Forgiveness implies sacrifice, humility, and healing. It is lavish and holds nothing back. Two weeks ago I shared why I believe sharing forgiveness is a true sign of Christ living in us. Today I want to share three stories from the Bible that expressly show how God desires us to hold nothing back when it comes to offering forgiveness. He desires us all to live a freely forgiven life without guilt, worry, or shame.
A Brother Wronged: Jacob & Esau— Genesis 32-33
Esau suffered a great injustice by the hand of his own flesh and blood. Jacob, his younger brother, stole Esau’s rightful inheritance. In his shame, Jacob immediately fled for this life to live a life of bondage to his father-in-law, Laban, for twenty years. Then God spoke to Jacob encouraging his return to his homeland. Gripped by fear, he knew he’d have to first make amends with his brother, Esau. Beginning in Genesis 32, Jacob sends a messenger to suss out the situation with gift offerings for Esau. Meanwhile, Jacob nervously prayed for God to save him so that no harm would befall him. Jacob’s wrong against his brother had caught up to him, any wrath from Esau would be deserved, but he knew the time to apologize had come, but how would Esau respond?
Jacob knew Esau planned to meet him with four hundred men. This frightened Jacob to the core, furthering his prayers in the infamous story of Jacob wrestling with God for his blessing. On the day of Jacob’s arrival we find him groveling before Esau, likely thinking he’s about to die. The magnificence of this story is Esau’s response to his brother. He had every right to slay his brother in a vengeful act, but he takes a path of forgiveness; likely enabled by God’s blessing and intervention.
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
Genesis 33:4
Esau did not hold a grudge, take vengeance, or keep his brother from entering the land of their father. Rather he welcomed him, offered to bring him home, and even tried to return the gift of goats and sheep that Jacob hoped would appease his brother’s anger. Esau didn’t want the gifts, he wanted his brother back and welcomed him with open arms and abundant love–no questions asked.
Jacob sacrificed for forgiveness. He gave up livestock as a visual representation, but on a spiritual note, his encounter with God in prayer caused him to lose mobility. He needed God’s help for his wrong to be made right. He knew the restoration of his relationship with Esau needed God’s blessing. When seeking forgiveness, we must also be humble. Jacob’s humility before Esau probably looked more like groveling in the dirt (33:3). The sacrifice and humility offered for forgiveness brought healing to a relationship that had once been severed. Esau’s response to his brother expresses a joy found through sincere, audacious forgiveness.
Reflection:
- Have you been wronged by someone? If that person has never apologized to you, can you find room in your heart to forgive them? Could you speak to them about the hurt in order to find healing?
- Have you wronged someone? Have you made the sacrifice of humility and sought forgiveness? Why or why not?
- Christ came to restore the broken parts of our world, relationships are central to restoring the brokenness among humankind. How are your relationships? Are there any in which you could lavish more love, or sacrifice more to strengthen them?
A Selfish Act: Prodigal Son— Luke 15:11-32
Children have perfected the art of asking for more than necessary from their parents. Parents
Like Jacob, knowing it was time to make right his wrong, this young man prepares how he will approach his father–hoping these conjured words of remorse will appease his father’s anger, “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’” (Luke 15:18-19) He prepared to grovel and humble because he recognized his mistake needed a sacrifice for forgiveness; in this case indentured servitude.
Like Esau, the father surprises us. Rather than lashing out at his son saying “I told you so,” or demanding where he had been, or why he looked like a pig, he didn’t even allow his son to share his prepared speech. The moment he saw his son returning in the distance, like Esau, he ran– “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (vs. 20) Nothing could contain his love for his son. No
Reflection:
- Have you selfishly taken advantage of someone in a relationship? Perhaps you have taken more than you have given and caused a rift. Consider how you could approach them with humility and seek reconciliation.
- When you feel wronged and say you forgive someone, are you lavish with your response or do you still hold on to the hurt? Do you expect them to grovel until you feel they have truly felt sorry? Is this how you want God to forgive you?
- This story parallels with God’s love for us. We, having gone astray and squandered our eternal inheritance, need forgiveness. If God does not withhold his love and forgiveness from us when we return home, who are we to withhold that same grace, mercy from others?
Forgiveness giver: A paralyzed man & the Holy Spirit—Mark 2: 1-12
Personally, I’ve been dealing with physical pain that the more I pursue medical help for the fewer answers I get and the more disheartened I become. At a certain
This story is different but equally important in forming our foundation for forgiveness. It connects with John 20:19-31 where Jesus breathes on the disciples granting them, through the Holy Spirit, the authority to forgive sins. Again we find ourselves asking, what does forgiveness of sin have to do with healing? Furthermore, only God has the authority to forgive sin and to heal. Jesus came to change our world, and change us by way of forgiveness–he’s given us to the power to do even greater things than himself.
Jesus goes on to heal the paralyzed man after the act of forgiveness to show us forgiveness is the beginning of healing. This caused rifts because only God forgives, but he’s making a statement to show us that we too will be able to forgive too. Christ’s final and lavishly humiliating act of love on earth was forgiveness through the cross thus enacting the overarching forgiveness of sin for all humankind. The resurrection finalizing power over death and ushering the Holy Spirit to guide us in the way of forgiveness and healing. In John Jesus is essentially giving a group lesson on how to live by the Spirit. He breathes his Spirit into them and then commands them to forgive others and go forth with peace and healing. This same Spirit indwells us crossbearers. We now have the power to forgive, which brings healing to our relationships, communities, and world. We have the power to be humble, live sacrificially, and freely forgive like Christ in order to see healing on earth.
Forgiveness is a sign of Christ living in us; a marker of the cross over our lives; a
Our social life shouldn’t be filled with broken relationships. We should no longer hold grudges or treat others with contempt. The cross is restorative, therefore we should be living restoratively wherever we go.
Reflection:
- Do you consider yourself a follower of Jesus? If so, are you living in the spirit of forgiveness and love? Do you aim to bring restoration wherever you go or do you bring dissension and brokenness?
- We’ve been given the ability to forgive others through the authority God has given us by the Holy Spirit. What areas do you struggle with concerning forgiveness? Is it the fear of first steps like Jacob, the act of being humble, perhaps making a fool of yourself, or do you not want to make the necessary sacrifices? How might God want to grow you in this area to live more like him; being compassionate and lavish with forgiveness?
Forgiveness isn’t easy, we are still learning. One of the best ways to learn and grow is in community and that is what I hope to foster as we journey along the wandering way. Always feel welcomed to share your story.
1 thought on “Three Tales of Forgiveness”
Comments are closed.