Faith in forgiveness
by Neil Bergmann
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‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.’ And the disciples were filled with grief (Matthew 17:22b,23).
Read Matthew 17:14–27
Jesus knows his disciples are still unsure about the wisdom of heading to Jerusalem. When they are unable to cure a boy with epilepsy, Jesus tells them it’s because of their lack of faith. After the events of the Transfiguration in yesterday’s reading, surely Peter, James and John should have strong faith that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.
I think that their lack of faith is of a different kind. I think that they don’t have faith that Jesus’ plan to head to Jerusalem, where he will inevitably be killed, is the right thing to do. Jesus explains again that he will be killed but will be raised to life. The disciples might be sure the killing will happen, but they seem less sure about the resurrection. The reading tells us the disciples were filled with grief (or, in other translations, were greatly distressed).
We, too, can find it hard to have faith in the promise of Easter. Lent encourages us to examine ourselves critically to see why we need a saviour. When we stop to look at ourselves, our lifestyles, and our relationships, we realise they are all imperfect. That sin drove Jesus to death on the cross. But it doesn’t end there. After Good Friday comes Easter. Just as Jesus was raised to life again, we are called to live new lives in the kingdom of God. We can’t do this alone, and we can’t heal our particular demons ourselves, no matter what we try to do.
Instead, it is faith in the totality of the forgiveness Jesus bought for us that gives us comfort and healing. We are new creations every day, free to live in God’s kingdom of peace, justice and love.
Jesus, give us faith in your promise of forgiveness. Heal the demons that keep us slaves to sin. Give us faith to live new lives in your kingdom, here and now. Amen.
Neil Bergmann worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland. He enjoys cooking, reading and doing cryptic crosswords.
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