The Authority To Forgive

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. [John 17.22]

How did Jesus do all the stuff He did? Why was He able to do it?

Because God had given Him His (God's) glory.

So, what did Jesus do? Well,...

He preached the Good News.

He healed the sick.

He raised the dead.

He was a friend to sinners.

He forgave.

God's glory upon Jesus enabled Jesus - authorized Jesus - to do every thing He did. Think about it... Jesus said God's glory made Him one with God (so they may be one as we are one) and that oneness with God was manifested in the life and ministry of Jesus.

Jesus has given that glory to us! That same glory then makes us one with God.

Continue to think about it... What does that mean?

We should preach the Good News.

We should heal the sick.

We should raise the dead.

We should befriend sinners.

We should forgive.

Jesus brought the Kingdom of God. We are to bring the Kingdom of God.

Jesus preached the Good News. We are to preach the Good News.

Jesus healed the sick. We are to heal the sick.

Jesus raised the dead. We are to raise the dead.

Jesus was a friend to sinners. We are to be friends to sinners.

Jesus forgave. We are to forgive.

I think it is the authority to forgive that makes all the rest of it possible. The curse is responsible for everything overcame by Jesus' miracles - the curse caused bad news, sickness, death, isolation. When accosted about it, Jesus made it very clear that His miracles were one and the same with His forgiveness - God's forgiveness.

So, why did Jesus repeat Himself about forgiveness when He taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6? It would seem that forgiveness is the key. Jesus gave us the clue that forgiveness is essential. We cannot represent anything of God unless we forgive... not to mention that we are unforgiven if we do not forgive.

Wow.

Father, I want to forgive because that, more than anything else, reveals Your glory upon me. And, it releases all Your power through my life and ministry.