Forgiveness Chaser

Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” [John 10.37-38]

Jesus could have said He was 'from God' all day long and that would have been one thing. But, Jesus did the works of God and said those works were evidence that He was doing the works of the Father.

I keep thinking about Jesus having indicated earlier that forgiveness and healing were one and the same (Luke 5). Since the miraculous works proved Jesus was God, and the miraculous works were synonymous with forgiveness, then we can easily conclude that God's priority is forgiveness. We can also conclude that our priority is to be forgiveness because Jesus said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God."

This all fits quite well with what we know of God: God is love.

Aren't we thankful that the book of 1 John does not say, "God is judgment"? God does judge, but that is not Who He Is primarily. And, consequently that is not Who He wishes to reveal Himself to us as.

Think about it, if God had been primarily "judge" then Jesus' works on earth would have looked much different! When the Sons of Thunder (James and John) suggested He call fire down from heaven to wipe out the town that rejected them, it would likely have happened! In fact, had Jesus represented God as Judge, most of the Holy Land would have been wiped out in the three years of Jesus' ministry! But that is not what happened - instead, everywhere Jesus went, He healed the sick and raised the dead.

And, for the record here, had God's priority been 'judgment,' Israel would have been wiped out early in the life and times of Moses!

Furthermore, had God wanted to highlight His judgement, Jesus certainly would have fit the erroneous idea many had about Him as coming King: that He would manifest through conquest (judgment) and law. But He didn't. Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. Jesus gave forgiveness - Jesus gave love.

This argument does not suppose that Jesus did not however warn against judgment! Jesus' teaching did very much warn of coming judgment, but His "works" were forgiveness. Oh how wonderfully Jesus revealed God to the world!

Jesus did the works of God and they were evidence that He was from God.

Jesus tells us clearly, through the Bible, that we are to do the works He did (the works of God). Jesus did what He saw the Father do and we are to do what we see Jesus do. And, if seeing in the Bible what Jesus did is not enough for us, we are given the Holy Spirit to make it all happen!

And, again, what are the works of God? Healing, feeding thousands, raising the dead, preaching the Good News... FORGIVENESS makes it all happen because FORGIVENESS is the driving force of God because God is LOVE!

So, if the works of God are not manifest today, what is wrong? Did God change? NO! God's people changed - the power of God quit manifesting as God's people gradually quit forgiving (like Jesus - like God - like they had been shown) and started judging instead.

Am I a miracle-chaser? No, I am a forgiveness chaser (miracles chase and prove forgiveness!).

Oh wow.

Father, show me more and more how to forgive... Oh wait, You already did that - Jesus died on the Cross and even told me I must take up my own cross and follow Him...