“God wants to forgive”
RUMC
5/16/2010
Do you think you could forgive someone for killing someone you love?
Ed was the associate pastor at Bettendorf Asbury when we started attending there. At 6-10 you could spot Pastor Ed towering over almost everyone in the congregation. He fit right in with the Harlem Globetrotters when he worked as their business manager for a number of years.
Ed was a big man for another reason. In 1972, when Ed was 21 his father was gunned down in the Shamrock tavern in Davenport, Iowa. A gang of kids from across the river in Rock Island killed him when he ran in to get a beer for himself and a Pepsi for his wife. Sherman White was the first of the accused to stand trial. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Still scarred by his father’s death, of course, Ed went on with his life. Eventually he was called into the ministry and developed a tremendous ministry with alcoholics- a struggle he knew very personally. I wasn’t in the Saturday night service in which Ed decided that he would forgive Sherman White. I remember, however, being stunned when he shared the news on Sunday morning when he announced that he was going to the prison to visit and forgive his father’s killer.
In the mean time, the courts had thrown out White’s conviction because new evidence surfaced showing that he was merely a lookout that night- not a gunman. Ed not only visited Mr. White and forgave him for his part in the killing, but advocated for his release from prison. Then the real shocker: Ed offered to let him come live in his home when he was released. I remember the first Sunday Ed brought him to church to introduce his new friend. After serving 28 years for his role in killing his father, after forgiving him, Ed took Sherman White into his home to help him get on his feet.
FORGIVENESS
We don’t know what happened to the man in this story from Mark. Maybe he was paralyzed by an accident. Maybe he was born that way. Maybe he was hurt while he was showing off or doing something really stupid. Either way it must have seemed like a lifetime of imprisonment in a body that would not run, or stand or even move. The doctors were powerless; the most advanced medical technology of the first century had not been able to repair the damage that had been done. He seemed doomed to a life sentence on his cot.
One day his friends picked him and took him to Capernaum where they heard Jesus had been preaching. They knew the doctors said it was hopeless, they knew that the best technology had failed. They knew that it was a long shot- but they believed if ANYONE could help-, it would be Jesus.
It took longer than they thought to get there and they were late. When they looked down the street there was already a huge crowd spilling out into the yard and even the street. Disheartened they stood watching. They could hear his voice and something kept drawing them nearer. They came to the edge of the crowd and could not get through. They worked their way around the outside of the mob. Trying to get as close as they could, they climbed a fence and on top of the shed and finally made their way to the roof.
They pulled the man up using some rope they found. While they were sitting there listening to Jesus, one friend’s foot pushed through the stick and mud and grass roof. Embarrassed he pulled it back real quick hoping no one had noticed.
He looked through the hole and saw that they were right over Jesus head. If we could just get him to Jesus he would help, he thought. That is when he had an idea. He started digging through the roof. He parted the grass, loosened the mud, and pulled out a stick. The friends started doing the same and soon they had a hole big enough to lower their friend using the same roped with which they had raised him to the roof.
The clamor did not go unnoticed, but Jesus seemed to understand and motioned to leave them alone. Jesus watched the stretcher come down from the ceiling. The crowd buzzed with accusations and snide remarks about these vandals and how they would pay for their damage and how disrespectful they were. They said this man doesn’t belong here, and he is disturbing the master’s teaching and they ruined the roof. You can imagine the things people said.
Jesus just looked at the man who lay in front of him. He bent down and said loud enough for others to hear, “Your sins are forgiven.”
What did he say? - Sins forgiven? Sins for given! What sins? That’s blaspheme. He can’t do that. Can he do that? What does he mean? What is he doing? He can’t forgive sins. Only God can do that! What did he say? Did he say sins? The murmuring rose to a loud buzz.
Jesus said, “You doubt that I can forgive sins? Watch this. . . Pick up your bed and walk home.” There was silence as one toe moved a little. Then a foot and the other foot, then a knee and the man shifted his position. He raised his legs and slid them over the side of the stretcher. Slowly, feebly, weakly, tentatively; he squatted, then crouched, then stooped, and finally stood up steadying himself on Jesus arm for he had not stood for a long time. He shook one leg, stretched the other, picked up his bed and the crowd parted. He walked out of the house, not only healed physically, but also freed and forgiven spiritually. What a day that was! He and his friends jumped and skipped and praised God all the way home!!!
FORGIVENESS
What’s the point?
First- forgiveness is given not taken or earned.
God is not ‘for-taking.” God is not “for-earning.” God is not “for-deserving.” God is forgiving. It is impossible to take, earn or deserve forgiveness. Sherman White did not deserve the treatment Ed showed him. Sherman White did not earn the treatment Ed gave him. Sherman White could not have taken the treatment Ed gave him.
The paralytic could not have taken, earned or deserved anything from Jesus.
Forgiveness is given, by grace. Sherman received Ed’s grace. The paralytic received Grace from Jesus and we can receive forgiveness from God in Jesus Christ.
Second, Jesus had only one requirement for forgiveness. He saw them men’s faith and he said “Your sins are forgiven.” The man’s faith and his friends faith brought him to Jesus. That’s all. They came to Jesus in faith and they were forgiven. No hoops, no tricks, no requirements. Faith alone – nothing more, nothing less.
Finally God is ultimately forgiving.
My friends, God wants more than anything in the world; to forgive you today. God wants more than anything in the world; to have you surrender to his love and forgiveness. It doesn’t matter what you have done. It cannot be any worse than killing his only son on a cross. It doesn’t matter what you haven’t done. It can’t be any worse than standing by and watching his only son die on the cross. When humanity did the very worst thing ever with the cross- God did the very best thing ever with the empty tomb.
This is your invitation to walk out of that prison of sin
This is your invitation to rise from that bed of guilt
This is your invitation to emerge from the darkness of the tomb of shame into the light and the love of God in Jesus Christ.
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Let’s pray together.
God you are so amazing. You are so good.
I don’t live the way you would want me to live.
I come to you today in faith. Not on my own goodness- but trusting in yours.
I come to you in faith asking for your forgiveness.
I confess to you all the things that tie me in knots.
I confess to you all the things that imprison me.
I confess to you all the things that trap me inside of my guilt.
Clean my heart, clear my mind, and take the knot of guilt from my stomach.
Forgive me, O God. Forgive me I pray.
AMEN
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