Outrageous forgiveness

Can you forgive someone who killed your grandmother? That’s the question posed by a deeply moving article on the BBC news website. Bill Pelke’s grandmother was 78 when a group of teenage girls broke into her home, ransacked the place and stabbed her to death. The girls were quickly caught; found guilty at trial; given huge prison sentences – apart from the ringleader, Paula Cooper. She got the death penalty.

At the time, Bill Pelke approved the death sentence, as I imagine many others would. But then, 18 months later, things took an unexpected twist. His grandmother had been a devout Christian, and he became convinced she would have shown compassion to this girl and her family. So he chose to forgive the very person who had murdered his grandmother.

But that’s not the end of this amazing story. He started to write to the girl, visit her, and even campaign for her to be released. She is just now out of prison, and Bill Pelke is looking for ways to support and help her as she adjusts to life on the outside. Wonderful.

In the same article is the story of a mum whose daughter was abducted, raped and killed by two teenage boys. Again, she has worked through the process of forgiving them and eventually meeting one of them. He told her the last words her daughter had said before she died: “I forgive you and God will too”. Wow.

Why are these stories in the news? Why is this one of the longest articles I’ve ever seen from the BBC? Surely it’s because such forgiveness is almost unknown in our world. It amazes us. I still remember the father who forgave the men who, on Remembrance Sunday, exploded a bomb that killed his daughter. I remember the place – Inniskillen; his name – Gordon Wilson; and the furore his decision caused. It was 1987 – 26 years ago – but it’s still etched in my memory. Because such forgiveness is so rare.

Outrageous forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel message. It doesn’t get long news articles – but it should.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” (Luke 23 v 33-35)

Jesus was indeed God’s Messiah, the Chosen One. He could have saved Himself any time He wanted. But He didn’t. He died so that we, everyone who trusts in Him, can be forgiven our sin, and receive grace from our Lord. That’s outrageous forgiveness.