A Beautiful Picture of Forgiveness

ENCOURAGEMENTS: January 18, 2023

If you're watching the amazing show about Jesus' life "The Chosen" (which is going to be a whole other blog in itself!), there is a scene in Season 2, Episode 6 that I can't stop thinking about. When Logan and I were watching, I had to literally pause where we were just to talk out what I just saw. When we meet Mary Magdalene in the very first episode of the show, she is possessed by a demon named Lilith, spending most of her time drunk at the local tavern. She is a broken woman in search of a healer. I won't give too much away (because you really need to watch the show!), but Jesus saves her and casts the demon out of her, transforming her into a completely new creation. She joins Jesus and his disciples as they make their way city to city, performing miracles and changing the lives of anyone they come across.

So fast forward to this scene in Season 2, a demon-possessed man enters their camp and taunts Mary by calling her by her demon name Lilith. This sends her into a spiral as she begins to listen to the lies of the devil that tell her she isn't worthy enough to follow Jesus because of her past. She flees from the group and ends up back at the tavern to drown her sadness in drinking and gambling. Matthew and Peter find her and convince her to come back to the camp where Jesus is.

Humiliated by turning her back on Jesus, she is scared to face Him. She enters his tent, and it is the most beautiful display of what repentance, forgiveness and restoration looks like. Please take three minutes to watch this scene. I understand if you're somewhere where you can't listen, so I've transcribed it after the video. But later on, please go back and watch this powerful scene:

Jesus: "It's good to have you back."

Mary Magdalene: "I don't know what to say."

Jesus: "I don't require much."

Mary Magdalene: "I'm so ashamed. You redeemed me and I just threw it all away."

Jesus: "That's not much of a redemption if it can be lost in a day."

Mary Magdalene: "I owe you everything. I just don't think I can do it."

Jesus: "Do what?"

Mary Magdalene: "Live up to it. Repay you. How could I leave? How could I go back to the place I was? I didn't even come back on my own. They had to come get me. I just can't live up to it."

Jesus: "Well, that's true. But you don't have to. I just want your heart. The Father just wants your heart. Give us that, which you already have. The rest will come in time. Did you really think that you wouldn't struggle or sin again? I know how painful that moment was for you."

Mary Magdalene: "I'm just so sorry."

Jesus: "Look up."

Mary Magdalene: "I can't."

Jesus: "You can. Look at me. I forgive you. It's over."

How many times have you felt like this? Like, there's no way Jesus could forgive you of your past. Or maybe you feel like there you've done stuff that has sent you "too far gone" for Jesus to ever want anything to do with you. Or maybe you used to have a close relationship with Christ, but you've gotten away from Him and you're scared to face Him today. I know I've listened to these lies from the devil. But that's exactly what they are: LIES! There is no past sin that can't be wiped clean by Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins and rose again so that we can have eternal life in Heaven.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." - 1 Peter 2:24

If you want forgiveness of your sins and you want a personal relationship with our Savior, or if you have gotten away from the Lord and, like Mary, gone back to your "tavern," He is ready for you to walk into the tent today and ask for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 lays it out in one simple sentence: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

We're not supposed to come to Jesus with it all figured out. He just wants a willingness to follow Him completely and a total surrender of your heart. He'll take care of the rest. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us and providing the only way to eternal life.

If you want to talk more, shoot me a message through the contact form on the blog. Have a great day!