READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | As a redeemed people, what does it mean to be an enacted community where God’s love is acted out in our workplaces, interest groups, social networks, church, small group, family?
Which of these two different expressions of community reflects the kingdom of God
- Religious gathering that quietly excludes – where evaluative glances and silence make one feel unwelcomed. Though greatly honoured by Simon the Pharisee to associate and converse with invited guests around a dining table, Jesus soon exposed stark differences between two kinds of community. (Luke 7:36-39)
In a Community Built on Assessment, Simon’s silent judgment was passed not only on the woman who wiped Jesus’ feet with her tears and hair, but also on Jesus who was invited to be evaluated. “If this man were a prophet…” revealed how such a community:
a) Categorises people – labels them by their past misdeeds
b) Prioritises reputation over redemption – considers what others think, how a situation looks?
c) Sets boundaries guardedly – cleanly religious and morally disciplined, yet coldly far from the heart of God
Simon, though near Jesus physically, was far from Him spiritually; provided essentials for a proper dining experience but hosted without grace. Like an immaculately-kept home where crumbs are not allowed, and guests are careful but not comfortable to sit. Seemingly clean, it was not a home for the broken. Is there weeping, kneeling, and comforting empathy in the church where members do not distance themselves from brokenness, where it’s safe to cry? - Redeeming grace that publicly embraces – When a mother knelt next to her daughter to fix broken fragments of a precious vase which the latter broke, home to the child was no longer a place of performance but a place of restoration. Jesus turned Simon’s critical, fault-finding abode into a place of acceptance and grace for the sinner. In so doing, He enacted God’s expectation of community.
In a Community of Repentance, the woman’s actions spoke louder than a sermon. She drew near Jesus and risked rejection, shame and public exposure. Enacted community for her was founded on love for God which compelled her to act in three ways.
a) Her tears spoke repentance – She entered Simon’s house despite the risks. So overwhelming was the grace of forgiveness and restoration she expected to find in Jesus that reputation for her became secondary. She not merely believed Jesus, she wept, and acted on her admiration for Him.
b) Her perfume spoke sacrifice – She brought a very costly alabaster jar of balm to anoint her Saviour’s feet as an expression of her devotion to Him. Not a convenient leftover but her best for the Lord.
c) Her touch spoke trust – Recognising herself as a sinner, the woman sought and welcomed Jesus into her life by entrusting her brokenness to Him. As a host, Simon did not offer water to clean His feet. Neither did he welcome Jesus with a kiss, or anoint His head with oil as was the Jewish custom. (v44-50)
Contrastingly, the woman, though not a host or even a guest, wet His feet with her tears, kissed and wiped them with her hair, then anointed them with the expensive ointment made from pure nard. What counts as sincere adoration of Christ? What does ideal worship of God look like? Is there room in our worship for lavish extravagance that welcomes God into our lives? By her repentance and actions, the woman enacted community with Christ.
God’s grace accepts brokenness.
As gracious Saviour and Friend who eats and drinks with His community, Jesus welcomes sinners to be part of God’s kingdom. True Christian community is not built by moral distance but by redeeming grace. True community makes space for tears when Jesus is at its Centre. He did not withdraw from the woman’s touch, but put aside reputation to link His identity to hers, as He has done for us on the cross. The church is not meant to be a museum for preserved artifacts where the polished belong. Jesus enacted community in Simon’s home when he turned it into a hospital that heals wounded broken bodies.
HOW DO WE ENACT COMMUNITY TODAY?
I. Move toward the margins – Reach those who avoid church because of shame. Notice their vulnerability and welcome them in – the lonely, a struggling youth, an elderly widow, one with a complicated past or an unfaithful spouse, a struggling addict, a rebellious teenager, an exhausted mother with a special needs child, or the elderly with mobility issues. Move towards them, not away.
II. Replace judgment with compassion – What do we choose to see? Simon saw only the woman’s disgraceful past. Jesus, not ignoring her sin, saw her repentant heart. Labelling builds walls; seeing grace at work in others builds bridges. Graceless Simons look down on people with some fault or other; yet belittle those who behave ungraciously. They reject the truth about their own condition, thinking it applies to someone else. Simon lacked forgiveness because he didn’t feel the need to be forgiven. The woman knew Jesus accepted her regardless of the mess she had made of her life. Knowing God’s grace makes us gracious when relating with others. Consider what pain or struggle someone may be enduring. Grace flows when concern replaces criticism.
III. Create space for honest worship – The woman’s worship was messy with tears, hair and perfume. Enacting community is allowing space for tears at the altar, confession in small groups, and testimonies of redemption. As disciples in true Community, we must move transformationally. From analysis to adoration, distance to devotion, reputation to repentance. More than mere spectators we become involved participants – humble, hospitable, honest, repentant; providing love that heals, hosting events that go beyond religious to providing healing spaces.
Programmes do not sustain community. People do – when they have personally encountered God’s grace in their lives. Enact community by communing with people, even difficult ones and loving them publicly. Do our community members feel safe with us?
- Begin at home – When dining, do our children feel safe confessing failure? Are our spouses free to confess weakness?
- In church – Are we patient with newcomers, those growing too slowly? Do we greet or inspect them? Is ours a community where repentant seekers find restoration, the wounded healing?
- In our hearts – Are we more like Simon than we care to admit – polite, respectable, evaluating? Let us love Jesus who sees our silent thoughts, not just host Him. Visit and love the have nots in tangible ways, saying, “Because you are part of us.”
No committee meetings or draft proposals are needed except to gather spontaneously as many different parts to enact the love of Christ in community! Will we allow God’s Word to challenge, convict and change us in our imperfections to be like Christ, enacting the fullness of His love and grace in our communities?
(Sermon notes by Marjorie Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
a. What contrasts do you observe between Simon and the woman in their attitudes and actions toward Jesus?
b. What does Jesus’ response to the woman reveal about His heart and the kind of community He establishes? - Recall Sermon
a. The sermon described two kinds of community (Evaluation and Repentance). How did this passage illustrate that contrast?
b. How does Jesus model the kind of community we are called to build? - Relate Personally
a. In what ways have you been more like Simon (quick to label or evaluate others) and in what ways have you been more like the woman (coming to Jesus in brokenness)?
b. Do people feel safe bringing their struggles into your presence? Why or why not? - Commit to Action
a. Who is one person you can intentionally move toward this week instead of remaining distant or critical?
b. How can your small group become a space of enacted grace instead of silent evaluation?
