Chapter 2: The Motivation of the Gospel

In chapter 1 we saw how we need to daily look at Christ's righteousness and stand in the present reality of our justification. When we do this successfully we experience the motivating power of the gospel which is what chapter 2 is about. This chapter looks at some examples of what this looks like. 3 steps can be seen in each example: deep conviction of sin and assurance of forgiveness lead to gratitude and love. The verse referenced is 2 Cor. 5:14 which states "for the love of Christ controls us." Other translations replace 'controls' with 'compels' or 'constrains'. I think many of our Christian 'acts' can be done out of a motivation to perform for God or to please Him, or out of a sense of duty. But I think that is very different than doing something because you are compelled or controlled by the love of Christ.

When it comes to the interaction between Simon, Jesus and the woman with the alabaster jar of expensive perfume, I find myself almost sympathizing with Simon. I'm not sympathetic in the sense that I think the woman is too sinful for forgiveness. I'm sympathetic in the following sense: Jesus was making an observation that the magnitude of someones love toward Him is in proportion to their perception of how much they've been forgiven. I think my love for Jesus much of the time is more in line with the way Simon expressed it....which means at those times I am failing to see either the depth of my sin or the assurance of His forgiveness, or both. If Simon had eyes to see he would have realized that he actually represents the greater of the 2 debtors in Jesus' parable. His pride, self-righteousness and lack of love for people were much more dangerous sins than those of the woman (which Jesus said were many). The reason they are more dangerous is that they are generally not seen as sinful by the one possessing them. Had Simon seen his own sins for what they were perhaps his expression of love toward Jesus would have surpassed that of the woman.

I have also wondered at the woman in the story. It's interesting that she remains nameless while Simon is referred to by name. I also wonder why she used up the expensive perfume on Jesus in this fashion? The book says it could have been equal to a years wages. Couldn't she have just sold it and brought Him the proceeds for His continuing ministry as an expression of her love? I'm speculating here but could it be that the jar of expensive perfume was the love of her life that led her down the pathway to her 'many sins'? Perhaps she saw the expensive perfume in the marketplace as a young woman and envied it to the point that she was eventually willing to do whatever it took to afford that luxury? After becoming a woman with a bad reputation she would not have been able to gain a good reputation back and would then have the expensive perfume as her only real comfort left in life. She feels the weight of her sin every day as she endures the isolation from people afraid to even be seen near her. Every day she is reminded of it by the disapproving stares of the moral citizens around her. Having no hope to made clean again she is trapped and can't go back; so she continues in her lifestyle and clings to the only comfort that she has: the expensive perfume that she has treasured from the beginning. Then along comes Jesus who is not repulsed by her and He looks at her with a look of love that she has never experienced and offers her forgiveness that she couldn't even dream existed before. I think she pours out this perfume on Jesus not just as an expression of her love and gratitude, but to show Him that the old idolatrous love of her life has been replaced by Him. I don't think at this point she has any hope of being accepted by society, so she is showing Jesus that her only comfort in this life is rubbish compared to Him. I'm also thinking that this represented her savings that she could have lived on. How will she make a living now that she is giving up her old lifestyle and likely will not be accepted for a respectable job to make a living. Hers seems to be a love with total abandon. I am cut to the quick when I read about this woman. How weak is my love in comparison.

Holy Spirit, I understand Christ's righteousness assures the forgiveness of my sin but please give me just a glimpse of the depth of my sin against Holy God so that I might love Jesus in proportion to that forgiveness.