Jesus’ ministry highlighted forgiveness. The Old Testament law and prophets certainly recognized God’s mercy and lovingkindness at various points, but Jesus went much further. He proclaimed God as Father far more than as king. Teachings like the Prodigal Son pictured Him as obsessed with saving his wayward children.
Indeed, his interpretation of the law is so demanding that you realize your own need for forgiveness. If the command “Do not murder” implies not even being angry with your brother, you obviously fall short.
His interpretation also indicates that you must forgive others. Returning good for evil, turning the other cheek, and refusing to retaliate assume forgiving what others do to you.
In fact, there is a touch of forgiveness in everything he does. His mission is to break the cycle of violence that threatens the creation. He cleans up the mess humans have made in God’s world. Even healing disease and injury is a way of making right what is wrong.
It makes sense that John’s reading of Matthew’s great commission to teach all nations everything he commanded becomes taking responsibility for forgiving sins.
If this seems to take things too far, consider the episode when the disciples complain Jesus can’t be serious and seek some kind of limit. To their suggestion it might be seven times, Jesus responds, “Seventy times seven.”
In our world, forgiveness is an exception made in special cases. That’s just the opposite of Jesus’ approach. He also would oppose our present leaders’ belief that forgiveness perpetuates weakness. They call for using power to overcome the weakness supposedly obstructing progress. Jesus teaches a better world is a civilization of love that begins with forgiveness, enabling everyone to work with one another.
