It is All About Forgiveness

June 12, 2016

It is at the dinner and Jesus forgives the sins of an outsider.  Some of the guests immediately question the power of Jesus to forgive sins.  Is it out of jealousy?  Is it because they themselves did not think to forgive?  Were their hearts hardened to the person?   It could be a lot of things, but one thing remains—Jesus walked the earth as a person of forgiveness.  His life-giving act reveals that for all ages.  But what holds us back from forgiveness?   Jesus is quick to point out that the greater the sin, the greater the experience and depth of forgiveness that may be experienced.  Now this is not an invitation to become a fantastic and ruthless sinner.  The reality is that God will go deeper in love than the greatest sin.  God will go deeper in love than any power of evil.  His sacrifice on the cross paid the ultimate price.  Nothing can overcome the self-emptying of that surrendering act when He gave Himself to the will of the Father.  What holds us back?  What holds us back from offering forgiveness and what holds us back from trusting forgiveness?

True experience of forgiveness is life-giving.  True experience of healing from a pain that has festered for years is life-changing.  The most powerful words in a relationship are when one utters “I forgive you”.  When was it that we felt the healing of forgiveness?  When was it when we missed a moment to say we are sorry?

Who has the power to forgive?  We all do.

Rev. John J. Ouper