THE SCENT, THE SORROW AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

"Those bitter tears she shed were the tears of a true contrition; they meant a holy hatred of her past sin, and a sincere determination to lead another life; and not being repelled, but accepted, by this Holy and Merciful One, deep and strong gratitude arose in her; and penitence, love, and a new and blessed hope surged and strove together in uncontrollable emotion within her heart. "This is a story about a woman of ill repute who finds forgiveness in Jesus. She is a sinner saved by great, irresistible, rich, and boundless grace. But, we know nothing about her, what was her sin, where is she from, what is her nationality, is she old, young, thin, tall, wealthy or married? Her identity is not given: we will not know her story by her name, she is only a sinner saved by grace!The story however, is not triumphant; it is a tragedy about Simon! It is his house, his party, his friends, his invitation and only his words found in the dialogue! It’s about a man who couldn’t or wouldn’t realize his own need for forgiveness. He and his sect, the Pharisees, would help fill Hell, yet our merciful Saviour accepted the invitation; Why, Jesus hated the Pharisees? But our Jesus loved the Pharisee! He was moved by a patient compassion for Simon realizing he was only a sinner that needed to be saved by grace! TEXT: LUKE 7:36-50SONGS:IS HE WORTHY, WORSHIP INITIATIVEWORTH OF IT ALL, EMMY ROSE, BETHELMY JESUS I LOVE THEE, WORSHIP INITIATIVEALABASTER HEART, KALLEY HEILINGENTHAL