Jesus, Jonah, and the Other Son - Article by T. Sean Sullivan

The Messenger 2019

Published Weekly by T. Sean Sullivan

Paragould, Arkansas

Issue 16: April 28, 2019

Article by T. Sean Sullivan

Jesus, Jonah, and the Other Son

A lesson on Forgiveness

Introduction:

What does it mean to you, to be forgiven? Forgiveness is the hope of all who understand the significance of sin in this life, and its long-impact beyond.

Even here, in this life, every peaceful relationship has met the reality of forgiveness: There are only two ways that any peaceful relationship can exist. If the individuals involved are perfect and never wrong each other. Or, the individuals involved have willingly offered forgiveness. In our relationship with God, we must know that any failures are on our part. Because of our own sinful choices, we have failed to maintain peace in our relationship with God; weall need to have God’s forgiveness (Romans 3:23).

But, let’s change the angle of our approach for this lesson on forgiveness. Let’s ask this question, “Who shouldn’t be forgiven?” Or, perhaps a little more to the point, “Who shouldn’t be forgiven even if they repent?” Let’s open the Scriptures to consider these thoughts.   

Jonah, Didn’t Want His Enemies to Be Forgiven

Jonah, as a character, has captured the imagination of countless children, and adults alike. Of course, it is only the first two chapters of his short book that really get the attention. Everyone seems to know that Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:1-3). He found passage aboard a ship, but God stirred the sea with a great storm, which led the mariners to be so afraid that they started to look for someone on the ship who was to blame (Jonah 1:4-9). After Jonah told them that he was running from God, he told them that he would have to be thrown into the sea (Jonah 1:10-15). It was then that God “prepared” a great fish that swallowed Jonah (Jonah 1:17). Jonah, repentant and praying from the belly of the great fish, appealed to God for rescue (Jonah 2:1-10). This is where most people leave the story of Jonah, but there is more to know.

Jonah was running from God, because he didn’t want his enemies to be forgiven. God directed Jonah to go and warn Nineveh so they might turn away from their sin. Nineveh was a great city of Assyria, a Gentile City, and the enemies of Israel (Think, Babylonian captivity—2 Kings 24:1-5). Jonah ran from the responsibility, and then when he finally did go to the city, he was angry that they repented and were spared (Jonah 4:1). He did not want the people of Nineveh to be warned, or spared, but they willingly repented and God relented from their destruction.

Have you ever resisted an opportunity to extend the gospel to another? Sometimes our prejudices and perhaps even fears can get in the way of the course of truth. We need to be more willing to at least try, like the Sower of Matthew 13:3-8—who sowed the seed every place in the hopes of growth. The way to overcome an enemy is to make them a brother or sister in the Lord—consider Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2; 9:3-22). If Saul could be converted to Christ, who is impossible?                

The Other Son, Didn’t Want His Brother to Be Forgiven

We are told the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. As the popular side of the story goes, the youngest son asked for his livelihood and then left home for a foreign place where he wasted all that he had on corrupt pursuits (Luke 15:11-14). It was then, after all was spent, he found himself at a lowly place that he came to the realization of his error and surely wanted to return home (Luke 15:15-19). When he returned home, he was greeted with great welcome and celebration (Luke 15:20-24.

The whole household rejoiced except for one who did not celebrate this wonderful return—the other son. When his brother repented and returned, he was unwilling to rejoice! (Luke 15:25-28). In fact, he became angry at his brother’s return.       He kept wanting to bring up the past mistakes and corruptions—he didn’t want to accept his brother’s repentance (Luke 15:29-30). However, his father in merciful love toward the wandering son welcome him home and rejoiced.

Have we ever found ourselves exhibited this attitude toward a brother of sister in the Lord?

Peter asked the Lord about forgiving a brother in Matthew 18:21-22. Peter would have no need to ask, if this bad-attitude was not still prevalent in his day. It has always been my thought that Peter was really trying to show himself as generous and merciful by offering to forgive a brother “seven times”. He was instructed that he was to forgive his brother as many times as he repented, when Jesus said, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Jesus Instructs Us to Be Forgiving:

How important is it to forgive others? Jesus said, “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15). We know, with sin against us, we cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:27). We want to go to Heaven, therefore, weneed the forgiveness of our sins and therefore we must be willing to forgive others. We must not allow momentary grudges to jeopardize our hope of eternal life in Heaven.

However, that being said, we must be careful of our timing of forgiveness. We know that forgiveness is necessary between God and our self; we know that it is necessary between our self and others. The question of “when” must enter in. It may be thought that forgiveness should just be given instantly. As soon as you are wronged you just say, “I forgive you” and it is all over and done.  This, however, does not line up with what Jesus teaches us inLuke 17:3-4. Jesus says, “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." According to Jesus, the action of “repentance” must be present before forgiveness is offered. However, we must not harbor the problem—it ends up damaging us, if we do. We must seek to resolve the problem and gain back our brother or sister (Matthew 18:15-17). We must demonstrate a willingness to forgive, and move forward, in hope of their repentance that this situation’s resolve.

Conclusion:

There are requirements for our forgiveness, just as there are requirements for us to provide forgiveness. The record of Jonah teaches us to extend the opportunity of forgiveness to our enemies. The “other son” in the parable of the Prodigal teaches us to accept our brethren’s repentance and forgive them. Jesus teaches us that our willingness to forgive is directly linked to our being forgiven by God.

Forgiveness is essential to our eternal hope. It is something that we must desire, find, and cherish. Forgiveness is also something that we must extend. We cannot seek forgiveness and be unwilling to offer forgiveness.

Do you have God’s forgiveness? Because of our sins (Romans 3:23), we need God’s forgiveness. There is an opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness, through obedience to His gospel plan, right now. ~tss