Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Who is this man?
Who just goes around forgiving sins?
Who says to the guilty, ‘go in peace.’?
Who holds nothing against me?
Always, when I am forgiven by humans, I walk away with suspicious, reluctant relief. As if the anger is appeased for now, but only for now. I owe something. The issue isn’t over.
I do not go in peace. When is the issue EVER settled among humans?
But with You, it is, just like that.
When You forgive, the disruption is over, so that the one given forgiveness (for it is a gift), may walk away unruffled, unconcerned, knowing they have lasting peace with You.
We are held to a standard of grace, not perfection, that we may walk away at peace when forgiveness readily crosses your lips.
You are still the one that goes around forgiving sins.
Lord-
Thank you for offering me grace over and over and over. Thank you for setting aside my shame, for stripping it of its grip on me.
Show me how to offer this grace to other people. Show me how to hold others to this sweet standard of ‘I will forgive you, no matter what.’
Show me how to accept it for myself, and so live,
happily imperfect,
shameless,
free of burden,
delighting in a good, good Savior,
intriguing others to ask,
‘Who is this, who goes around forgiving sins?’
dig deep | draw close 