Week 2: The Upside-Down KingdomSample

There are moments in our lives when what we know to be normal, or true, is thrown into disarray. Unexpected circumstances rattle our perception of reality and leave us wondering what we truly believe. We call these moments “scandals.”

In today’s reading, we see Jesus rattle the mind of a religious leader who had invited him to his home for dinner. A woman who had been rejected by her community due to her immorality approaches Jesus in an act of open-hearted worship. Here, the standard practice for someone in Jesus’ position would be to condemn the woman for her failures and subject her to a pre-established penalty, but he does no such thing.

Defying societal norms, Jesus accepts the woman’s servant offering and forgives her for her sins. His extension of grace and mercy to someone who could never earn it stood in contrast to the customs of his time.

Jesus came to radically shift the dynamic between God and his creation. He came so that the helpless could find hope and the forsaken could find family. He came to forgive the sin-debts of the world so that everyone, regardless of their past, could become citizens of his Kingdom.

Read Luke 7:36-50

Reflection Questions

1. How is God speaking to me through these verses?
2. What does this set of verses teach me about God?
3. What does this show me about the good news of Jesus?
4. How can I apply what I read today?