Weighing Your Love for Christ

In Luke 7:36-50 we learn of an occasion when a woman, known by her community for her sinfulness, ventures into a Pharisee’s home where Jesus is the dinner guest. She stands behind Him at His feet, wetting them with the tears from her eyes, then wipes his feet with her hair. She kisses His feet and anoints them with ointment.

A portion of a public domain image edited by author from a copy of a painting of H. Hofman as it appeared in Charles Foster’s Bible Pictures

The Pharisee immediately doubts the spirituality of Jesus who is seemingly insensitive to the Holy Spirit in regard to the sinfulness of that woman. Jesus immediately knows the Pharisee’s doubts and proceeds to tell a parable of a creditor that freely forgave two debtors, one owing ten times more than the other. He asks His host who would love the creditor more. The Pharisee selects the one that owed the most. Jesus tells him he is correct.

After Christ draws a contrast between the sinner lovingly devoted to Him and His host who showed little appreciation except give Him a dinner, He states the woman’s sins were indeed forgiven because she loved much. He then made the statement that one will love less if they had little to be forgiven.

What earned that rebuke was the Pharisee contrasting himself with the woman. Had he been really listening to John the Baptist and Christ he would have realized that though he was a religious man, probably a bulwark of his community, he was of the same caliber as the whore. This is because he, and all of us, are born sinners and come short of the glory of God(Rom. 3:23).

Some tend to gauge sins. I grew up hearing there are “little white lies,” but the then there were the big nasty ones. But sin is sin (James 2:10-11), and all sin, whether we deem them big or small, sent Jesus to the cross (2 Cor. 5:21).

Christ and His agony in bearing our sin should be our focus. His torment and punishment for our “tiniest sin” was exactly the same for the worst sins ever committed.

When we count the price He paid for our own sins, no matter their size, we too should weep. We too should humbly express our love. After all, much was done in Him in order to grant forgiveness for any sin we have committed.

Perhaps some reading this need to enter into His forgiveness. I encourage you to surrender yourself to God, making Christ your King.

When you sincerely do so, you will abundantly express your love for Christ. Just the other day I read a very charming article that expresses abundant love for Christ, written by a fellow brother in Christ, Nelson Doyle. When you get a chance, please read his uplifting article, Jesus to Me (A Personal Testimony).