Forgive like the Father
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times,” (Matthew 18:22).
It happened. Someone you thought to trust has let you down. A friend has suddenly become a foe, and a heart has suddenly broke and slipped into a tide of bitterness. It’s so easy to fall into this mindset and allow it to stir up feelings of resentment and malice towards that specific individual or even life in itself, often producing a host of other problems. This frame of mind makes it simple and justifiable to discount one another. In scripture, Jesus puts a different spin on forgiveness and the reaction we should be willing to take. True forgiveness of others looks passed the pride we have for being right, as well as the judgement against the sin of others.
Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Definitely not an easy pill to swallow, but if we take a look at the Father’s merciful heart towards His people; we will be able to abide in His strength and forgiveness.
First, the following scripture about the adulteress woman.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap Him into saying something they could use against Him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with His finger. They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then He stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Even so, Jesus still loves us at our worst and maintains compassion.
In addition, the events of the cross could have had Jesus in a mindset of revenge and callousness. Matthew 27: 11-12 says,
“Now Jesus was standing before Pilate the Roman Governor, “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.” But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. “Don’t you hear all these charges against you? Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any charges, much of the governor’s surprise.”
Was this a passive “response” from Jesus? Absolutely not, but rather a demonstration of power without undue harshness and understanding the will of the Father.
Similarly, when Jesus was a gruesome figure with little life hanging on the cross, He still had the heart to forgive His prosecutors by asking the Father to forgive them. Despite the mockery and ridicule He said, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing,” (Luke 23:34). Jesus’ heart was still after His children despite the torment they inflicted upon Him.
Another element of forgiveness is the ability to forgive ourselves. The manifestation of unworthiness, rejection, or even sin in general may have the ability to keep our tires spinning with no real productive change. Surrendering our life to Christ generates true freedom where our past is hidden, forgiven and made right with God. It is the story of the Gospel that keeps us refreshed and renewed in Jesus our Saviour.
So, the ability to release someone from obligation or debt comes down to the understanding of God’s merciful character towards us in relation to sin. “In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace,” (Ephesians 1: 7). If we are truly a reflection of Christ, this voluntary choice to forgive shall also be an echo in our own lives.
And so, we leave you with this word,
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
