Pentecost 4, 2010
“Your debt has been paid”
Luke 7:36-50
Grace, Mercy, and Peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our society has a huge problem with debt. Debt has been a key factor in families losing their home or car. It is a factor in many arguments and divorces between husband and wife. Much of this debt is from wasteful spending or charging everything when you don’t have the funds to pay for it. There isn’t much you can do when your in debt…it holds on to you…it strangles you…it seems like there is no way out…the debt must be paid in full. All of us are plagued by debt…the debt of our sinfulness to God. This debt must also be paid.
A Pastor was called to see a man dying who was plagued by the debt of his sinfulness. In his youth the man turned his back on the church. Poverty and disease brought him low. In his misery he thought of “his Father’s house.” The pastor shared with him the words of our merciful God, which are able to save for eternity every repentant sinner. The man accepted the pardoning hand of God extended in the word by faith and fell asleep in Jesus.
One of the prominent members of the church met the pastor shortly before the funeral and said to him, “Pastor, you are not going to bury that good-for-nothing scoundrel, are you?” The pastor replied, “Do you mean Brother John Smith (referring to the man who had died)? Certainly I am going to bury him.” Whereupon the “good church member” retorted, “Well, if this man went to heaven, I don’t want to go there.” The pastor answered, “Never fear, Mr. Goodman, you are not going there.” “What!” said the good church member, “this miserable wretch, John Smith, is to go to heaven, and I’m not?” “Not if that is the sentiment of your heart which you have just now expressed. Remember, brother, there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
It is a hard question to ask, but do we come to church in the same way as this man. Do we question whom God can forgive and not forgive. Do we think that we are better then others? Far too often people are not welcomed into churches based upon the clothes that they wear, their race and age or for the sins that others know they have committed. Yet we are no different then any other person when it comes to worthiness. All of us are sinners that deserve nothing but death and damnation. There are times when we think we are better then others and more deserving then others but we are wrong.
“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in the town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (Luke 7:37-38)
There are two outlooks that are very dangerous to all people and the church. Some hold the view that no sinners should be allowed in church because they are unworthy and don’t deserve forgiveness. Others believe that the church is made up of nothing but hypocrites and decide against ever joining the church because of it. Both of these views look toward a church that is perfect and without sin. Unfortunately there are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people. “When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39)
Brothers and sisters in Christ the church is indeed made up of sinners and hypocrites. If any of us were perfect would we need forgiveness? Do we really worship God if we deny the need for him? Did Jesus have to come down from heaven, suffer and die if we could come to faith on our own or live our lives without sin? Do we really need God? Yes…because we indeed are also sinful and full of hypocrisy.
“Two men 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 canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” “Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly, Jesus said.” (Luke 7:41-43)
We certainly have much to love our Lord for. Each of us has sinned and caused Jesus to die on the cross. We are guilty of His death. God’s love is for all people. God does not wish for any person to die condemned. God does not look at us his children and say, “Well I have 144,000 saved that’s better then none what’s one less child.” God’s love truly includes all people—the rich and the poor, the reputable and the outcasts, those society accepts and those it rejects. God does not abandon any of us.
Luke later says in the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) This leaves no person as being perfect or innocent except our Lord Jesus Christ. All of us sin daily; although that does not mean we all commit the same sins. Many of us lie and steal. Many of us belittle others. We often take credit from God for all that He does for us. We allow and support Abortions and homosexuality. We fear sharing the Gospel with others. We seem to go on and on and on sinning.
There are many times that we do things that we don’t want to do and things that we know we shouldn’t do. All the while we don’t do things that we want to do or should do. Until we die we will be sinners. As Christians our Lord gives us the strength we need to fight sin and temptation. Our Lord gives us this strength and forgiveness in Word and Sacrament.
I do not know how many of you have seen the film “The Passion.” Regardless of your opinion of Mel Gibson or the film there is indeed something to be learned from it. Some of you may not know it, but Mel Gibson was in the movie. You couldn’t see his face in the role that he played but that was unimportant. Mel Gibson played the role of the soldier that hammered the nails into the hands and feet of Christ. Gibson did this out of his own piety because he believes that he is personally guilty of hanging Jesus on the cross. It is his sins that caused Jesus to die.
This too is how we should respond to our Lord. We must be sorry for our sins. We must realize that we caused the death of our Lord. But it was not our sins that kept Jesus on the cross. It was not the nails that kept Jesus on that cross. It was Jesus love for you and for me that kept Him on the cross. Jesus took our debt upon himself and paid it in full with His life. As Jesus said to that sinful woman he continues to say to us this day, “Your sins are forgiven. [Your debt has been forgiven] Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50) Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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