The Power of Forgiveness

Tom Barnard

 

“If you forgive men when they sin against you,

your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

(Matthew 6:14)

 

“Forgiveness is man’s deepest need and highest achievement.”

Horace Bushnell

 

Since I write a weekly devotional, I read from a lot of devotional books for my own encouragement and inspiration. One book of devotional writings I read regularly is Quiet Moments with God (Honor Books, 2002). In it is the story of Leonardo da Vinci and his classic painting of the “Last Supper.” Here is how the narrative reads:

 

Just before he commenced work on his depiction of the Last Supper, da Vinci had a violent quarrel with a fellow painter. Leonardo was so enraged and bitter, he determined to use the face of his enemy as the face of Judas, thus taking his revenge by handing the man down to succeeding generations in infamy and scorn.

 

The face of Judas was, therefore, one of the first that he finished, and everyone readily recognized it as the face of the painter with whom he had quarreled. However, when he attempted to paint the face of Jesus Christ, Leonardo could make no progress. Something seemed to be baffling him—holding him back and frustrating his efforts. At length, he came to the conclusion that what was hindering and frustrating him was that he had painted his enemy’s face into the face of Judas.

 

When he painted over the face of his enemy in the portrait of Judas, he commenced anew on the face of Jesus. This depiction became a success that has been acclaimed through the ages.

 

I don’t know whose face Leonardo used as the model for the new face of Judas—or, in fact, what face he used as the model for the face of Jesus. But I was impressed by the fact that he couldn’t get peace in his heart until he “painted over” the face of his enemy—removing him from public scrutiny. Before he could successfully paint the face of Jesus, the face of Judas needed to have a new look.

 

Here lies the secret to forgiveness. Until we are able to forgive those who have treated us badly, we have no promise that God will forgive us of our sins against Him. It’s really quite simple, isn’t it?

 

Heavenly Father, I hesitate to ask you to bring to my awareness the names of those who have offended me to the point that I have not been able to forgive them. There may be only one or two, or there may be a dozen. In any case, I recognize that I must be willing to forgive them before I ask forgiveness from you. So, this is my prayer today. Point me to those who have caused pain to me and my family. Accept my prayer of confession. Forgive me, as I learn to forgive others. Amen.