah,

  322. but they're not our denomination.

  323. They're not our congregation.

  324. Or do we say of them,

  325. They're not communicant members

  326. of the congregation.

  327. Therefore,

  328. it's not so important

  329. what they do

  330. or don't do

  331. with their life.

  332. We're constantly,

  333. aren't we,

  334. in the business

  335. of categorizing people,

  336. putting them

  337. into different categories,

  338. and quite often

  339. absolving ourselves

  340. of responsibilities

  341. concerning them.

  342. That's what this man

  343. was doing.

  344. She is a sinner.

  345. Let's leave it there.

  346. So Jesus shouldn't

  347. have touched her,

  348. allowed her to touch Him

  349. at all.

  350. And he's concluded

  351. about Jesus,

  352. this man can't be a prophet.

  353. He's a fake.

  354. If he were a real prophet,

  355. he would have known

  356. what sort of woman this is.

  357. It's really telling

  358. how Jesus responded.

  359. Here is Simon saying,

  360. If this man only knew

  361. what this woman is,

  362. if he really knew,

  363. he wouldn't have allowed her

  364. to do this.

  365. And in the response,

  366. what becomes obvious

  367. is that not only

  368. did Jesus know

  369. who this woman was,

  370. but he knew

  371. what Simon was thinking.

  372. You see,

  373. it's interesting.

  374. It's important,

  375. actually.

  376. Simon said

  377. to himself.

  378. He didn't say

  379. anything out loud.

  380. He said to himself,

  381. If this man

  382. were a prophet,

  383. he would have known

  384. who this woman,

  385. what sort of woman it is

  386. who's touching him.

  387. It's quite clear.

  388. In verse 39,

  389. the Pharisee,

  390. when he saw it,

  391. he said to himself.

  392. He didn't say anything

  393. out loud.

  394. He didn't say to Jesus,

  395. Why are you allowing

  396. this woman to do this?

  397. Don't you know

  398. that she's a sinner?

  399. It's all inside

  400. his own head.

  401. It's all in his soul.

  402. It's the thoughts

  403. of his mind.

  404. And all the time

  405. that he's saying

  406. about Jesus,

  407. if only he knew,

  408. he really doesn't know

  409. that Jesus

  410. knows not only

  411. who this woman is,

  412. but the very thoughts

  413. that he's thinking.

  414. Simon never spoke

  415. a word,

  416. and Jesus knew

  417. everything

  418. that was in his mind.

  419. And so it is

  420. with you and me today,

  421. just as truly

  422. as it was

  423. on that occasion.

  424. Your response

  425. to the gospel,

  426. your response

  427. to the call

  428. of the gospel,

  429. calling you

  430. to come to Christ,

  431. your response

  432. to Christ's call

  433. to go to serve him,

  434. to be his servant,

  435. to be openly his,

  436. to be willingly his,

  437. to do for him

  438. whatever he's calling

  439. upon you to do,

  440. whatever thoughts

  441. are in your mind

  442. regarding those things

  443. right now,

  444. the Lord is reading them.

  445. He knows them.

  446. He's reached

  447. his own conclusions.

  448. Whatever conclusions

  449. we've come to

  450. about him.

  451. But he doesn't

  452. condemn Simon

  453. outrightly.

  454. He doesn't come

  455. to rebuke him openly.

  456. Instead,

  457. you find from

  458. verse 41 there,

  459. he actually tells him

  460. about this moneylender.

  461. And he puts Simon

  462. to the test again

  463. when he goes through

  464. the various parts

  465. of that account

  466. about the moneylender.

  467. And he then

  468. comes to the point

  469. which of them

  470. will love him

  471. the most.

  472. And Simon

  473. rightly concludes,

  474. well,

  475. it's the one

  476. to whom most

  477. is forgiven.

  478. And that's what

  479. leads him again,

  480. leads Jesus to

  481. speak about this woman.

  482. Because Christ's concern

  483. is to lead

  484. this Pharisee

  485. towards the light.

  486. Not to leave him

  487. in the darkness.

  488. The darkness

  489. of his own understanding.

  490. The darkness

  491. of his own conclusions.

  492. The wrongness

  493. of his own thinking.

  494. He's all the time

  495. leading him

  496. towards

  497. considering

  498. the truth

  499. as he ought

  500. to consider it.

  501. And he's saying,

  502. well,

  503. you have judged rightly.

  504. And then he turned

  505. again to the woman

  506. so that he would

  507. focus again

  508. on what that woman

  509. had done.

  510. You see,

  511. he's drawing

  512. Simon's mind

  513. all the time

  514. to what he ought

  515. to have concluded.

  516. What he ought

  517. to have thought.

  518. And to what kind

  519. of opinion

  520. he should have had

  521. about Jesus

  522. himself.

  523. And that's how

  524. the gospel

  525. is today for you.

  526. The gospel

  527. of which Christ

  528. is the centerpiece.

  529. Where Jesus

  530. stands

  531. at the very heart

  532. of this gospel

  533. message

  534. of salvation

  535. in him.

  536. That's the concern

  537. of the Lord.

  538. That's what the gospel

  539. is concerned

  540. for you and I

  541. to do.

  542. To lead us

  543. into the light.

  544. Not to leave us

  545. in our darkness.

  546. Not to leave us

  547. to our own conclusions.

  548. And that's why

  549. you find

  550. through this passage

  551. that Christ's

  552. response here

  553. to Simon

  554. is to get

  555. his attention.

  556. Verse 40

  557. Simon

  558. I have something

  559. to say to you.

  560. Jesus knew

  561. who he was

  562. knew who this

  563. woman was

  564. knew the thoughts

  565. of Simon's heart

  566. now he turns

  567. to Simon

  568. and says

  569. Simon

  570. I have

  571. something to

  572. say to you.

  573. And he's

  574. saying that

  575. to you

  576. and to me

  577. today.

  578. He's reading

  579. your thoughts.

  580. He knows

  581. your heart.

  582. He knows

  583. what conclusions

  584. you've come to

  585. about himself

  586. about other

  587. human beings

  588. or about the

  589. church

  590. whatever it is

  591. he's reading

  592. your thoughts

  593. he knows

  594. your mind.

  595. And today

  596. this gospel

  597. or Jesus

  598. through the gospel

  599. is saying

  600. Simon

  601. I have

  602. something

  603. to say

  604. to you.

  605. He's not

  606. saying it

  607. to whoever's

  608. beside you

  609. in the pew.

  610. He's not

  611. saying this

  612. to somebody

  613. else in

  614. this congregation

  615. today.

  616. Yes he may

  617. be doing that

  618. but as far

  619. as you're

  620. concerned

  621. as far

  622. as I'm

  623. concerned

  624. Jesus

  625. is saying

  626. I have

  627. something

  628. to say

  629. to you.

  630. Because

  631. this gospel

  632. is not

  633. a generalized

  634. presentation

  635. of truth

  636. to us.

  637. This gospel

  638. of Jesus

  639. and Jesus

  640. through the gospel

  641. is not

  642. just addressing

  643. us as if

  644. we didn't

  645. have individual

  646. needs that

  647. he is able

  648. to meet.

  649. He's not

  650. lumping us

  651. all together

  652. and saying

  653. here's something

  654. I want you

  655. all to consider

  656. and discuss

  657. together.

  658. No he's

  659. saying I

  660. have something

  661. to say

  662. to you

  663. today.

  664. Doesn't

  665. matter how

  666. you've come

  667. here today.

  668. What your

  669. thoughts have

  670. been.

  671. What your

  672. life has

  673. been up to

  674. now.

  675. However

  676. long you've

  677. been on the

  678. road of

  679. following the

  680. Lord.

  681. Lord.

  682. Or even

  683. if you've

  684. not yet

  685. come to

  686. begin to

  687. follow him.

  688. Jesus

  689. today is

  690. addressing

  691. your soul

  692. and saying

  693. you put

  694. your own

  695. name into

  696. it instead

  697. of Simon.

  698. I have

  699. something

  700. to say

  701. to you.

  702. Aren't

  703. you thankful

  704. today that

  705. Jesus is not

  706. saying I

  707. could speak

  708. to you but

  709. I'd rather

  710. that I go to

  711. somebody else

  712. in this

  713. congregation

  714. first of

  715. all and

  716. then I'll

  717. come back

  718. to you.

  719. No he's

  720. saying I

  721. have something

  722. today to

  723. say to

  724. you.

  725. Wonderful

  726. way the

  727. gospel

  728. directly

  729. addresses us

  730. as individuals

  731. in our

  732. individual

  733. need in

  734. our

  735. individual

  736. relationship

  737. with God

  738. and to

  739. eternity

  740. and to

  741. the truth

  742. of the

  743. gospel

  744. itself.

  745. Thanks be

  746. to God

  747. that he

  748. didn't walk

  749. past me

  750. in my

  751. life.

  752. God

  753. and say

  754. I'm

  755. going to

  756. leave you

  757. here.

  758. I'm

  759. going to

  760. speak to

  761. someone

  762. else.

  763. And you're

  764. thankful

  765. today as a

  766. Christian

  767. that he

  768. didn't

  769. bypass you

  770. on the

  771. way through

  772. life but

  773. that he

  774. came and

  775. spoke directly

  776. into your

  777. soul and

  778. said today

  779. I have

  780. something to

  781. say to

  782. you.

  783. God's

  784. and as

  785. we're

  786. thankful for

  787. God's

  788. address to

  789. us

  790. individually

  791. so we're

  792. thankful for

  793. all that

  794. that contains

  795. focusing

  796. specifically on

  797. our need to

  798. serve him

  799. on our need

  800. to humble

  801. ourselves before

  802. him or

  803. our need to

  804. be like this

  805. woman to

  806. take the

  807. lowest place

  808. to wash

  809. his feet

  810. spiritually

  811. without tears

  812. actually to

  813. if we need

  814. to.

  815. She

  816. honored Jesus

  817. by her

  818. actions.

  819. And that's

  820. what Jesus

  821. is pointing

  822. to speaking

  823. this way to

  824. Simon.

  825. She has

  826. honored me

  827. Simon.

  828. I want you

  829. to look at

  830. her.

  831. I want you

  832. to think

  833. about her.

  834. I want you

  835. to consider

  836. what I have

  837. to say to

  838. you about

  839. her and

  840. about yourself.

  841. and so

  842. Simon has

  843. much to

  844. think about.

  845. And that's

  846. how it is

  847. for me

  848. today.

  849. I stand

  850. in this

  851. pulpit and

  852. Jesus is

  853. addressing me

  854. and saying

  855. you speak

  856. to these

  857. people about

  858. the gospel

  859. you speak

  860. to them

  861. about their

  862. need of

  863. Christ

  864. what about

  865. yourself?

  866. I have

  867. something to

  868. say to

  869. you today.

  870. He's not

  871. bypassing me

  872. or any of

  873. us who

  874. preach the

  875. gospel.

  876. for all

  877. of us

  878. for each

  879. of us

  880. it's our

  881. great privilege

  882. to know

  883. God speaking

  884. to us.

  885. God not

  886. leaving us

  887. to our

  888. own

  889. devices.

  890. God not

  891. telling us

  892. I'm done

  893. with you.

  894. No he's

  895. speaking

  896. to you

  897. and to

  898. me

  899. in this

  900. building

  901. at this

  902. moment.

  903. And he

  904. needs your

  905. response.

  906. he needs

  907. to know

  908. what you're

  909. going to

  910. make of

  911. what he

  912. has to

  913. say to

  914. you.

  915. He's not

  916. just throwing

  917. it at

  918. you and

  919. just leaving

  920. it as if

  921. it didn't

  922. matter.

  923. Why is

  924. he speaking

  925. to us

  926. directly?

  927. Why is

  928. he calling

  929. our attention

  930. to the

  931. Bible and

  932. to the

  933. teaching of

  934. the Bible?

  935. So that

  936. we will

  937. come to

  938. know him

  939. and know

  940. him intimately

  941. and know

  942. him continually

  943. from now

  944. on and

  945. know him

  946. as the

  947. only one

  948. in existence

  949. who is

  950. able to

  951. meet all

  952. of our

  953. needs in

  954. all its

  955. scope,

  956. in all its

  957. detail,

  958. in all its

  959. depth.

  960. Nobody can

  961. do for you

  962. what Jesus

  963. can.

  964. And that's

  965. why the

  966. gospel is

  967. concerned.

  968. Or Christ

  969. through the

  970. gospel is

  971. drawing you

  972. to think

  973. deeply of

  974. this relationship

  975. with himself.

  976. Do you

  977. see this

  978. woman?

  979. But then

  980. you find

  981. near the

  982. end of

  983. the

  984. chapter

  985. as we

  986. saw

  987. in

  988. verse 47

  989. who is

  990. this

  991. who

  992. even

  993. forgives

  994. sins?

  995. As we

  996. said,

  997. she loved

  998. the Lord

  999. because her

  1000. sins were

  1001. forgiven.

  1002. This is

  1003. what he's

  1004. saying.

  1005. I tell

  1006. you,

  1007. her sins

  1008. which are

  1009. many are

  1010. forgiven,

  1011. for she

  1012. loved much,

  1013. but to

  1014. whom little

  1015. is forgiven,

  1016. they love

  1017. little.

  1018. And he

  1019. said to

  1020. her,

  1021. your sins

  1022. are

  1023. forgiven.

  1024. And then

  1025. the question,

  1026. who is

  1027. this who

  1028. even forgives

  1029. sins?

  1030. Now this

  1031. is the

  1032. burden of

  1033. Luke's

  1034. gospel all

  1035. the way

  1036. through as

  1037. you read

  1038. it from

  1039. beginning to

  1040. end.

  1041. This is

  1042. in many

  1043. ways the

  1044. main

  1045. burden of

  1046. his

  1047. gospel as

  1048. he's

  1049. taking us

  1050. through

  1051. the

  1052. incidents

  1053. in

  1054. Christ's

  1055. life while

  1056. he was

  1057. in the

  1058. world,

  1059. through to

  1060. his death

  1061. and resurrection

  1062. and then

  1063. ascension to

  1064. glory.

  1065. Who is

  1066. this?

  1067. What is

  1068. he about?

  1069. that's the

  1070. concern of

  1071. Luke for

  1072. his readers

  1073. that they

  1074. will come

  1075. to know

  1076. who exactly

  1077. this is

  1078. and what

  1079. they need

  1080. to make

  1081. of him.

  1082. And he

  1083. says here,

  1084. who is

  1085. this who

  1086. even forgives

  1087. sins?

  1088. That's what

  1089. they said

  1090. among

  1091. themselves,

  1092. those who

  1093. are at

  1094. table with

  1095. him.

  1096. That's the

  1097. question.

  1098. Who is

  1099. this who

  1100. even forgives

  1101. sins?

  1102. Well,

  1103. only God

  1104. can forgive

  1105. sins.

  1106. No minister

  1107. can forgive

  1108. sins.

  1109. No priest

  1110. can forgive

  1111. sins.

  1112. No church

  1113. can confer

  1114. forgiveness

  1115. of sins,

  1116. wipe our

  1117. sins away.

  1118. Only God

  1119. can do it.

  1120. But you

  1121. see, the

  1122. point is,

  1123. here is

  1124. God doing

  1125. it.

  1126. Who is

  1127. this who

  1128. forgives,

  1129. even forgives

  1130. sins?

  1131. He has

  1132. the authority

  1133. to forgive

  1134. sins.

  1135. That's why

  1136. he's able

  1137. to speak

  1138. to this

  1139. woman.

  1140. your faith

  1141. has saved

  1142. you.

  1143. Your sins

  1144. are forgiven.

  1145. There's no

  1146. salvation

  1147. without

  1148. forgiveness.

  1149. We can

  1150. persuade

  1151. ourselves

  1152. that somehow

  1153. we'll make

  1154. our way

  1155. into the

  1156. kingdom of

  1157. God

  1158. without really

  1159. paying much

  1160. attention to

  1161. our sin

  1162. and our

  1163. need to

  1164. have our

  1165. sin forgiven.

  1166. It's not

  1167. like that.

  1168. There are

  1169. many voices

  1170. that will

  1171. try and

  1172. persuade you

  1173. of that.

  1174. There are

  1175. many voices

  1176. that will

  1177. tell you,

  1178. well, you

  1179. don't need

  1180. to deal

  1181. with your

  1182. sins yet.

  1183. You don't

  1184. need to be

  1185. that serious

  1186. about things

  1187. yet.

  1188. you can do

  1189. that.

  1190. You can do

  1191. that at some

  1192. later stage

  1193. in your

  1194. life.

  1195. You've got

  1196. enough to

  1197. be doing

  1198. with at

  1199. the moment.

  1200. But you

  1201. have to

  1202. realize, and

  1203. I have to

  1204. realize, that

  1205. without Jesus

  1206. we're still in

  1207. our sins.

  1208. Without faith

  1209. in Christ,

  1210. our sin is

  1211. not forgiven.

  1212. And when

  1213. our sin is

  1214. not forgiven,

  1215. we're not

  1216. right with

  1217. God.

  1218. Who is

  1219. this who

  1220. even forgives

  1221. sins?

  1222. The world

  1223. in which we

  1224. live hates

  1225. the idea of

  1226. sinfulness.

  1227. The biblical

  1228. idea of sin,

  1229. the biblical

  1230. teaching on

  1231. sin, what

  1232. sin is,

  1233. what sin

  1234. deserves.

  1235. What we

  1236. are as

  1237. sinners from

  1238. the day of

  1239. our birth

  1240. onwards, or

  1241. even prior to

  1242. that, as

  1243. Psalm 51

  1244. put us, we

  1245. are conceived

  1246. in iniquity

  1247. and sin.

  1248. And we

  1249. bring forth

  1250. sin as soon

  1251. as we're

  1252. into the

  1253. world.

  1254. The world

  1255. out there

  1256. hates that.

  1257. You don't

  1258. tell people

  1259. you're a

  1260. sinner.

  1261. You don't

  1262. tell people

  1263. you need

  1264. your life

  1265. changed,

  1266. you need

  1267. a fresh

  1268. and a new

  1269. start.

  1270. Do you

  1271. need a

  1272. relationship

  1273. with God?

  1274. The world

  1275. doesn't want

  1276. to hear

  1277. that.

  1278. As

  1279. sinners, we

  1280. don't want

  1281. to hear

  1282. that.

  1283. But our

  1284. privilege under

  1285. the gospel is

  1286. that in his

  1287. own goodness

  1288. and mercy

  1289. and grace,

  1290. God brings

  1291. us to hear

  1292. that.

  1293. God brings

  1294. us to

  1295. consider that.

  1296. And we

  1297. come to know

  1298. our need

  1299. of forgiveness

  1300. because that's

  1301. what God is

  1302. telling us.

  1303. and Jesus

  1304. says to

  1305. this woman,

  1306. your faith

  1307. has saved

  1308. you.

  1309. Go in

  1310. peace.

  1311. Now, it

  1312. doesn't mean

  1313. that her

  1314. faith was

  1315. meritorious.

  1316. It doesn't

  1317. mean that she

  1318. earned

  1319. salvation by

  1320. her faith.

  1321. But it

  1322. does mean

  1323. that her

  1324. faith had

  1325. connected her

  1326. to this

  1327. salvation,

  1328. this forgiveness,

  1329. this salvation

  1330. that Jesus

  1331. is speaking

  1332. of.

  1333. Your faith

  1334. has saved

  1335. you.

  1336. It's faith.

  1337. What is faith?

  1338. Faith,

  1339. essentially,

  1340. is our

  1341. coming to

  1342. trust in

  1343. the Lord.

  1344. To put

  1345. all our

  1346. trust in

  1347. him for

  1348. time and

  1349. for eternity,

  1350. that trust

  1351. is really

  1352. faith.

  1353. Our faith

  1354. is trust,

  1355. essentially.

  1356. There are

  1357. other things

  1358. to it as

  1359. well.

  1360. You believe

  1361. certain things

  1362. to be true,

  1363. certain things

  1364. not to be

  1365. true,

  1366. and so on.

  1367. But faith

  1368. at its

  1369. very

  1370. center

  1371. is trusting

  1372. in God.

  1373. Putting your

  1374. trust,

  1375. your confidence

  1376. in him,

  1377. handing over

  1378. your life

  1379. to him,

  1380. and saying,

  1381. Lord,

  1382. here is my

  1383. life,

  1384. the life I've

  1385. had up to

  1386. now.

  1387. It's not

  1388. been the kind

  1389. of life

  1390. that you're

  1391. pleased with.

  1392. But I hand

  1393. my life over

  1394. to you.

  1395. I know

  1396. it's right

  1397. for me

  1398. to do

  1399. it.

  1400. I know

  1401. it's what

  1402. you're

  1403. calling on

  1404. me to

  1405. do.

  1406. And this

  1407. woman here,

  1408. your faith

  1409. has saved

  1410. you.

  1411. Is there

  1412. anyone here

  1413. today who's

  1414. not yet

  1415. saved?

  1416. Anyone

  1417. who's not

  1418. come yet

  1419. to trust

  1420. in the

  1421. living

  1422. Christ?

  1423. Anyone

  1424. who knows

  1425. the gospel

  1426. as you do

  1427. so well?

  1428. But still

  1429. you're in

  1430. your sins.

  1431. And your

  1432. sins will

  1433. condemn you

  1434. if you die

  1435. like that.

  1436. And you

  1437. have Jesus

  1438. today speaking

  1439. to you.

  1440. I have

  1441. something to

  1442. say to you.

  1443. And what

  1444. he's saying

  1445. to you is,

  1446. here is

  1447. salvation.

  1448. Here is

  1449. what you

  1450. need.

  1451. Trust in

  1452. me.

  1453. And you

  1454. will have

  1455. this salvation

  1456. to enjoy

  1457. for time

  1458. and for

  1459. eternity.

  1460. No one

  1461. will be able

  1462. to take it

  1463. from you.

  1464. Nobody

  1465. can actually

  1466. change

  1467. the

  1468. circumstances,

  1469. the relationship

  1470. then that

  1471. you have

  1472. with God.

  1473. Your

  1474. faith

  1475. has saved

  1476. you.

  1477. And then

  1478. he says,

  1479. go in

  1480. peace.

  1481. And

  1482. actually

  1483. literally

  1484. what Luke

  1485. is recording

  1486. for us

  1487. here is

  1488. that Jesus

  1489. said,

  1490. go into

  1491. peace.

  1492. Really to

  1493. translate it

  1494. literally,

  1495. it's the

  1496. word into,

  1497. go into

  1498. peace.

  1499. peace.

  1500. He's not

  1501. just saying

  1502. to her,

  1503. go now

  1504. in peace

  1505. from this

  1506. place.

  1507. He's

  1508. saying,

  1509. go into

  1510. peace.

  1511. Enter

  1512. into

  1513. peace,

  1514. the peace

  1515. that you

  1516. have in

  1517. your

  1518. salvation.

  1519. Enter

  1520. into that

  1521. peace.

  1522. Enjoy

  1523. that

  1524. peace.

  1525. Do you

  1526. lack

  1527. peace in

  1528. your life?

  1529. Are you

  1530. looking for

  1531. peace?

  1532. peace?

  1533. I'm

  1534. assuming

  1535. that

  1536. everyone

  1537. here,

  1538. including

  1539. myself,

  1540. is aware

  1541. of their

  1542. need for

  1543. peace in

  1544. their life.

  1545. The world

  1546. out there

  1547. is full

  1548. of the

  1549. lack of

  1550. peace.

  1551. But you

  1552. and I

  1553. are here

  1554. under the

  1555. gospel

  1556. where peace

  1557. is being

  1558. presented to

  1559. us in

  1560. Christ.

  1561. Go

  1562. into

  1563. peace.

  1564. Enjoy

  1565. peace with

  1566. God.

  1567. Enjoy

  1568. peace as

  1569. you

  1570. anticipate

  1571. death

  1572. and

  1573. eternity.

  1574. These

  1575. things are

  1576. not

  1577. morbid

  1578. to focus

  1579. on them,

  1580. to think

  1581. about them.

  1582. The world

  1583. will tell

  1584. you,

  1585. I don't

  1586. want to

  1587. think about

  1588. these

  1589. things.

  1590. I have

  1591. far too

  1592. much to

  1593. live for.

  1594. Why should

  1595. I be

  1596. thinking of

  1597. death and

  1598. eternity and

  1599. sin and

  1600. judgment and

  1601. all that

  1602. stuff?

  1603. Here is

  1604. Jesus

  1605. saying,

  1606. if you

  1607. want peace

  1608. you've

  1609. got to

  1610. think about

  1611. them.

  1612. If you

  1613. want peace

  1614. there's only

  1615. one place

  1616. you can

  1617. find it

  1618. and that's

  1619. in Him.

  1620. Go

  1621. into

  1622. peace.

  1623. A

  1624. peace

  1625. that will

  1626. not

  1627. in any

  1628. way free

  1629. you from

  1630. all your

  1631. troubles.

  1632. It will

  1633. not inoculate

  1634. you in

  1635. such a

  1636. way that

  1637. you won't

  1638. feel any

  1639. pains or

  1640. concerns or

  1641. anxieties or

  1642. troubles anymore.

  1643. It's not like

  1644. that.

  1645. But the

  1646. big thing

  1647. is,

  1648. when you

  1649. go into

  1650. peace,

  1651. when you

  1652. place your

  1653. trust in

  1654. Christ and

  1655. He says

  1656. to you,

  1657. now go

  1658. into

  1659. peace,

  1660. what He's

  1661. saying,

  1662. you might

  1663. have

  1664. troubles,

  1665. you will

  1666. have

  1667. troubles,

  1668. but you'll

  1669. have

  1670. me.

  1671. And

  1672. because

  1673. you'll

  1674. have

  1675. me,

  1676. you'll

  1677. have

  1678. peace.

  1679. You'll

  1680. be able

  1681. to face

  1682. your

  1683. troubles

  1684. as never

  1685. before,

  1686. through the

  1687. peace that

  1688. I will

  1689. give you.

  1690. Simon,

  1691. do you

  1692. see this

  1693. woman?

  1694. Who is

  1695. this who

  1696. even

  1697. forgives

  1698. sins?

  1699. Simon,

  1700. I have

  1701. something

  1702. to say

  1703. to you

  1704. today.

  1705. Let's

  1706. pray.

  1707. Lord,

  1708. our God,

  1709. we thank

  1710. you for

  1711. the peace

  1712. of the

  1713. gospel.

  1714. We thank

  1715. you for

  1716. the way

  1717. that it

  1718. has come

  1719. about,

  1720. that you

  1721. have come

  1722. into this

  1723. world and

  1724. given of

  1725. yourself the

  1726. Prince of

  1727. Peace to

  1728. die for

  1729. our peace.

  1730. We bless

  1731. you,

  1732. Lord,

  1733. today that

  1734. that peace

  1735. is real,

  1736. that it

  1737. far exceeds

  1738. anything that

  1739. any human

  1740. being can

  1741. conceive of

  1742. by way of

  1743. peace.

  1744. Bring us,

  1745. we pray,

  1746. into that

  1747. peace,

  1748. and if we

  1749. will already

  1750. come to

  1751. know you

  1752. as peace,

  1753. O Lord,

  1754. help us to

  1755. travel onwards

  1756. in the

  1757. peace of

  1758. Christ,

  1759. and enable

  1760. us to value

  1761. that peace

  1762. in such a

  1763. way that

  1764. would treasure

  1765. it in our

  1766. own hearts,

  1767. but would

  1768. also value

  1769. sharing it

  1770. with others.

  1771. Receive our

  1772. thanks now,

  1773. we pray,

  1774. pardoning

  1775. all our

  1776. sin,

  1777. for

  1778. Jesus'

  1779. sake.

  1780. Amen.

  1781. Well,

  1782. we're going

  1783. to conclude

  1784. our worship

  1785. today singing

  1786. in Psalm

  1787. 103,

  1788. from the

  1789. Scottish

  1790. Psalter,

  1791. Psalm 103,

  1792. and

  1793. verses

  1794. 8 to

  1795. 12.

  1796. The

  1797. Lord,

  1798. our God,

  1799. is merciful,

  1800. and he

  1801. is gracious,

  1802. long-suffering,

  1803. and slow to

  1804. wrath,

  1805. and mercy

  1806. plenteous.

  1807. He will

  1808. not chide

  1809. continually,

  1810. nor keep

  1811. his anger

  1812. still.

  1813. With us

  1814. he dealt

  1815. not as we

  1816. sinned,

  1817. nor did

  1818. requite

  1819. our ill.

  1820. For as

  1821. the heaven

  1822. and its

  1823. height,

  1824. the earth

  1825. surmounteth

  1826. far,

  1827. so great

  1828. to those

  1829. that do

  1830. him fear

  1831. his tender

  1832. mercies

  1833. are.

  1834. As far

  1835. as east,

  1836. as distant

  1837. from the

  1838. west,

  1839. so far

  1840. hath he

  1841. from us

  1842. removed

  1843. in his

  1844. love

  1845. all our

  1846. iniquity.

  1847. all these

  1848. verses

  1849. then to

  1850. God's

  1851. praise

  1852. in

  1853. Psalm 103

  1854. from

  1855. verse 8,

  1856. the Lord

  1857. our God

  1858. is merciful.

  1859. and he is

  1860. gracious,

  1861. from

  1862. suffering

  1863. and slow

  1864. to

  1865. wrath

  1866. in

  1867. mercy

  1868. plenty

  1869. of

  1870. He

  1871. will

  1872. not

  1873. continually,

  1874. nor

  1875. keep

  1876. his

  1877. anger

  1878. still.

  1879. with

  1880. us

  1881. he

  1882. can't

  1883. nor

  1884. does

  1885. we

  1886. sin

  1887. nor

  1888. give

  1889. we

  1890. quite

  1891. ado.

  1892. For

  1893. us

  1894. the

  1895. heaven

  1896. in

  1897. its

  1898. height,

  1899. the

  1900. earth

  1901. surmounted

  1902. fire.

  1903. so

  1904. great

  1905. to

  1906. those

  1907. that

  1908. do

  1909. in

  1910. fear

  1911. his

  1912. tender

  1913. mercy

  1914. side.

  1915. !

  1916. As

  1917. far

  1918. as

  1919. he

  1920. distant

  1921. from

  1922. the

  1923. west

  1924. of

  1925. the

  1926. sea,

  1927. from

  1928. us

  1929. to

  1930. us

  1931. to

  1932. us

  1933. the

  1934. of

  1935. the

  1936. and

  1937. the

  1938. Father

  1939. the

  1940. the

  1941. Lord

  1942. the

  1943. Lord

  1944. the

  1945. Lord

  1946. Lord

  1947. Father

  1948. and

  1949. the

  1950. Holy

  1951. you

  1952. evermore.

  1953. Amen.

  1954. the

  1955. of

  1956. the

  1957. of

  1958. the

  1959. the

  1960. !

  1961. holy