Pastor Jack Peters
November 26, 2023 at 10:45 AM
Luke 7:36-50
Luke 7:36-30 – A SINNER WORTH IMITATING
I believe we were born to imitate.
- The little girl who wants to dress up in mommy’s clothes and wear mommy’s make up or pretend to be a princess or a movie star.
- The little boy who wants to step in Daddy’s shoes, wear Daddy’s hat or dress just like Daddy. They might want to be like a famous cowboy, superhero. I fantasized being like Mickey Mantle or a great pitcher.
As we grow older, we naturally imitate those we are exposed to the most. “She’s like her mom!” “He’s like his dad!”
Most of us have role models that we want to imitate. For me, as you know, it was Pastor Headley, and subconsciously, Warren Wiersbe.
I now have a new hero, or actually, it’s a new heroine! This may shock you, but the new heroine is a lady who most likely was a “woman of the street”, a prostitute. Whatever she was exactly, it doesn’t matter. We do know this she was what we would call “low life”. She was not the type of person you’d bring home to Momma and the family!
Let me tell you, like us, she was a sinner. But she was a sinner worth imitating! And that’s because she met Jesus!
Let’s look at her story.
The Sinner Who Came to Dinner (And she wasn’t invited!):
Luke 7:36 – Jesus was invited to a meal at the home of a probably important self-righteous Pharisee who probably didn’t like or truly respect Jesus.
SHE WAS DEFEATED BY HER SIN – Luke 7:37
Romans 3:10-20- We are all like this. The woman knew it!
SHE WAS DEPENDENT ON JESUS – Luke 7:50
Romans 3:21-26 – The only way to forgiveness, feeling guilty and eternal life!
SHE DEMONSTRATED HER GRATITUDE – Luke 7:37-38 – May I demonstrate mine!
SHE WAS DESPISED BY THE RIGHTEOUS – Luke 7:39 – Many self-righteous people despise born again Christians. She didn’t care! We shouldn’t either!
SHE WAS DEFENDED BY JESUS – Luke 7:40-47
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, John 14:15
SHE WAS DECLARED “FORGIVEN” BY HER SAVIOR – Luke 7:48-50, Ephesians 2:8-10
