by Angela Jelf, Writer, Poet and Mum of Four

There are two stories in the New Testament which I think capture the dynamic power of forgiveness so clearly. Interestingly, both of these stories share the same three elements:  Dinner, a sinner, and a Saviour.

Dinner

Story number one takes place when a Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus round for a meal.  It's not clear whether Simon is being genuinely hospitable, or whether he has an ulterior motive, but what we do discover later on, is that Simon fails to show Jesus the customary Jewish welcome of a kiss and a bowl of water for the washing of feet.

As they are reclining at the table, things take an interesting turn.

A Sinner

A woman with a jar of perfume and a bad reputation, gate-crashes the party. She breaks open the alabaster jar of fragrance and starts to anoint Jesus's feet. Weeping and crying, she dries Jesus’ tear-stained feet with her hair and kisses them again and again. Talk about awkward moment!

Suddenly Pharisaic Simon gets all fidgety in his seat. Ha! If Jesus were truly a prophet, then surely He would have been able to discern what kind of woman this was.  If Jesus were truly a prophet, then surely, He would want this woman thrown out into the street.

And a Saviour

But Jesus with x-ray-like vision, sees right into the depths of Simon's soul. And He begins to tell a story about two debtors. One who owes a little, one who owes a lot. Both of them receive good news- their debts have been cancelled by their Creditor.

"Now which of these two will love the most?" Jesus asks.

"I suppose the one who has been forgiven the most," Simon rightly answers.

“You have judged rightly.” Jesus answers.

A Sinner

Which leads us nicely onto story number two- the story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus is the Chief Tax Collector in the Jericho region and let's just say 'popular' is not his middle name. He takes what people owe...plus a little bit extra besides.

But he's heard a rumour. Jesus is coming to town. "I've got to see him", thinks Zacchaeus. "I'll do anything to see Him".

But Zacchaeus is a little on the..well…little side.  As Jesus passes through Jericho, vast crowds press in around Him. And try as he might, Zacchaeus cannot see above the crowds.

So, what does he do? Give up and go back to his mansion? No! He runs ahead of the crowd and climbs up into a Sycamore Tree! Now this man was rich. He probably had swag! His clothes might have got dirty, or even snagged on the branches.  But nothing was going to stop him!

Dinner

And Jesus stops right underneath that Sycamore Tree and peers up into the branches, right into the face of a man who is outwardly rich, but inwardly profoundly empty and says:

"Zacchaeus!"

Jesus knows his name. He knows all our names. "You'd better climb down because I'm coming to your house today!"  

This time Jesus invites himself round for dinner!

And they talk. And Jesus explains that He came to this earth to cancel the huge debt of sin that people like Zacchaeus, and the woman with the alabaster jar - people like me, and you- simply couldn't pay.

And a Saviour

And once again forgiveness has its transformative effect.

Zacchaeus is a changed man. Repentance flows from his heart just like the perfume that flowed from that alabaster jar. Because the point of the story was not so much the broken jar, but rather a broken, sin-weary soul, kneeling at the feet of a merciful Saviour. Zacchaeus doesn’t have an Alabaster jar, but when he’s faced with the amazing grace of the Saviour that came to forgive our debts, he has exactly the same kind of extravagant response.  Zacchaeus promises to pay back anybody he's ripped off four times over!

You see it's true.  He who is forgiven much, loves much.

Let’s endeavour to teach our kids the full gospel!  Let’s take every opportunity to tell them about the Saviour who died on a cross to pay a debt we couldn’t owe in order that we could receive abundant forgiveness.