Lesson
from page B5~
was to recline on the left
elbow on a cushioned floor
with the head being closest
to the low table and the feet
farthest away (David C.
Cook, Bible Lesson
Commentary 2015-16).
While enjoying the
meal, an unnamed woman
who is described as having
lived a sinful life hears that
Jesus is at Simon's house
for supper and arms herself
with an alabaster jar of per
fume and crashes the din
ner party. She stood behind
Jesus weeping and we
might conclude that there
were lots of tears because
she used them to wash the
savior's feet. Having no
towel or cloth to use, she
uses her hair to wipe His
feet and kisses them. By
now the guest and the host
are stricken with indigna
tion that Jesus would allow
this to happen and to add
insult to injury, the woman
breaks the seal on the
alabaster flask and pours
the perfume on Jesus' feet.
Simon is convinced by this
display that Jesus, despite
His claims, is not a
"prophet" because if He
were, He'd know that the
woman was immoral and
thereby making Him cere
monially unclean. In
Simon's mind, a true
spokesperson for God
would not allow this to
happen. Simon's said these
things within himself.
Jesus reads Simons
thoughts and responds,
"Simon, I have something
to tell you." "Tell me,
teacher," he said. (Luke
7:40). Jesus uses the para
ble of the creditor forgiving
two debtors of unequal
debts. One very large and
the other very small in
comparison, but neither
debtor is able to pay. The
creditor, having, compas
sion, forgives the debts of
both men. Jesus then poses
a question to Simon, "Now
which of them will owe
him moreTfvs. 42) Simon
answers correctly that the
one with the larger debt
would feel more love.
Now Jesus has effectively
touched Simon's emotions,
challenged his mind and
activated his imagination.
Parables are a way Jesus
used to appeal to the
"entire person." Now that
Jesus has Simon's "entire
person" engaged, He turns
toward the woman and says
to Simon, "Do you see this
woman?"(vs. 44) Jesus
now compares how the
woman and Simon treated
Him. (Custom and eti
quette say that water
should be provided to
cleanse the feet of one who
has dusty feet from walk
ing a distance.) Simon
snubbed Jesus by withhold
ing water for His feet while
the woman washed His feet
with her tears and dried
them with her hair (vs, 44).
Simon did not greet Jesus
with a customary kiss (vs.
45), yet the woman has
continued to kiss Jesus'
feet. Finally Simon did not
anoint Jesus' head with
olive oil, while the woman
covered Jesus' feet with
costly oil (vs. 46). Jesus
goes on to acknowledge
that the woman's sins are
many, but He forgives all
her trespasses (vs. 47) for
she loved much. Jesus said
to her, "Your sins are for
given." (vs. 48). Simon and
his guest understand that
only God can forgive sin
and so Jesus' declaration
caused a sizeable stir.
Knowing this and ignoring
it as He often did, Jesus
tells the woman that her
faith saved her and that she
could go in. peace. Our
take away here is that she
came in house feeling dis
tressed because of her iniq
uities, she departed with
joy and inner tranquility of
knowing she had been
unconditionally forgiven.
(David C Cook)
For Your
Consideration: In what
significant ways has God
recently forgiven you?
Why is it appropriate for
believers to show gratitude
to God for saving them?
Life's . Application:
Just because one person
has committed a qualita
tively different kind of sin '
than another does not
change the fact that we all
stand in need of mercy
from a holy and just God
As we consider our own
lives, what burdens of sin
induced guilt and shame do
we find ourselves carrying
in our own hearts? Jesus
sees past our outer circum
stances to the heart of the
matter, and He longs to set
us free from the burden of
our sins. He extends for
giveness - complete,
unconditional, all-out for
giveness - no matter how
horrible the word, deed,
attitude, or thought. Let us ?
then respond in prayer to
Jesus' offer of forgiveness.
I
Dual
from page B5
roots started, not only as a
minister, but as a born
again Christian. He bap
tized me, married me, and I
look to him as a father fig
ure," Monroe went on to
say.
Mt. Olive first opened
its doors in 1909 on South
Ridge Avenue. The church
remained there until 1954,
when it relocated to its cur
rent location due to the
construction of Interstate
40 and U.S. Highway 52.
The Rev. McQuater was
Mt. Olive's first pastor.
Several pastors who pro
gressively brought the
church fprward followed
him. ?
Under the leadership of
Gray, Mt. Olive has reno
vated the building multiple
times, adding additional
seating as well as a large
fellowship hall. The
church has also initiated
new ministries during his
tenure, such as a youth"
department, dance ministry
and a mass choir to name a
few.
"It's a special day, and
after 37 years, they just
come naturally and you
thank God for every
anniversary," said Gray. "I
like to stay humble because
success can hurt you some
times, especially when you
start relying on people and
things and not on God. I
always try to put God first
and depend on him on a
daily basis from year to
year."
During the celebration,
choirs from both Mt. Olive
and Solid Rock sang beau
tiful hymns that seemed to
fill the room with energy.
The anniversary committee
? presented Gray and First
Lady Eula Gray with won
derful gifts of appreciation,
followed by various mem
bers of the congregation
giving cards and gifts as
well.
Monroe preached an
uplifting sermon titled
"Don't MiSs The Shadow,"
which be used to show how
God uses influence to
change our lives in a posi
tive manner and shadows
us in our efforts to do posi
tive things.
Monroe said he was
inspired to write his ser
mon because he thought
about how God used Peter
and he saw the same
anointing in Gray.
"lie has been the pastor
of the same church for 37
years, and not only is he a
model to other young min
isters, he is a model of what
it means to be faithful and
committed," Monroe said
of his admiration for Gray.
After the service, both
Mt. Olive and Solid Rock's
parishioners united in the
fellowship hall for a pre
pared meal.
According to Gray, Mt.
Olive plans to continue to
reach out to the younger
generation because he feels
there is so much to take
them away from the
church. He said the church
has to try and reach them
on their level to bring them
back in.
Dr. CII. Gray and First Lady Eula Gray receive
anniversary gifts during the celebration of Gray's
37th anniversary at the church.
Mock
front page B5
Lipscomb. Third place:
Bridesmaid, Dahlia
Thompson and
Groomsman, Nicholas
Brown. The flower girls
were Genesis Graham and
Morgan Halsey.
The youth of the church
also provided the music for
the mock wedding ceremo
ny with soloist Anaisjah
Williams singing "Usher
Me," Isabella and Lula
Jennings performing "Give
Us This Day" and ChauDre
Gray along with Nicholas
Brown singing "Close to
You." Refreshments were
served in the church fel
lowship hall immediately
following the ceremony.
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
The Rev. Waymon Monroe delivers the sermon dur
ing Mt. Olive's 107th anniversary on Sunday,
April, 3.
=J75=F?p^1
KXJmI Mon-Fri
11-3
c&eta's Restaurant SuHrffll/
102 West 3rd Street, Suhe Lp5
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 12 "4
Phone: (336) 750-0811
ACE
AWARDS
ATHLETIC CELEBRATION
OF EXCELLENCE
Monday, April 25,2016 ? 6pm
K.R. Williams
Semi-formal/Formal attire
$10.001WSSU Students with
Valid Identification are FREE
mi ?? UUL*
I ^
I Come out and enjoy 18 holes of exciting golf on new diamond zoysia greens at
Winston Lake Golf Course. A day Of fun, fellowship and great prizes await all participants.
All proceeds from the classic and silent auction will support the general scholarship fund at WSSU.
So grab a friend or three - and join us
Friday, April 29,2016 for the Golf Tournament.
Dual Shotgun starts at 7:30 am and 1:00 pm
I 4 Player Captain's Choice
~~ . 1 " ~ pepsL
Entry Fee: $180 per person/$630 per team
Includes cart, green fees, souvenirs,
lunch sponsored by Bib's Downtown. y
^ ?
1 & ?
I PRIZES ABOUND! H
Prizes for Guess the Longest Drive and
Magic Ball contests. Win a new car for a
hole-in-one, sponsored by Flow BMW.
Hole-in-one contest sponsored by
Windsor Jewelers. Trophies will be awarded
for winners in the GolfTournament
CHANCELLOR'S
PUTTING BUDDIES
Join us and cheer on our inaugural class of ?
Chancellor's Putting Buddies announced during
lunch. Selected individuals will compete in a I
short putting contest for a chance to win $500
for the WSSU Foundation general scholarship I
fund sponsored by Tournament Promotions.
SCHOLARSHIPS H
WSSU desires to provide financially for students
through scholarship offerings. Opportunities I
such as the Golf Classic will allow access for I
more dedicated, talented and
motivated students.
- f