My sister and I occasionally fought over some small thing. Afterwards we would often not speak a word to each other until I couldn’t stand it anymore and apologized.
But this time I didn’t want to apologize because she had called me as a stupid “moon cow”
Being 4 years younger, I didn’t even know what these words meant. But I thought that they were extremely bad, really mean! No, I never wanted to forgive her ever again!
A little while later, my friend told me of a conversation that Jesus had had with Peter who had asked him, “Lord, how often do I have to forgive my brother when he sins against me? Seven times?”
Suddenly I knew exactly what I had to do. Do you also know? You can read the story for yourself in Matthew 18:21-35.
On the cross, Jesus forgave you for all of your sins. Why shouldn’t you forgive your sister or wife, your brother or husband, or your fellow man?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Seemingly self-confident, a woman enters a house. She has but one specific goal: Jesus! She has to see Jesus!
She approaches him. Suddenly tears roll down her face, directly onto the feet of Jesus. Spontaneously, she reacts by wiping the tears with her hair. Then she kisses his feet again and again. Finally, she also pours an expensive oil over his feet.
Unbelievable! From the perspective of the religious leaders Jesus is with, she defiles Jesus with each touch. In the Bible, she is called a sinner. She is supposedly a prostitute. As such, she is one who people at that time rejected. But Jesus does not reject her! He allows her to continue to do what she is doing and thereby accepts her trust. What kind of impact does this have on this woman?
Jesus looks at her and tells her that she is forgiven. Exactly that is her hope, her faith, her goal. That’s why she wanted to see Jesus. Are there tears that you can shed before Jesus?
Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal….
In Jericho herrschte im Winter angenehmes Klima. Die Süsswasserquellen machten sie zu einer grossen, blühenden Oasenstadt. Die wichtigsten Handelsstrassen verliefen durch Jericho. Hunderte Pilger und Händler waren täglich unterwegs. Die Zollstation von Jericho war die reinste Goldgrube. Wer es sich leisten konnte, wohnte in Jericho.
Genau hier lebte und arbeitete Zachäus. Der oberste Zollbeamte Jerichos musste als Inhaber einer solchen Zollstelle wohl aus heutiger Sicht ein Millionär gewesen sein. Und dieser kleinwüchsige Millionär wollte Jesus sehen! Kein Hindernis liess ihn davon abhalten: Er, der reiche Zollchef, stieg wie ein Kind auf einen Baum und wartete!
Und tatsächlich, Jesus sah Zachäus und lud sich selbst zu ihm ein. Für Jesus war es wichtig, bei ihm zu sein. Warum? Weil Jesus dazu gekommen ist, nach den Verlorenen zu suchen und sie zu retten.
Der Menschensohn (Jesus Christus) ist gekommen, Verlorene zu suchen und zu retten.
Lukas 19,10
Jesus drängt sich niemandem auf. Aber wenn du dich für ihn öffnest, wird Veränderung in dein Leben kommen.
Jericho had a pleasant climate in the winter. The springs of fresh water made it into a large, thriving oasis-city. The most important trade routes passed right through Jericho.
Hundreds of pilgrims and merchants were traveling every day. Jericho’s toll station was an absolute gold mine. Anyone who could afford it lived in Jericho.
This is exactly where Zacchaeus lived and worked. As the owner of such a customs office, the chief tax collector of Jericho must have been something like a millionaire from today’s perspective.
And it is this millionaire, who is also known for being small in stature, wants to see Jesus today! No obstacle will keep him from this; he, the rich chief tax collector, climbs up a tree like a child and waits!
And indeed, Jesus sees Zacchaeus and invites himself over to his home. It is a MUST that Jesus shows up at his home today. Why? What is Jesus’s mission? Read Luke 19:10 to find this out.
Jesus doesn’t force himself on anyone. But wherever you open yourself to him, a change in your situation can take place.
It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Viele verschiedene Menschen gehen an religiösen Feiertagen in den Gottesdienst. Vielleicht auch du? Gehst du, weil es sich so gehört, weil man es von dir erwartet? Oder gehst du, weil es deine Überzeugung ist?
Ich kenne eine Geschichte in der Bibel von zwei ganz unterschiedlichen Männern. Sie gehen in den Tempel. Der eine geht dahin, weil er Gott gefallen will. Er kennt alle seine Gebote und sie sind ihm sehr wichtig. Regelmässig betet er. Der zweite Mann ist da ganz anders. Er fühlt sich schuldig. Vielleicht ist er nicht ehrlich oder ein Betrüger. Er nennt sich ein Sünder! Wie denkt wohl Gott über die beiden?
Der erste ist stolz und zufrieden mit sich. Der zweite zerbrochen und demütig. Vor Gott sind alle Menschen Sünder. Keiner ist perfekt. Das hat der zweite erkannt. Er weiss, dass er Gottes Hilfe und Vergebung braucht, deswegen betet er: «Gott, sei mir Sünder gnädig.»
Gott, sei mir gnädig und vergib mir, ich weiss, dass ich ein Sünder bin!
Lukas 18,13
Gott liebt reuige Sünder! Jeder darf zu ihm kommen.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
