Matthew 18:21-19:2
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[a monetary unit worth 20 years' salary] 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,[a day wage] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[torturers] until he should pay all his debt.
35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you,
if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
19 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
And He healed them there
The true feeling of forgiveness is exactly the same as the one we all experienced as a child, when we would swim underwater
and
come up gasping for air.
and
come up gasping for air.
The true feeling of being forgiven is the same.
Alleluia, Alleluia. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia !!!
Given a choice. Are you in peace? Please stop reading.
With the understanding, the Book of Acts, tells how easy Faith is. Daily many believed in the Salvation of Jesus Christ and were saved. The truth is reading the Scriptures is easy and once belief and gratitude are professed and held on to - Salvation - Free Gift of Jesus is a free gift - easily attained - eternally, amazingly, appreciated and held with Joy, Faith, and Love.
Thus ended the Lesson.
In Great Heart Ache? In Sorrow of Suffering? In Trauma and confusion? Taken advantage of?
Forgiveness is a Process with discernible steps and reasoning. Prayer. Process. Peace. Joy. Forgiveness.
1 Thessalonians 3
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, 13 so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
God tells us not to weary of doing Good. The Joy of God is our Strength.
He is a very Present Help in times of Trouble.
He will not leave nor forsake those who Cry out for Him!
He reminds us we are bought at a Price. We will hold on to Jesus and be confident in times of Trouble to Approach the Throne of Grace.
We do not want Him to deny this for others.
I am told not to quit
I believe in the Wheat Field. I believe in the umbrella of Grace
I believe in Salvation in Jesus.
I am too flawed to do this alone.
God only works with sinners, because this is what we are.
The Word of God is our Way.
A Light to our Feet.
Understanding Life from the Vast Knowledge of a Living and Powerful, Compassionate Father who knows when a sparrow falls.
We cannot build a Universe. We are mortal. God will help us. Not by an example of you are wrong to hurt. Not by saying our hurt causes God to fail. Prayer and help received. Laying down the right to revenge. Learning. Becoming stronger instead of festering. Realizing our Savior, our God always is good to be at our level and we do not obtain His.
Begin knowing God is Father of us all.
Father God being Father of All and Creator of All Things puts the light of Jesus in all of mankind.
This Light is in and available to Judas, Caiaphas, and Ananias. Caiaphas had a beautiful sarcophagus and in his sarcophagus were found only two things - two crucifixion used nails. Not even dust.
The Light of Christ is found in the multitude of women who turned out to mourn the passing of - The Greatest Man to Walk This Planet. Jesus the Christ of God. The Light of God is found in Mary, Mother of God. His Aunt. Mary Magdalene. And John.
Jacob gave us the example in forgiving his sons, without apology from them, for conspiring against him to grieve the loss of his son, Joseph. Reuben carried his innocence to guilt and, then much guiltier. Jacob acknowledged this. Jacob dealt honestly with forgiveness in his blessings.
Jesus was honest in His Forgiveness. The process of forgiveness in the Prodigal Son has time. Time to sell the land, time to waste the inheritance, time to have and experience the loss, time to flounder, time to travel home. Time for the Father to miss the son, to see the son in the distance. The whole process is God's. And ours. And is really about process time given.
Jesus tells us there is wheat and weed. And we are not responsible to judge, but are responsible to forgive.
Now let's be more frank. Be real. Be honest.
God dwells here. The Truth.
Judas died. He probably committed suicide and Judas probably hung there until he fell over. This encompasses both parts of the Word of God. Frankly, I worry about people who defend that man. There is nothing good about doing this thing to anyone and even completely worse to the Lamb of God. This Jesus is the unblemished Lamb of God. Jesus did Acts of God continuously. Judas was not uninformed.
And Judas was one of the forgiven from the Cross of Jesus Christ. How Father God deals with this is the business of - God Himself.
Judas saw he preferred power, influence, money and position over Jesus. Forget Love that travels to heal, nourish, comfort. Forget Acts and Wonders of Love = God. Sin - shove off God I'm in. Judas also demonstrated he was not going to change. This was the path.
Caiaphas and Ananias. The plotters and malcontents of the Talmud writers and the Sanhedrin Council who were called that Friday Night (omitting those who would not help their plan to sacrifice Jesus for the sake of the Nation). Jesus appeared to 500. And yet, Jesus is not one who, when the Prophets rose from the Tombs and returned to Jerusalem to proclaim His Victory over Death. Jesus the Lord did not return to them, nor to the Temple, to say This Is HIS Temple and Jesus the Messiah.
Jesus Is Victorious.
Instead we learn in the Book of Acts the multitude explained by Josephus, Josephus tells us is between 1 and 2 million population in High Festival - the Multitude takes over the Temple to Witness to the Victory of Jesus the Christ of God.
Caiaphas leaves a statement that was opened in 1960 A. D. Death and punishment. Two used crcrucifixion nails. Justice without mercy. Personal power.
Jesus took a step of Faith. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." "
Jesus trusted God would Forgive.
The Disciples. 10 of them died proclaiming Jesus as God and were martyred. Paul died and he persecuted the people of Jesus. Forgiveness was Given. Appreciated. Needed. They are not recorded as going to Jesus to ask. Probably because this was so very horrendous and they felt they deserved no forgiveness. And the Grace upon Grace of the True God willingly gave. This is, of course, an unusual case as this - Jesus is the Son of God.
Relationship. This importantly says something about the cost of brokeness and the true path of reconciliation in going forward in relationship. This assumes we are the sinner. The Work of Redemption. This does away with the concept of Cheap Grace. Jesus as our waiter. Boundaries are put up. Stop. Look. Listen. If the cost of damage is going to cost - do not damage. If the cost to recovery is great - keep going.
The Disciple legacy is of Love. Empowering Love changes a World. God's Will.
The multitude. The people who yelled "Crucify Him." The people who were healed, fed, nourished and failed to show up to help. The people who would not gather to mourn with Jesus at this dire time. This generation did not perish. Jerusalem was not sacked until 70 A.D. - Jesus would have been gone about then of natural old age. God protected the generation Jesus worked so hard for. Forgiven. Father God honors His Son's request for forgiveness. Thank Jesus Christ, God Almighty - for me and for you.
And in Victory of Forgiveness - we will discuss this more. This is Wonderful.
John. Wow. The Beloved Disciple kept Mary the Mother of God out of the fray. Simeon told us of her heart ache to happen.
John spends the rest of his life proclaiming the Victory of Love. And fully sees as he is in life - there is evil in the world. There is Joy.
John is fully recorded in reliable history to be alive and in vibrant life in the beginning of the 100 A.D. era. Blessings for treating the Son of God - as He should be treated and Loved. Steadfast Love.
The honest part is these are levels we can relate to in our heart aches.
This is given to us for our learning.
Seeing we can leaning upon God and learning His Great Mercies.
Health.
Joshua is told to said be centered on God. Not to far to the right, not to far to the left. Joshua had to forgive the men who in fear failed to do the Will of God. For years? For 40 years and cost Joshua much of his life loafing around in the Desert with people who failed. He had spent time with people who fear. And this can be contagious. He arrives in a new season, being told to trust, and told not to fear. Beautiful. Trust again.
Matthew 18:22
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Was Jesus, Son of God kidding? No. Not at all. Be forgiving. And then stop. Forget this situation. God says leave one town, go on to the next.
Jesus and the Disciples did not keep trying with Caiaphas. Father God has never asked us to help Him Judge another or to spend time sweating their final outcome except in prayer. But God certainly said understand fruit and be innocent as doves and wise as a serpent. No one tried to stand in front of the pigs running to their death.
Turn the other cheek. Many time the Bible and Jesus did use humor. Not to be crass. To lighten the load, the burden, the struggle. I am sure God meant, walk away from the ridiculous, unending battle. Turn the other cheek and walk.
Joel Olsteen is so truthful and humorous. He says Pray for your enemy. And ask them to be blessed in abundance - Way Over There. I can see that Jesus would find this really refreshing and completely honest.
We can safely place our burdens with Jesus.
We tighten into knots, worry, have anxiety. So many boundaries are placed by God. The Hand of Blessing and the Hand of Woe. Solomon says God offers us both. We have to have the humility to say Life is a Work in Progress and I want to bring Jesus my soul and say oops with please help. Thank You for forgiveness. We will be given far more in eternity than we could ever come close to earning. A free gift of Salvation.
Father God tells us we all have gifts and abilities. We all have our place in the Body of Christ. This is grand acknowledgement - God loves who we are - TODAY.
Let go of grudge space and let the Light of Jesus Christ enfold you - as the process allows. God will help us forgive and be at peace - we just have to ask and want the Peace of God. A process of God in the Journey He Gives us. Homecoming - to get back to our Father - Who runs to see us - coming - Home.
Luke 15:201
"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."
We all need the Grace of God.
Cost of sin. Cost of recovery. Boundaries. Clarity in the vision of the relationship. The Goal of God's Love.
+
Forgiving God our troubles. Solomon said our troubles and blessings come from God. Intentionally to have us grow. Find the Narrow Path.
John 21. Jesus Victorious returns from the ...grave. What is defeated? Death. A new Heaven and a new earth. At tremendous cost of the Unblemished Lamb of God. Breakfast with the Lord of Lords. King of Kings and ... people. A squabble over the eternal life of John. People are going to be people and Jesus is not surprised. Or horribly offended.
Now Jesus gave humor a lot in the Gospels. Love is going to bounce. But we have to keep picking up the precious Jewels of God. The Pearl without blemish - worthy.
Jesus says the True Abundant Life is narrow.
72 Disciples. 2 asked for fire. 70 Disciples. Now that is humor. But then again, one Gospel records 72 and 2 asked for fire of Judgment and another Gospel records 70. Beware of asking for fire. Seriously.
Jesus says Communion is eating His Body and Blood. And 70 disciples basically depart. This is gross and uncomfortable, Jesus looks off center. (The Son of Man with blind seeing, deaf hearing... wow good judgment call there, huh.)
And then 11 Disciples depart. Salome and the Brothers of Christ Depart.
And we are left with John, Mary, two more Mary's and an Aunt of Jesus through Mary. That is a narrow gate. And multitudes of women who are very, very sorrowful.
The path has narrowed indeed, indeed, indeed.
We are all working on the effort of building. Unless we just sit and bemoan life. Fritter away.
Relationship has effort, cost and determination.
Jesus was rebuilding.
Jesus chose his Disciples again. As they really are. He expected work of them. Jesus is known to have taken back some of the 70. We call them Mark, Luke, Titus, and others. Jesus added in - Brothers of Christ Jesus. 500 included those who were willing to go back and give thanks like that one leper out of 10.
Jesus chose Forgiveness. Some were regathered. And multitudes chose to storm the Temple, the Outer Temple and the dispersion began. The world saw radical change without a system of media in 16 years - to the top - the Emperor of Rome was shaken. (Just like Luke 3 - Miracles happen - people want stability - Herods start grabbing power and position).(We call this the nature of mankind and the response of God to all this mess is God sees inside and determines to save those professing and having relationship with Jesus Christ.)
And in flawed mankind, the Disciples start having management issues. Paul and Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) fight over that lazy John Mark. Barnabas urges Forgiveness. And in Forgiveness - People have renewal.
David was not welcomed in as God's anointed - until God said tada. When David was to be crowned. But even that set or circumstances had hitches and glitches. David was beloved of God. David welcomed those who had been chilly. And in Renewal of Love, The Nation of Israel Rose.
The business of God is Salvation. Salvation is a Work of GOD. God calls this Forgiveness.
Thanks be to God for the Salvation of Jesus Christ. We were bought with a price and we will go forth in the Joy of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Righteousness. God is God. We let God be God. And we trust in Him. And pray and live, move and have our dwelling in His Love and Goodness. Celebrate Jesus.
Father God,
Your Grace upon Grace. We rely on Jesus' Righteousness. This is our Hope. Jesus Christ. For us, for the people we love. For our Nation. For the news we mourn and cheer of the world. This is where Jesus wants to Save.
We lift up our sins to Jesus and we lift up the sins of others and we trust God to be God and we work in His Grace. Looking to the Joy of Jesus as our strength for ourselves and for others. Taking in deep breaths of forgiveness and being merciful and gracious to others.
For the process He has placed, Help us Father, we call on Jesus. Today and Tomorrow. Jesus will not fail us.
We don't have to rest on knowledge. God provides Himself. God is Love. Lift up Your Countenance Father God and we will be Saved!
Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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