A BRIDGE TO HEAVEN
By Halcyon
Call to Worship: Have Mercy on Me Oh God, #728 SDA
Hymnal reading
Opening Song: Praise Him, Praise Him, #249 SDA Hymnal
Closing Song: My Faith Looks Up to Thee, #517, or I
Lay My Sins on Jesus, #298, SDA Hymnal
Scripture: Luke 7:47-50 and Matthew 26:13,
NRSV
"Therefore,
I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown
great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he
said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him
began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in
peace." "Truly I tell you,
wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done
will be told in remembrance of her."
It is six
days before the Passover and there is much to do. I am walking quickly down the
dusty path in
Going to the
home of the Pharisee, Simon, (also known in town as Simon the Leper) has not
been an easy decision. I am not welcome there. He knows my past. Actually, he
is part of my past! I hold no kind
thought about him, but Jesus has told me I must forgive.
Jesus!
My steps become faster. I pull the shawl tighter around me. The thought
of seeing Jesus again quickens my heart. He is being honored at a dinner in
Simon's house. My sister Martha is the hostess. Lazarus is there. Will they
understand? Will they be angry with me?
Embarrassed? It doesn't matter. .
. My gratefulness and love for Jesus is all important. He may not be with us
much longer. So many important people are angry with Him. I don't understand. After
all He has done for our people.
The upper
room in Simon's house is easy to find. I step over the sandals lined up by the
door. There are many servants running around serving the guests who are
reclining on their left elbows and sides, with heads around the table and feet
away. They are eating fish cakes, bread, olives, fig cakes, cheese. . . Smells
good! I slip in unnoticed and find Jesus.
I kneel at His feet hiding myself in my shawl.
To my
surprise and horror I see that Jesus' feet have not been washed! What kind of a host is Simon?! All good Jewish hosts have servants wash
their guest's feet. Simon is supposed to be honoring Jesus! What a hypocritical show! What an underhanded insult to Jesus! Jesus healed Simon of leprosy! He resurrected Lazarus just two months ago. Simon
is sitting right next to Jesus. What is Simon trying to say, self righteously
sitting next to Jesus!
Tears overflow. . . Tears wash Jesus feet.
. . tears of gratitude for my own release from a life of fear and guilt. . .
tears of anger at Simon. . . tears of love for Jesus who affirmed my
intelligence by assuring me I could sit at His feet and learn, just as the men
do. . . tears of exuberance for the healing of my family. . . tears of
extravagant love. . .healing. . . forgiveness. . . peace. . .
I realize I have not brought a towel with
me! I never dreamed that His feet would
not have been washed. I loosen my long hair (which I am not supposed to do in
public!) and wipe Jesus' feet with it, kissing them. I quickly open the
alabaster jar and pour the perfumed ointment on His feet.
Suddenly
there is an unpleasant sound. . . voices whispering. . . now louder. . .
"she is a sinner. . . extravagant. . . money should go to the poor. . .
what a waste... doesn't the Master know who's touching Him? How could He allow such a thing. . . what a
disgrace. . . you know her past. . . what is that woman doing in Simon's
house?"
I gasp! I forgot that the perfumed fragrance would,
of course, fill the room. I have been found out. Now Jesus will be embarrassed.
I hear His voice. . . "Simon, I have something to say to you. .
." He is not scolding me! He is talking to Simon! I lower myself as much as I can, trying to
hide in my shawl. I can't believe what I am hearing!
"You see
this woman, Simon? I came into your
house and you did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with
her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this
woman has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she
has poured perfume on my feet. I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven. She
loves much."
I feel Jesus'
strong hands lifting me up. Then Jesus says to me. "Your sins have been
forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." Turning to the other guests in the room, He
says so all can hear, "I tell you, wherever my story is told throughout
the world, what this woman has done will also be told, in memory of her."
I, Mary,
hurriedly run down the stairs and out into the courtyard. It is dark and I am
grateful, for I am weeping uncontrollably with joy, with freedom, with peace,
with hope. My sins really have been forgiven. It is not just a feeling, but a
full knowledge and assurance from Jesus.. (Adapted from Matthew 26:6-13; Mark
14:3-9; John 12:1-8; SDABC5; DA 557-568)
Today, you
and I and all who hear this story still enjoy the fragrance of a lovely deed
and an extravagant love. Desire of Ages, p. 563, says, "As far as the
gospel extended, Mary's gift would shed its fragrance, and hearts would be
blessed through her unstudied act. Kingdoms would rise and fall; the names of
monarchs and conquerors would be forgotten; but this woman's deed would be
immortalized upon the pages of sacred history. Until time should be no more,
that broken alabaster box would tell the story of the abundant love of God for
a fallen race."
Mary's
anointing of Jesus has also been a symbol of the anointing of His body for
burial and resurrection so that my sins are forgiven and thereby I have a
bridge to heaven. For this forgiveness is what helps me experience the peace of
heaven here on earth, and the hope of a future heaven above.
This bridge
to heaven — forgiveness — is not an easy human experience, whether we are
wanting to forgive ourselves or whether it be others. Often, it is not even
natural.
In his book Good-bye
to Guilt, Gerald G. Jampolsky writes (p. 70), "True forgiveness is the
bridge we walk across that releases us from guilt and fear, and allows us to
experience heaven on earth." I love
this quotation, because for me, the belief and knowledge that my sins have been
forgiven is truly what has given me the freedom to grow and love. Heaven on
earth is peace and love. And the release of guilt and fear is only accomplished
by experiencing forgiveness.
We are here,
this morning, from many places, different stages of growth, different stages of
healing, different learning experiences, ages, colors, economic circumstances. Some
of us are here because we want to learn, some want to share, some of us hurt,
some rejoice, and some are here because we just want to see friends. Join me as
I explore the meaning of forgiveness and find the steps that lead us across
this bridge.
The purpose
of forgiveness for Mary, and for me, is to heal the mind and to reconcile us to
each other and to God. When we permit ourselves this experience, we feel sane
and at peace. Yet, fear, riddled with doubts, uncertainties and worries, make
us feel unloved and unloving. Forgiveness is what takes place within us. It is
for our own benefit, not necessarily others. However, we all agree, that it is
much easier to forgive others when they are sorry!
In order to
understand forgiveness, we first need to understand guilt. The effects of guilt
are probably the number one problem facing the world today. Guilt is like
taking too many sleeping pills or painkillers, or having sunstroke. One person
described her feelings of guilt as, "I thought my brain and body were
immobilized, and I was locked in a vice or confined
in a prison cell with no hope of
escape." (Jampolsky 33)
Guilt makes
us feel under attack; it helps justify our feelings of anger toward ourselves
or others; it destroys our self esteem and confidence; it makes us feel
depressed, hollow, and empty; it destroys our sense of peace and makes us feel
unloved and unable to love. It is not an exaggeration to say guilt is self made
poison, which we administer to ourselves frequently.
Guilt can be
defined as the feeling of self-condemnation that we experience after we do
something we think is wrong or the feeling of self-condemnation and anger when
we are unable to forgive others.
There is only
one known antidote for guilt — complete forgiveness, starting with ourselves
and extending to everyone who shares the world with us. Forgiveness means
letting go of the past. Unless we forgive others for what we feel they have
done to us, we will be unable to forgive ourselves, and unless we forgive
ourselves, we will be unable to forgive others.
There are two
ways of experiencing forgiveness — to forgive ourselves and to forgive others.
Forgiveness
is a process. It may take a lifetime!
There is definitely work for us to do in this process
How do we
forgive? What is our work?
In reviewing
all the Bible texts that talk to us about forgiveness, I'd like to share the
steps which I have found helpful:
1. Humble
yourselves (2 Chronicles
We cannot be
arrogant or prideful when we want to experience forgiveness. We can't pray,
approach others, or even be honest with ourselves, unless we have a humble
spirit, willing to learn and be taught.
2. Acknowledge
our sin (Psalm 32:5).
Honesty with
ourselves and with God is a necessary step. There are times when we have to
say, "Lord, I don't want to forget, or forgive. Please help be to be
humble and acknowledge my need."
3. Confess
(Psalm 32:5).
I don't think
there is any question about the necessity of confessing to our God that we need
the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives in order to experience forgiveness
and peace. Confession to God is freeing and healing. Knowing that we are loved
with our mistakes, in spite of mistakes and even because of our mistakes, gives
us the feeling of self-worth necessary for living fully with Christ. Forgiveness
and Godly self-worth go hand in hand.
Confessing
our sins to others is not such an easy matter. If we have hurt someone else, it
does take a humble spirit to confess. If someone else has hurt us, that also
takes a humble spirit to accept other's faults and confess our own
vulnerability.
Talking over
our feelings and coming to an understanding, often helps to deal with the
issues that are troubling us. Understanding ourselves and others, helps us deal
with the problems. Ask, "What was the other person thinking? Feeling? What was their experience? Their pain? Understand and feel their pain.
I realize
that we are not always able to talk and confront other people. They may be
gone, dead, unapproachable and/or unwilling to talk to us. But there are ways. Letter
writing (without mailing it!), journaling, talking to an empty chair, or
talking it over with a trusted friend/counselor. Prayer is very effective! However, this is not an easy assignment.
I want to
remind you, that this process may take time and it is harmful to hurry it along
in order to finish the steps. Time is often very necessary and I believe with
all my knowledge and heart that God gives us the time necessary when we are
committed to the ideal. If we hurry it, or skip this understanding, we deny our
own true feelings and thereby become dishonest.
4. Be
sorry (Psalm 38:18).
Have you
noticed how difficult it is to be sorry for that which we may have
enjoyed? It may even have felt good to
hurt someone! Especially if they hurt us
first! And how can we be sorry for what
we did or said when we may believe we were right? Is it better to be right or
kind? What was the example Jesus gave us? In going over these steps, I realize
how much I must pray for a humble attitude, a contrite spirit, and a willing
heart. Maybe rule number one should be "I can't do it alone. It is God's
gift!"
5. Turn
from evil ways (2 Chronicles
Mary had to
forgive herself and others for her past. In today's culture we would use
different terminology for Mary's "sin." Today, we would say that she was a victim —
of her culture, and man's religiosity. When we think of it that way, it truly
was a miracle that she experienced forgiveness!
Remember Jesus words to her?
"Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in
peace."
Desire of
Ages, p 567-568, tells us the interesting story of Simon — the same Simon who
gave the feast for Jesus and Lazarus. Simon's coldness and neglect toward the
Savior showed how little he appreciated the healing he had received. He had
thought he honored Jesus by inviting Him to his house. But he now saw himself
as he really was. He realized that his religion had been a robe of Pharisaism. He
had despised the compassion of Jesus. While Mary was a sinner pardoned, he was a
sinner unpardoned. The rigid rule of justice he had desired to enforce against
her, condemned him. Simon was touched by the kindness of Jesus in not openly
rebuking him before the guests. He had not been treated as he desired Mary to
be treated. What an important point!
Does this say to us today that public disgrace of a person is not
helpful to that person? Jesus was very wise. Stern denunciation would have
hardened Simon against repentance, but patient admonition convinced him of his
error. His pride was humbled, he repented, and the proud Pharisee became a
lowly, self-sacrificing disciple. What would have happened if he had not
repented?
6. Jesus
is our advocate (1 John 2:1). Our sins are forgiven only through the power
of Jesus Christ.
7. As we
forgive others (Matthew
We will be
forgiven as we forgive others and as Christ has forgiven us. We must forgive
ourselves and others, as often as needed, as Christ has forgiven us over and
over. We must not be vindictive. Christ never was. This is more than I can do. How
grateful I am for the promise of the Holy Spirit who is with me and will give
me this gift freely.
Forgiveness
is difficult at times because childhood leaves deep imprints on us all. Although
a fresh understanding of God's grace may bring a great new sense of spontaneity
and freedom, it takes much more to keep our freedom growing. We may set
standards too high, or too low. We must be realistic and educate ourselves in
God's will for our lives — not what our childhood "tapes" tell us.
Although a
fresh understanding of God's grace may bring a great new sense of spontaneity
and freedom—a mountain top experience—it takes much more to keep our new found
freedom growing. To begin with, the standards of our early childhood lessons
must be realistic. For ourselves and others. If our conscience is overburdened
and we feel guilty about things that are not sin, we must learn to educate
ourselves and focus on God's expectations for ourselves and others. If we are
used to rationalizing God's standards, for ourselves and others, we must
educate ourselves and learn to focus only on God's expectations for ourselves
and others.
Remember that
what God uses, Satan abuses. Satan's preferred strategy is to keep standards
too low. But his second choice is to make the standards too high. The person
who tries to keep impossibly high standards without accepting a growth process,
soon gets so bogged
down that the whole sense of God's grace is
lost. There is a guilt from Satan which destroys and a desire from God which
challenges us to a better life.
As the
Creator of our personalities, God made provisions for our growth. The
relationships we have with each other are very important! God didn't choose to put each of us on a
separate island, place a Bible in our hand, and tell us to growl Instead, we were created as social beings and
the family, the church family, and other relationships are planned to meet our
needs for emotional support and spiritual growth.
Behind these
relationships is a dual purpose. God wants us not only to meet each others
needs, but also to offer a picture of God to others. John wrote (1 John
This
experience of forgiveness—this bridge to heaven—will enable us to love freely,
fully and joyfully.
It is my
prayer, that we walk across the bridge of forgiveness, with Mary, Simon, and
each other. May we take the hand of our Savior, accept and give forgiveness,
because Jesus has forgiven us. Christ built and gave us this bridge to heaven.
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About the Sermon Writer: Halcyon Westphal