I read many stories of forgiveness that results in reconciliation…. But in reality, forgiveness is often one sided. Forgiveness is messy. Jesus spoke on the cross, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” And they crucified him anyway. Sometimes a person hurts you and they don’t even know it, or they blame you, or they don’t care. Sometimes you can’t forgive yourself. Sometimes, you are harder on yourself than God is…
Today we continue with the imperfect family of Jesus ~ character studies from Jesus’ family tree in Matthew 1. Today King Manasseh. Manasseh is the son of Hezekiah, the King Chad preached about last Sunday. Manasseh was king for 55 years. As we study Manasseh there is a wrinkle that is hard to reconcile. He is considered to be one of the most evil of all kings, yet towards the end of his life he gives his heart to God. The story of Manasseh is a story of messy forgiveness. What I mean by that is that the forgiveness and transformation is real ~ Manasseh really does become a God follower, but on earth the damage is so profound of the sinful life that the damage cannot be undone. Messy forgiveness is when God forgives you, but the consequences of the sinful life is so profound it’s hard for the living to let the past go. Messy forgiveness takes place when you desperately want to forgive somebody, but the person who has hurt you wants nothing to do with you. A disconnect. Or maybe it’s the parent that abused the child and the parent has now died. Messy forgiveness is when you want to forgive the other person but they are not cooperating.
Today we continue with the imperfect family of Jesus ~ character studies from Jesus’ family tree in Matthew 1. Today King Manasseh. Manasseh is the son of Hezekiah, the King Chad preached about last Sunday. Manasseh was king for 55 years. As we study Manasseh there is a wrinkle that is hard to reconcile. He is considered to be one of the most evil of all kings, yet towards the end of his life he gives his heart to God. The story of Manasseh is a story of messy forgiveness. What I mean by that is that the forgiveness and transformation is real ~ Manasseh really does become a God follower, but on earth the damage is so profound of the sinful life that the damage cannot be undone. Messy forgiveness is when God forgives you, but the consequences of the sinful life is so profound it’s hard for the living to let the past go. Messy forgiveness takes place when you desperately want to forgive somebody, but the person who has hurt you wants nothing to do with you. A disconnect. Or maybe it’s the parent that abused the child and the parent has now died. Messy forgiveness is when you want to forgive the other person but they are not cooperating.
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