Luke 7:36 50
A great sinner once came to the Lord Jesus. She stood weeping at His feet. What a blessed place for a sinner to be found in!
She knew she was a sinner; the proud Pharisee knew she was a sinner; but more, God knew she was a sinner, and Jesus was God.
What brought her to that house? Surely, Simon the Pharisee had not invited her! Is she not afraid to enter unasked? "When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house,"—this was enough; this gave her boldness; this inspired her with confidence. Jesus was there. She came and "stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”
But why was she not afraid of Jesus? Did He not know all her sins? Did He not know them to be MANY? He did; but listen! She hears Him say, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven." Mark, He did not say, "Her sins are too many to be forgiven"; no, no, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven.”
Ah! I think I hear her say, "But is this really true of me? Is it of my sins He speaks, when He says they are forgiven? Mine surely are many, but are they not too many? too black? Can it possibly be my many sins that are forgiven?”
Again that blessed One speaks, but this time He turns to her; He looks straight at her; He speaks to her, and "He said unto her, THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN.”
Now there can be no doubt, "Thy sins are forgiven.”
What blessed words! But what had she done to deserve it? Nothing. She just simply came with all her sins to Jesus. He knew them all, and He knew they were many. He does not make light of them; He could not. To bear the heavy burden of sins was no light matter, and He had come to bear them;—yes, to suffer and to die for them.
Reader, are your sins forgiven?
"Ah, I wish I could say that, but I cannot feel they are!”
And how do you suppose she knew her sins were forgiven? Was it because she felt it, or because He said it? Surely because He said it. Mark, it does not say she felt it, but "He SAID unto her, Thy sins' are forgiven.”
This settled everything; she had His word for it. Could that deceive her? Her feelings might change; His word never would.
She knew her sins were forgiven, because He said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven.” She felt her sins were forgiven, because she believed what He said.
Now, dear anxious soul, do you believe that your sins are forgiven? Or are you trying to feel it first? Many try to feel their sins are forgiven before they will believe it, but you must believe it before you can feel it.