No Sin Too Big

A long time ago there was a song sung by reggae artist Bob Marley. It was called “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” It had a very catchy tune and a message that could almost convince you that by brushing your worries under a rug and wearing a smile can bring you happiness. But what the song writer missed was that real happiness begins not with sinful problems being swept under the carpet; it begins with the identification of sins, and the confession of them to God. When there is forgiveness, then one can joyfully sing: “Don’t worry be happy!”

In Luke 7:36-50 we find Jesus interacting with sinners: one was a smug Pharisee who swept his sins under the rug of self-righteousness and the other, a woman who crumbled to her knees in humility, exposing her need for forgiveness.  

The Pharisee refused to admit that he was a sinner in need of forgiveness. His complacency created a toxic bitterness that brought out an accusation against Jesus, and with that, missed the greatest opportunity of his life – the Savior of the world was in his house, sitting right in front of him. But the woman did not miss it. She came into the house as a sorrowful intruder, mentally confessing to the Son of God that she was in a hopeless condition to warrant any possible favor with God. She was unworthy! All she could do was wash His feet with her tears, wipe them with her hair; and kiss His feet and anoint them with the fragrant oil, too ashamed to even utter a word. 

She was a sinner of the worst kind as far as Simon the Pharisee was concerned: “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” Jesus knew what Simon was thinking and exposed his crooked thinking through a parable. Her sins were many but not so big that Christ could not forgive them. 

The lesson is that there is no sin too big for God not to forgive. Forgiveness begins with our unworthiness and confession before it is transformed into complete forgiveness and restoration. Until this happens, there can be no real permanent happiness (or inner joy); happiness is fleeting. Therefore, let us confess every sin to God that we may have an everlasting happiness. “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”