Family Stories. The Unknown Sinner. Sister Sarah Guess who came to church this morning? The biggest sinner in town! Let’s read her story. Luke 7:36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” This is a story of two people in the presence of Jesus. - One of those people have a name, Simon – the other is simply called the sinful woman. - One was a sinner in need of Jesus – the other was righteous with no need of Jesus. - One left with peace – and one was left with frustration. Which one of these people did you come to be today? But here is part of the vision of Riverside. I want this place, this house, to be a house where our singular focus and passion is all about Jesus and we come here to honor him – and give our love to him – and worship him – and grow in him – and we don’t care what the world thinks about that. A place where we give him gifts worthy of his name. A place where we have the kind of singing that is worthy of his name. A place where are serving is worthy of his name. A place where we can give him the most precious gift we can give him – ourselves. This woman is teaching us how to worship. This is one of the great stories about what it means to worship. Worship is about meeting Jesus and giving him what he deserves and the kind of love that he is worthy of. Worship is to honor someone or something with extravagant love and extreme submission. Everybody here worships something. There’s something on the pedestal that you effortlessly give yourself to. Back to Simon for a moment… Luke 7:44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Jesus turns to Simon and says, “I noticed today that you don’t love me like she does.” “And you never wash my feet.” “You had no kiss for me, you had no affection at all.” “There was no oil for my head.” It’s sort of scary, but Jesus has noticed you today. He has taken notice of your worship. Luke 7:48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Jesus does for her what she can’t do for herself and what nobody else can do for. That is what the gospel is all about. And she walks out with one of the most precious commodities of life; peace. Peace with God. Peace with herself. Peace with others. Peace with her circumstances in life. How will you walk away today?