Thursday, November 20th

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Thursday, November 20

Acts 7:54-60

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

While traveling recently on a long flight back from the middle east, I found myself watching a movie on the plane. The film was called “Railway Man” starring Colin Firth.

It was the story of a British World War II veteran who was struggling with what we now call PTSD.

He struggles to resume his life due to deep emotional trauma. He eventually falls in love with a woman who sees first hand his emotional paralysis and challenges him to address the root of his pain.

It turns out he had been part of a group of soldiers captured by the Japanese and forced to work on the Thai-Burma railway in the jungles of the Malay Peninsula.

It was time of brutality and abuse; at one time he was tortured mercilessly by one particular guard and it was hatred for this guard that lay at the center of his pain.

He accidentally discovers that his tormentor is still alive so he decides to go back to the location of his imprisonment with the intent to confront and perhaps kill the former Japanese guard, thinking this act of justice and revenge might finally bring him peace.

However, when he finds the man and has the opportunity, he finds he just can’t bring himself to do what he intended to do. He realizes that man has also lived in an emotional prison for years as well; a prison of guilt, shame and remorse for his own actions.

Firth’s character offers the Japanese man forgiveness, thus setting both men free.

I thought it was a terrific movie, and I was reminded of it when I read again the story of the martyrdom of Stephen.

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Remarkable! Even as he is being stoned to death Stephen prays for his murderers, offering them forgiveness.

Of course, our minds go immediately to the words of Jesus on the cross, when he looked down upon those who   had him crucified, and said:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

We have already learned that Stephen was a man full of grace and power. We have seen that he was a man of truth, unashamed of the gospel and unafraid to defend it. Now we see that he was also a man of enormous courage. But notice that Stephen not only had the courage to die for his faith in Jesus, but also to forgive those who were casting the stones!

We usually think of Stephen as an example of Christian martyrdom, and he is. But I think Stephen can teach us some important things about forgiveness as well. Have you ever thought of forgiveness as requiring grace, truth and courage?

Forgiveness requires truth because, in order to forgive, the sin must be acknowledged and named.
Forgiveness is most powerful and effective when we say not just, “I forgive you,” but, “I forgive you for what you did or said that hurt me.”

For example: In the movie, “Railway Man,” before Colin Firth’s character offers forgiveness to the former Japanese guard he recounts the abuse and torture and the guard acknowledges fully what he had done.

Here Stephen says, “Do not hold this sin against them.” He acknowledges that what these men are doing is a sinful act. He speaks the truth and the truth allows forgiveness to take place.

Second, forgiveness requires grace. Stephen could afford to offer his murderers forgiveness because he knew his own sins had been forgiven. We can only forgive others when we have already received forgiveness ourselves. Grace tends to produce grace in our lives.

Finally, forgiveness requires courage. Forgiveness requires courage because forgiveness always costs us something. Forgiveness costs us the opportunity and fleeting pleasure of revenge or retribution. Forgiveness means relinquishing what feels like our right to inflict suffering and humiliation on the one who has wronged us. Forgiveness means to trust that God will handle all judgment and justice.

Who and what might you need to forgive today? Ask God for the grace, truth and courage to do so.


Pastor Brian Coffey