I love Jesus and I am not ashamed to confess it.

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“Jesus said, Simon I have something to tell you.”

Tell me, teacher." he said.

(Please read LUKE 7: 36 to 50, Jesus is anointed by a sinful woman.)

 

Jesus seems to ask Simon, “Who do you think loves Jesus the most?”

Simon answered, “The one who had the bigger debt canceled! 

 

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

 

Once upon a time forty years ago I had a friend named Simon (Not his real name). He was tall, good looking, had a beautiful wife and was a proud jet fighter.

I was not as tall by comparison, regular looking but my wife thought the world of me and I was a former freedom fighter.

 

“My friend Simon” asked me a question that caught me by surprise: 

“Gerry, why do you love Jesus so much?”

 

I was unprepared to answer the question of, “Why I love Jesus so much.” But the unavoidable nature of the question led me to be true to myself and I tried to answer the question as if for the first time I was discovering the following facts.

 

1- Gratitude for such a great salvation!!!

2- Recognition of the freedom from guilt on the basis of forgiveness!!!

3- The transforming power of the Gospel of repentance in my life. 

4- The understanding of the gift of faith as the cup that holds the life given blood of Jesus on my behalf.

5- The revelation of the body of Jesus broken for me.

6- The vision of the passionate love of God in Jesus conquering irresistibly my heart, soul, mind and strength.

 

Above all, I love Jesus because I am fully aware of the greatness of my past sins that brought me to my knees in holy and humble adoration, often with unsolicited tears full of thanksgiving. “Yes, my dear Simon” and friends of yesterday and today “MUCH HAS BEEN FORGIVEN HERE IN MY HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH!!” Therefore, I love him very much.

 

By the way, it is not God who remembers to hold my sins against me but it is I who remember where I have been and how Jesus came down to my slimy Pit and brought me out with great power. He has set my feet on the rock of his love and grace and has established my goings in order that others might see and put their trust and LOVE in Jesus.

 

Now it is time to remind all my friends what Jesus meant when he said “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

Jesus seems to be saying, “I know who that woman is Simon and I also know that she is a sinner with great debts to my Father. It is you Simon who needs to know that for such a sinner like her my Father in Heaven has sent me.” 

Why? Because they alone could not pay the debt they owe to God.”

 

“Simon, do you remember in the time of Elijah? There was a widow who helped Elijah to survive the drought?”

 

“Do you also remember Simon that in my own ministry many men have given me the cold shoulder but women helped me like this woman here in your house?”

 

“Women are special and they bear the title given by God the Holy Spirit as helper, encourager, reminder and meek and humble teachers.”

 

Again, Jesus seems to say, “This woman loves me more than you do Simon.

You open your house to me but your heart is elsewhere.

 

DO YOU SEE THIS WOMAN?” 

 

“I came into your house”.

You did not give me any water for my feet.

You did not give me a kiss.

You did not put oil in my head.

But this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

But this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.

But this woman has poured perfume on my feet.”

 

“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven ...for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

 

Though Jesus had something to say to Simon he also had something to say to women of faith of all generations. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

A question was asked of me by a friend: Is Jesus really saying this to all women? The answer is yes, because faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Faith makes you do things without hesitation in tears and sacrifice. 

 

 According to Hebrews 13:17b “Leaders keep watch over you as men who must give account.” Therefore, it is just fair to say, I write as one on duty who must give account to God. 

 

Gerry Gutierrez.