Series: Short Stories with Jesus
Message: Feet Kisser
Preacher: Jessyka Albert
Reflection: Jessyka Albert
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Purpose: Vanessa Rivera 
Editor: Becky De Oliveira

Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.

Read: Luke 7:36-48 in The Message (MSG). Note 1–3 insights or questions.

Reflect: The other day in the office someone posed a “Would You Rather” question that they had heard on the radio earlier that week. It went a little something like this: Would you rather always have to sleep in a box filled with spiders and snakes (I know you’re probably thinking anything but this! But it gets worse . . . ) or have a caption bubble on the top of your head that always said what you were thinking?

Take a moment to think what a normal day would look like for you if everything you were thinking was on display for others to see. It might not be the prettiest of pictures. 
Luke gives us a bubble above Simon’s head telling us his internal commentary to this situation. Verse 39 says, “Now when the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is toughing him for she is a sinner.’”

You almost have to love the humor that comes next because Jesus, whom Simon thinks really doesn’t have a clue, answers his internal thoughts. “Simon, I have something to say to you,” Jesus says. He proceeds to tell Simon a very pointed story of a moneylender and debtors. The moneylender forgives both of his debtors, one who owes much and one who owes a little. He poses the question to Simon, who do you think loves the moneylender more. Simon answers that it must be the one who had the large debt forgiven. This is where Jesus smacks Simon with the truth and causes him to see that this is not just a story, but all three characters are right there in the room together.

The story is then played out in real time between Jesus, Simon, and this sinful woman. Jesus also links love with forgiveness. Verse 47 must have been so powerful for that woman and Simon but also infuse a shock in our own lives. “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

If only Luke would have continued to show us a bubble above Simon’s head after Jesus said that.  

Recalibrate: How have you noticed the connectedness of forgiveness and love in your own life?

Respond: Come to the feet of Jesus like this woman. Bring all your sins, which might be many, and ask for forgiveness.

Research: Compare and contrast forgiveness is different cultures.

Remember: “She has been forgiven of all her many sins. This is why she has shown me such extravagant love.” —Luke 7:47 (TPT)

Jessyka Albert is a graduate of Union College and a native of Washington State. She has been the associate pastor at Boulder Adventist Church since 2016. She serves over three branches of faith development, Wonder, Adventure and Purpose.

I love to see my granddaughter’s face light up when her mom comes into the room. Zoe has just begun to crawl and nothing stops her from getting to her mom, because that is where her heart is. What (or whom) drives you?

Throw a ball and run as fast as you can to it (or have a friend chase the ball). The woman who came to Jesus didn’t let anything get in the way of her doing what she came to do. How do you think Jesus felt knowing that He was that important to her?

Jesus tells a parable about a money lender who canceled two debts, a big one and a small one.  Back then, if someone didn't pay a debt, they would have become a slave. Think of a time when someone forgave you for something big— so big that their forgiveness shocked you. What did you learn from that experience?  Reach out to that 
person and share what you learned. Thank them for showing you love that day.