Sunday, April 22, 2012

Forgive


How did Jesus love His disciples?  

Let's look at John 13:1-7, 1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
 
He forgave their sin before they even committed it.

Jesus washes feet for two reasons.
1. To give us mercy. He offered mercy before they even sought it.
2. To give us a message. Jesus gives us unconditional grace, and we are to offer unconditional grace also.

Relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished but because the innocent are merciful.
We have three options to deal with hurt: to flee, fight, or forgive.

Be wise today and always - forgive like Jesus.