Radical Forgiveness

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

31Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
" 'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'[b] 32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
33Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

34"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

35But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

Gethsemane

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Jesus Arrested

47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."[c]- Matthew 26:33-50

Friday morning as Brad and I had devotions together, we talked about Jesus' radical forgiveness in these verses. Jesus knew that Peter would betray him. Jesus saw his friends fall asleep time and again at one of the most difficult times in his life. Jesus saw Judas coming towards him to betray him. But he forgave them all.

And not with a surface forgiveness, but real forgiveness, calling them friend, assuring them of His love and the promise that would hold true for them, inviting them still to come along and follow Him.

I feel that sometimes it's easy for us to exhibit surface forgiveness. The words come so easy: "It's ok. I forgive you. It's alright." But, it's not really all forgiven until we can say that we can forget it... or at least not refer to the incident. Really what it means is that your love for the other person far outweighs any hurt that was caused, so much so that it just doesn't matter any more.

Brad and I forgave each other... for past hurts that we unknowingly had been carrying a piece of. Forgiveness, that radical forgiveness that Jesus showed us, is what will get us through, I'm sure of it.

The speaker the other night said that 'Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.' I've heard Pastor Shreckhise talk of it as carrying around a bowling ball on top of your head. Jesus asks us to put it down. Ask yourself, why are you carrying it? Does it matter any more? And think of that love... for others that outweighs that bowling ball by so much. Your love for others, but more importantly, your love for God... because He is the one that calls us to love one another, as He has loved us.