Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him 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 touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Core Principle: The key to love is need. Your experience of God’s love will never go beyond your sense of needing His love.

The Lover

Feeds the beloved.
Does not need the beloved.
Loves by giving.
The Lover’s greatest glory is to be needed.

The Beloved

Needs the lover.
Can never feed the lover.
Loves by receiving.
The beloved’s only motive is need.

1 John 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The Love of Jesus…
Sees you as you are, not as you have been.
Acknowledges honesty, not pretense.
Relishes passion, not restraint.
Offers grace, forgiveness and restoration, not judgement.
Longs for adoration, not service.
Invites you to a life-long journey of rehearsing your need.

1 John 4:11
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Commands us to love others as we have been loved.

Pastor’s Challenge:

This week, find one trusted and spiritually sensitive friend or family member and ask them this question …

“To the extent that you know me, and with as much honesty and courage as possible, please tell me, …

Where am I blind to my need?”