Luke 7:44-50 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
 
IN the New Testament language, a saint is one who has confessed his sins before the Lord and confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. A saint is one set apart into Jesus’ church for God’s work on earth and to enter eternal life.
   On this All Saints’ Day, we see in this Scripture an early saint. The woman grieved her past sins and loved the One who could wash her sins away. God had stirred in her a great faith to know this redeeming truth. Humbly she sat at Jesus’ feet, submitting to his truth.
   This is saintly living and saintly love. It is an example of living into Christ’s church. Is this your response to Jesus? Are you a saint in Jesus’ church? Have you grieved and repented of your sins? Does your faith confess, “Jesus is my Lord.” How then, do you respond to your faith? Is it, “That’s nice.” or is it, “I love you Jesus! I weep with joy that you set me apart to a saintly life in you forever.”
   Yes, our response should reverently be a deep sadness for our sins and a high joyful love for our Lord. The more we understand the depth of our sins, the higher we will lift our love to our Savior, who has first loved us into salvation.
   Loving Jesus much, weep over your sins. Remember how human sin caused the nails to pierce Jesus’ hands. Loving Jesus much, rejoice this All Saints’ Day and forevermore that he has said to you, “Your sins are forgiven.”
    
Prayer: I love you, Jesus. In joy, I worship you, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Luke 7:36-43 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When Simon, the Pharisee who had invited Jesus, saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
 
ON this day known as Halloween in the United States, I believe millions of people will wear some disguise to hide their true identity. This tradition has become a distortion of Halloween’s original intent. Halloween means “holy evening”. Somewhat in the fashion of Christmas Eve to prepare us for a special consideration of Jesus’ birth, a Holy Evening was a time in the Middle Ages when the church prepared to celebrate All Saints Day on November 1. All Saints Day is a day to not disguise our faith but to openly proclaim God’s good grace to call people into himself through the church.
   But the holy evening is now in deep disguise. Too many in America, instead, play with the devil on Halloween, even highlighting demons and death.
   In a like manner, Simon lived in a deadly disguise. He was living as a godly man, pointing people to God’s law. But in reality he and others like him had distorted God’s loving commands to free his people from bondage. The Pharisees had turned God’s love into imprisoning legalisms. Such structures aided Satan’s schemes to hide God’s truth from the Jews. Simon’s love for God was stained by a love for himself.
   How do we know? Look at his reaction to the tearful woman at Jesus’ feet. Simon’s judgment threatens to cover-up God’s love. To him, this tearful woman is a sinner to be removed from his house. To Jesus, this is one to be free in God’s gracious love as she confesses and weeps over her sins.
   That day in Simon’s house, love confronted judgment. Love removed the woman’s mask of sexual immorality. She is exposed, vulnerable and real before the Holy Son of God. And in uke 8:48 Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Are you in disguise before the Lord? Are you afraid to reveal to him your true identity? Put your fears to rest. Believe in his love. Know his grace. Remove your mask. Rest in Jesus’ forgiveness. Be new in your Lord.
 
Prayer: Holy Spirit, remove all in me that keeps me hidden from you.
 
 

Luke 7:31-35 “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
 
AS Jesus has just affirmed John the Baptist and those who believed in John’s message, he then spoke against those authorities who have rejected both John and himself. To make his point, he uses a children’s game common to that time.
   When children gathered in the markets, they would entertain themselves with a game of attending a funeral or a wedding. They played the flute or “dance music” for the wedding games. And they sang dirges for the funeral game. Those playing would invite others to join them. But some children did not play along. The children in the games were unhappy that some stood on the sidelines simply watching. In response to the bystanders, they in essence said, “Happy songs or sad, you won’t join us. We can’t please you.”
   Jesus says this is how he and John have been received by the Pharisees. John lived in the desert with just enough to survive. In response to John’s lifestyle, the authorities criticized him as being demon possessed. On the other hand, Jesus lived a normal physical life common to that culture. Yet, the authorities criticized him as a glutton! There was no pleasing those who simply “stood on the side” refusing to participate in Jesus’ and John’s ministries. Their critical minds remained closed to God’s salvation message.
   One result of sin is that we are seldom satisfied. The Bible says it this way in Proverbs 27:20 Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man. Even if we proclaim, “I’m a Christian. I’m saved.” we too often speak of disappointments and things we do not have. We are too eager to criticize family, friends, the church, our jobs and our government. Seldom it seems we are prepared to say, “I’d like to join with you.”  
   Is this you? I know that much too often it is I. Let’s be aware of our attitudes and our words. Remember Jesus’ words from his “sermon on a level place” in Luke 6:21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Satisfaction comes in knowing the Lord of Life has filled you forever. Stop and consider this: What on earth can matter when we know we matter to the Lord?
  
Prayer: Father God, put my mind, heart and soul on words of blessing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 
 

Luke 7:29-30 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
 
NOTE that these t wo verses are in parentheses. Our Lord has just affirmed the high calling of those who “acknowledged that God’s way was right.” Now Luke seems to pause for a moment to especially note the Jew’s faithful response to Jesus’ teaching.
   What was the outward sign of their faith? It was John’s baptism. What then was necessary for their baptism? They had to repent. And what must happen for one to repent? Their minds would understand how their sin had separated them from God. Understanding their sin against God’s law, they became eager to repent. They turned from their sins and publicly proclaimed their repentance through John’s baptism. Even the tax collectors, considered to be among the worst sinners in the Jews’ eyes, publicly confessed, “I repent of my sins.” 
   But sadly the Pharisees remained unconvinced. Their unrepentant minds stayed focused on their own laws. They missed John’s baptism. Worse, they missed the Kingdom of God.
   A constant gospel message is that there are those who hear and those who do not. This must cause us to pause and consider, “What do I believe?” Daily we must be alert to this question in two ways. First, consider your own beliefs. What do you believe of God? Is it true? Does it cause you to recognize your sins? Do you repent of those sins? If not, pray for true understanding of God’s Word.
   Second, look at others’ beliefs through God’s Word. Understand the power of unbelief over lives. Pray for the understanding of those who deny God. Hold fast to God’s Word while you examine the world’s views. Know the difference between man’s laws and God’s laws. Know with humility and certainty that you, “Acknowledge that God’s way (is) right.” in all you do.
 
Prayer: Father, continue to teach me daily of what is true. I pray I always humbly submit to you. Amen.

Luke 7:24-28 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet, the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
 
JOHN the Baptist’s disciples had come at John’s request to affirm that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah. Jesus sends them back to John, who is in Herod’s prison cell. They take with them Jesus’ affirmation that salvation has, indeed, come into the world. The Kingdom of God is displayed in physical and spiritual renewal as “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Luke 7:22) Jesus restates that he has fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. He is the One to come.
   Then as Jesus has affirmed himself to John, he in turn affirms John’s unique Kingdom role to the Jews. Jesus speaks often of the Old Testament prophets. But now he points out that John is a special prophet. Other than Jesus, John is the only prophet whose life was foretold in the Old Testament. Jesus quotes from the prophet Malachi, who spoke of a messenger, one like Elijah would come. Jesus teaches here and elsewhere John fulfills that prophecy.
   Then Jesus continues with his affirmation that there is someone greater than John! You know who that is, don’t you? It’s you. Yes, it’s you! Jesus affirmed this is true when you confess your sins and proclaim to the world, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.” With this faith, you enter into the new promise of salvation through Jesus’ atoning blood. So saved, you are God’s own forever. No prophet, even a specially chosen prophet, is greater than one who is child of the Living God.
   Do you see how valuable you are as God’s own? You can look for affirmation in many places in your earthly life. But there is just one true place to find it. Your life’s value lies in Jesus alone. Rejoice. Seek a true, loving relationship with the Lord. Be in awe your God so affirms you. Live in joy.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that I am of such value to you that you gave your sinless life to me. In your name I rejoice. Amen.

Luke 7:18-23 John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’” 21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
 
JOHN the Baptist here is very much as we are, isn’t he? Even though he had truly and passionately preached, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” (Matthew 3:3b) and declared “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 3.2), John still had questions and possibly even doubts. “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” is a question that tells us John needed Jesus’ assurance that he surely prophesied Messiah.
   You can understand John’s question, can’t you? There he was, God’s appointed and anointed messenger. But he was languishing in Herold’s jail. His crime was as other prophets before him. John had preached God’s truth, and Herod jailed him for condemning Herod’s adulterous sins. The Bible often records how Kings and authorities couldn’t stand to hear the truth of their sins. Their response was to jail, torture, exile or kill the truth-telling prophets.
   John certainly knew this. But wouldn’t it be different now that the Kingdom had come on earth? Certainly God’s Kingdom Messengers would now be honored and rewarded. This is the time of the Messiah!
   Or is it? John, as did Israel, seemed to be anticipating the Messiah would lead a revolution to literally rule on David’s throne. Is something missing or incomplete? What is God doing?
   So John asked the kingdom question. And Jesus gave to John and to us the real evidence of his Kingdom come to earth. Our Lord’s rule is not of this world, but he commands disease, demons and despair, transforming lives into God’s intended completeness. The Kingdom King rules our hearts with his love and grace. He opens our eyes, so we may see he is Savior. The Son of God’s power is much more than rule from a throne in Jerusalem.
   John needed assurance of Jesus’ redeeming purpose. So do we. Stay focused on the eternal kingdom. See the cross as Jesus’ throne of power and renewal. Know Jesus’ blessed assurance that you can believe and trust in the “good news preached” to eternal life.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that your rule is eternal. You are so much more than we can imagine. I praise your name and commit my life to you. In your name I pray, amen.
 

Luke 7:16-17 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
 
WHEN Jesus raised the young man from the dead (See Luke 7:14-15.), the witnesses excitedly proclaimed, “A great prophet has appeared among us.”  What else could they say in the moment of this wondrous life-giving miracle? Before their eyes, they saw Almighty God’s creative power! In their knowledge of Israel’s history, they would know God had sent prophets such as Elijah and Elisha to reveal himself through miraculous resurrections. In a moment, the people’s minds were transformed from a focus on death to believe that “God (had) come to help his people.”
   This is a remarkable confession. Most Pharisees did not believe God had come. Many in Israel’s long history had also refused to believe the prophets were God’s agents to care for his people. The people that day came very close to understanding Jesus’ full identity of Immanuel, God come in the flesh. Yet, they still needed to fully see God. They would need to know in their hearts and minds that Jesus was more than a prophet.
   Fully believing in and knowing God is the challenge of a sinful heart, isn’t it? We look at Adam and Eve’s response to God’s commands. How could they disobey the One who had created them and the beautiful garden around them? We see Israel throughout their history repeatedly denounce the Living God as they worshiped dead idols. We watch the Pharisees deny the Living Christ, who stood before them. And we look at our nation that sings, “God bless America.” and then approve abominable “laws” of death and sexual immorality. How could we disobey our God, who has so abundantly given to us? Even though “God has come to help his people.”  we rebel and say, “I’ll help myself.”   
   How do we overcome this incomplete, limiting relationship with God? How do we truly receive God’s help in the many ways we need him each day?
   I believe the best answer is, “Get to know God as well as you can. Be deliberate to seek him and his ways through the Holy Bible and true teachings. Understand who he is. Learn who you are in God’s sight.” Paul said it this way in Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  
   When you pursue God with a strong mind and grateful heart, you will more fully know God. You will understand how precious you are to your heavenly Father, even as you are weak in your understanding. Discovering God, you uncover his amazing grace, complete love, and unending joy he freely offers to you.
   Knowing God, you will know Jesus is more than a prophet. He is Savior, God incarnate, who has come to reveal the mysteries of a “God who has come to help his people.”
 
Prayer: Lord God, I pray I know you with all my heart, mind and soul. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Luke 7:11-15 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out — the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don't cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.  
 
HOW wonderful it is to hear from the Master his eternal words of comfort. “Don’t cry.” Jesus said to the bereaved mother. Certainly, she heard these words as a meaningless attempt from an ordinary man to comfort her. How could she have known that the Lord of Life was speaking to her, promising resurrection for her son?
    Lovingly, Jesus revealed his power over death. He revived the mother’s son, and released her sorrow. “Don’t cry.” became the mother’s heart truth that Jesus is Savior. “Don’t cry.” is a simple sentence Jesus transformed into his eternal truth.
   The mother’s experience is a picture of those who experience Jesus’ salvation. We first see Jesus as a man speaking to us with empty, powerless words. But then the Holy Spirit acts to reveal Jesus in such a way that many experience and believe in his resurrection power over grief and death. Yes, Jesus’ words that day are for any person who mourns their sin and its deadly consequences. If you believe in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, you will continually receive his comforting assurance. “Don’t cry.” becomes your personal comfort amid the death of one precious to your heart. Hear and believe, “Don’t cry.” as you lose material comfort, physical health or a beloved relationship. Know Jesus’ words are meant to raise you up into his presence for eternal life.
   Do you believe this? Many who saw Jesus heal and heard him preach did not believe in Jesus when he walked the earth. Our Lord mourned the Jews’ unbelief as recorded in John 5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Such who refused to go to Jesus would live a mournful eternal life in the deepest depths of crying: Matthew 13:41 “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
   Turn your ear today and hear Jesus say, “Don’t cry.”  Know he speaks of his eternal power to resurrect mankind’s dead souls to everlasting life. You have been given a great assurance and promise. Trust him as your Lord and Savior. Rejoice in this eternal, comforting promise of no more crying: Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
   Don’t cry. Rejoice and be glad! The Lord of Life has destroyed death. Believe in him and live.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your eternal words of comfort offered to a mother and her son so long ago. I pray I truly know your comforting promise in all I do as I live for you. Amen.