So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” 2 Samuel 12:13 NKJV.

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1.

And in our chapter, Luke 7, listen to the love given and received that is so needed in us all. Events that we can skim over shook those who experienced them. When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” v. 1-5. A centurion, part of the Roman oppression, was seeking help from Jesus in his regard for his slave; and the Jewish elders are imploring Jesus for him. Remarkable interplay between people made possible by love which originates in Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. And in consideration of Jesus, a Jew, he even sent friends to Jesus knowing a Jew “shouldn’t” enter the home of a gentile. He also knew authority being one in authority; and that all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed. By His word he would be healed! Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district. v. 9-17. And John’s disciples told him about all these things so John sent them to Jesus to ask if He was the Expected One. And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” v. 18-23. Many had gone to John who is now in prison. So Jesus asks them, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ (Isaiah 40:3). I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” v. 24-28. And the contrast between people…When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. v. 29-30. And Jesus contrasts the folly of the thinking of men…“To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children. v. 31-35. And Luke gives another example of a woman worshipping Jesus as Lord. He was dining with a Pharisee in the Pharisee’s home. And when she learned where Jesus was, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” v. 36-39. Do we judge evil where there is none? I do and I need God’s help to trust Him to be the judge because His judging is for our healing. So Jesus gives a parable the Pharisee can understand. “A moneylender had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 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. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” v. 40-50.

We who sit in judgment of others, do we love? We who are so ready to call others evil whom Creator God loves – do we sin? Maybe that’s why we can’t understand the forgiveness of God for ourselves and for others. We see only sins. God sees His children in desperate need of Him. Do we sin and is sin wrong? Without question. So what then? We turn to God when we realize our sins and repent as did David after he had committed murder and adultery. He knew that ultimately his sins were against God whom he loved. How could he ever repay that unpayable debt? By turning to God, repenting, and loving and trusting God to bring healing and wholeness. It is as we realize our deep need for God that we realize there is no other way out of the darkness of sin but with God who loves us. Which of them will love Him more?