What Is Forgiveness?
Good Morning Friends,
There are transitions going on in today’s lectionary text from both the Old and New Testaments. But it may be a mistake to even connect them. One is about unlimited forgiveness of Jesus and the other about a miraculous entry of Joshua into the Promised Land with the Ark of the Covenant as the Israelites, without much of a forgiving heart, begin driving out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites and Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites from the land God is claiming for them. So, today we consider what our future will be. We consider the full extent of the promise and the law and the full extent of grace. Today in the difficulty of facing the reality of the history of our own nation we seek to understand there are not always moral equivalents that balance the events of this world. And so, we seek the proper response to the question: What Is Forgiveness?
Scripture: The Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'” Joshua then said to the Israelites, “Draw near and hear the words of the Lord your God.” Joshua said, “By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap.” When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.
Joshua 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17 (NRSV)
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 18:21-19:1 (NRSV)
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled.
Hebrews 12:15 (NRSV)
Message: It is all such a new and exciting and somewhat painful and somewhat foreign thing extending forgiveness into new territories. But I am not sure what to write about here given the recent riots involving racism and the reality that the county adjacent to where I live is named after Robert E. Lee. We see people today hurting each other, not showing mercy but quick to always be accelerating to action without proper reflection. The reality is that hurting people hurt people! The reality is that people who feel that their voice is being taken away are prone to anger. Hebrews 12:15 comes to mind as guidance. There is the possibility of peace on the one hand and war on the other. Perhaps it is beyond my understanding, but if I were choosing I think forgiveness and peace would be the better selection. But it is not nearly so simple. Sure, we should have forgiven more than we have but let’s face it, too few will go the distance when it comes to forgiveness. For really, most of us have not passed this way before to the extent suggested by Jesus. In the end, we want a victory and claiming it seems the easier path. Interestingly, though there is a commonality in today’s scriptures. It is the miracle of the parting of the waters as an act and sign associated with forgiveness. The miraculous power of God is manifested in both. And here we see the rewards, requirements, the reason and the realities of miracles. And here we see the rewards, requirements, the reason and the realities of forgiveness. The miracle in Joshua is of the Jordan River parting as a sign the sin prompting the wandering in the desert has been forgiven. The miracle in Matthew is of the King forgiving and the problems that occur when we fail to extend that forgiveness. If we take an honest look at forgiveness, it is at its heart allowing God into every area of one’s life. So, what is forgiveness? It is typically defined as a process for getting rid of resentment, indignation, or anger because of a personal offense, difference, or mistake, and ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. Oxford dictionary defines it as “grant free pardon.” Forgiveness is a pardon. That is why Peter in today’s passage thought that if he told Jesus seven times that God would be pleased, and was surprised that Jesus said 70 x7. Friends, freedom and forgiveness comes at a price. Freedom because someone else paid the price. Forgiveness because Jesus paid the price. Many have died for our country. But one died for our souls! For to truly understand forgiveness, we must understand God’s forgiveness. Being Christian has never been about being better than others. Being Christian has always been about being different. Christians should understand the great cost of our forgiveness. It is not easy and sometimes takes time an long time. This commitment took Jesus to the cross, it cost Him his life. It is not holier than thou, better than you situation. We need to focus with the reality or our gratitude of coming to Jesus with a debt we could not pay and us being forgiven. So, friends, we have been forgiven by God. We have been freed in all ways that matter. So, now we think about what we are going to do about it. We think about whether we are going to build up, tear down or transform. We think about forgiving and discover we really need God’s help so that our forgiving can become true living.
Pray we appreciate God’s undeniable leadership in freeing us and forgiving us. Pray we realize that both faith and forgiveness are miracles. Pray we get ready for a new season that will change our lives forever. Pray we walk through life’s transitions with grace. Pray we risk enough to forgive. Pray we not be wicked. Pray we forgive from the heart. Pray we have received grace so that we might bestow it. Pray we cross over into new thinking that realizes that God’s plan is for spiritual victory. Pray we love the Lord more that we love the land. Pray we get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Pray we be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave. Pray we are transformed. Pray we claim the promises of God’s Word. Pray we live a victorious Christian life. Pray we cross over to live a spiritual victory.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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