The Earth Bleeds Red

by Jackson Paul Baer

“Actually, no. I’ve forgiven the men, not because I wanted to, but because God forgave me even before I asked him to. Do you remember the part of the story when Jesus was hanging on the cross, right before he died?” “Yeah.” “He was beaten, scorned; he’d endured ridicule, and they mocked him like a common criminal. They spat on him and ripped him open with whips. But what did Jesus say just moments before his death?” “Wasn’t it something about God forsaking him?” “His very last recorded words in the Gospels came close to that effect, but what did Jesus say to God about the people who put him on that cross?” “I don’t know, Father, what did he say?” “He told God to forgive them because they didn’t know what they were doing. He didn’t place any conditions on the men to ask for forgiveness or require anything of them to deserve God’s forgiveness. He only asked for God to forgive.” “So, you’re saying I need to forgive Ashley’s killer?” “I’m not telling you that you have to, but I am saying that you cannot be happy until you do. Forgive Brandon because he really didn’t do anything. Forgive yourself because this is not your fault. Forgive the killer because even though he is guilty, and he will pay for his crime, hating him will not change a thing. Hating him will only bring you more death, and it will do nothing to him.”

Actually Im impressed, this was a solid message.