Total Forgiveness

by Jim Reynolds⁽¹⁴⁾

“If you prick us, do we not bleed?” The cut that Shakespeare’s Shylock was lamenting ran far deeper than a mere surface scratch. As a Jew, he was facing the prejudicial hatred of many, but especially from Antonio, who had spit on him and undercut his business.

Often, our most painful wounds do not cause us to bleed. Not on the outside, anyway. This, as I understand it, is the basis of self-harming practices, such as cutting. It is born in the desire to have control over one’s pain and in the perceived need to match the body’s pain with inner pain. I have a friend who handled things a little differently. He started running, beating his body with the pavement, because “If I’m gonna hurt this much inside, I might as well hurt on the outside also.”

Every wound runs deeper than we know. As an example, if you say something evil to me or spread slander about me, it hurts. Hurts like crazy, depending on the circumstances and my previous relationship to you.

If you’ve endured such experiences, you know it sparks anger and a general feeling of sadness. But, as I said, the wound runs deeper. You also know the words feed your insecurities. Your self-esteem is laid bare. You might feel violated, defensive, despairing, vengeful, or bitter. You might harbor resentment. If the pain climbs too far up the scale, you might feel distracted and unable to focus. I’m not saying any or all of these is true with every injurious word or action. These are simply examples of the wounds inflicted on us that run far beneath the surface.

While hanging on the cross, Jesus used some of His last words to declare something startling. “Father, forgive them, even though they don’t know what they are doing.” Often, we read over these words as just another part of the crucifixion and skip ahead to the resurrection. If we do ponder His words, we remember that the Jews, soldiers, and others gathered near that cross did not know they were killing the Son of God. They didn’t understand how their actions were being worked into cosmic plans.

However, Jesus was offering something far greater. His forgiveness was absolute. It included everything, even the parts His offenders didn’t understand. Jesus could have offered forgiveness for His mistreatment, for the sham of a trial, and even for His unjust death. By calling out as He did, He offered forgiveness for those evils plus everything else. Everything.

The song goes, “I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin up on that cross.” The reason that line is so devastatingly true is I’ll never know all my sin. I’ll never know all the ways I wounded the one I now have the privilege of calling “MY God.” I can keep to the laws and principles of the Bible to the best of my ability. I can avoid all the usual suspects -- lust, drunkenness, bad language, dishonesty – and hold to all the usual disciplines – reading my Bible, praying, trying harder to be holy – and still fall woefully short. Until and unless Holy Spirit reveals it, we don’t know the depth of our perversion, even while performing the noblest works of service. Everything we do is polluted by sin but, because of Jesus’s dying words, all of those sins are totally forgiven.

Before I close, this brings me to an uncomfortable conclusion. The Bible calls on us to “forgive as Christ forgave.” I have strong views when it comes to offering forgiveness. God has given significant and powerful victories in my life because of forgiveness. It is one of the costliest things we are called on to do as believers. Based on Jesus’s words, our forgiveness must go deeper than I had previously thought. In order to experience total freedom and total victory, I must offer total forgiveness, each and every day, if necessary. That would include forgiveness for the obvious surface wounds caused by slander or disloyalty or whatever – for the wrongs my offender knows he or she inflicted. Equally as important, I must, by faith, include forgiveness for the “internal injuries” – the hurts that qualify as “they know not what they do.” Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when He commanded us to “forgive from the heart.” Maybe the strongest healing only comes when we choose to forgive our offender for pain that runs broader and deeper than they ever intended or will likely ever know. No wonder we need so much faith to live out our faith.

Luke 17:3-5 (NIV) – “So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

Walk WITH Jesus,

Jim

Article submitted Friday, February 03, 2012 & read 210 times.

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» left by Marijo Phelps from United States (106 days 10 hours ago.)

Just saw a video by another writer/friend of mine on slander and gossip - this ties right in and is such "good stuff" - can't wait to see your book on RMS! Blessings!!!

» left by Jim Reynolds⁽¹⁴⁾ (106 days 7 hours ago.)

Thanks, Marijo! Yes, the RMS opportunity is very exciting for several of us!

We appreciate your comments!

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