Forgiveness that Jesus Applauds
Imagine Jesus, the King of Kings, giving you a standing ovation! Cheering for you! Clapping his hands and saying, “I’m proud of you!” There is a secret place in the Bible – hidden in plain sight – where you and I can learn how to make this happen for us. And what could possibly be better?
But for just this paragraph, let’s think about the very opposite of a standing ovation – which is when we are sitting. Most meals and business meetings won’t start until everyone is seated. We even have “sitting names” for people in power such as, “the sitting president,” and most of us see God sitting on his throne, “high and lifted up in heaven” (Isaiah 6:1). Likewise, the Bible tells us how “Jesus is seated at the right hand of God” (Luke 22:69 and Colossians 3:1).
With all this sitting and standing in mind, let’s go to the book of Acts in the Bible where we’ll see the Apostle Stephen who had been arrested and was brought before the Sanhedrin. These were supreme religious, educational, and political leaders of the day and they were mad as hell at Stephen. The Bible says they “gnashed their teeth at him” (Acts 7:54).
They must have thought, “Who did this man think he was to be among the people proclaiming that Jesus – whom they had crucified – was now alive.” In their minds, they knew Jesus had given them plenty of grief while he was alive and now this man, Stephen, was trying to make Jesus into more than a martyr – by saying Jesus is the son of God.
Notice how the Bible says just before they stoned him to death, Stephen “looked up to heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55-56). That’s right, Jesus was not sitting. HE WAS STANDING!
Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” right before he died. If that sounds familiar, you’re right because in the same way, when Jesus was dying on the cross, he cried out, “Father, forgive them.”
Notice how neither one of these men said, “I forgive you” but instead, perhaps inside of their own pain, they needed strength from God, so they both cried out to him for help. They prayed.
It was not inside their own strength, but it was inside of God’s strength that they were able to forgive. And what a remarkable lesson for us when we have been wronged, betrayed, or offended.
Yes, Jesus stood next to God and gave Stephen a standing ovation! The King of Kings, normally seated at the right hand of God, stood out of respect for Stephen. What a sight. What a “way to go!” from Jesus. Can we even imagine a greater sight than our Lord and Savior giving us a standing ovation, because we are filled with his Spirit and have asked for his forgiveness for others.
Yes, our King who died to forgive us, asks us to forgive others. He’ll fill us with the Holy Spirit, and even stand in applause when we do so! So today, let’s hear heaven thunder with applause. Let’s decide, right now, and perhaps in the middle of being terribly hurt or offended, “Who can I ask Jesus to forgive on my behalf?”
Will you pray out loud with me: “Dear Jesus, please forgive _________” and say their name. Then ask yourself, “Why not decide to become a world class forgiver starting today.” It will truly set you free!
