“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
As we talked about the idea of forgiveness, my mind was drawn to the passage above. I know. That seems to have nothing to do with forgiveness, but let me explain. There is forgiveness, and then there is forgiveness. Allow me to use the Apostle Peter to illustrate.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus came into a world that had been dominated by adherence to the Law for some 1400 years. If there was ever a case of “open mouth, insert foot”, it was Peter. He never lacked zeal, but often jumped off the pier before seeing if the tide was in or out. It was the teaching of the rabbis of that time, citing Amos 1:3-13. that the Law required to forgive someone three times. After that, you were free to go your own way. So Peter was making himself look especially compassionate by speaking of seven forgivings. He expected Jesus to commend him, but instead, Jesus confounded him by telling Peter that 490 times was the more accurate number. Essentially, Jesus was telling Peter that bestowing forgiveness was a never ending duty. A phrase that Jesus repeated a number of times was, “I desire mercy not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6.) Sacrifice is a condition of the mind, but mercy is a condition of the heart.
I called today’s post “The Process” because forgiveness likely needs to be a process. It is far too easy to tell someone you forgive them, never allowing that forgiveness to reach your heart. That poses as a sacrifice. It often isn’t lasting. If I am setting out to forgive someone, I really need to sit down and consider what I am trying to do. That ball and chain attached to the ankle of the man in the picture portrays my condition when I am harboring unresolved anger. Jesus wants to remove that burden from me. In order for me to do that, I need to let the truth of what Jesus did for me reach my heart.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Jesus came for me long before I came to Him, and at a time when I was still undeserving. At the end of the Parable (or story) of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says this.
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37
That is our calling (-B
by Bruce Hanson
