Forgive others seventy times seven...
Illustration
Forgive others seventy times seven: it seems to be an impossibly high standard. There was one family who managed to live up to Jesus' words, though: a Korean family. Their son had journeyed to America as an exchange student, to the University of Pennsylvania. One day, as he stepped out of his dormitory to mail a letter, he was brutally assaulted by a street gang. The leather-clad toughs beat him with a blackjack and a lead pipe, and then with their own fists and feet. When they were done, their victim lay bleeding and dying in the gutter.
Inner-city Philadelphians, jaded as they are by street violence, were shocked by the senseless brutality of this case. There was a popular outcry for justice. The D.A. appealed to the judge to try the teenagers as adults, so they could receive the death penalty. Then a letter arrived from the boy's parents in far-off Korea:
"Our family has met together and we have decided to petition that the most generous treatment possible within the laws of your government be given to those who have committed this criminal action ... In order to give evidence of the sincere hope contained in this petition, we have decided to save money to start a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational, and social guidance of the boys when they are released ... We have dared to express our hope with a spirit received from the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ who died for our sins."
A remarkable story, from a country where Christianity is little more than 100 years old. Those Korean Christians take Jesus at his word.
Inner-city Philadelphians, jaded as they are by street violence, were shocked by the senseless brutality of this case. There was a popular outcry for justice. The D.A. appealed to the judge to try the teenagers as adults, so they could receive the death penalty. Then a letter arrived from the boy's parents in far-off Korea:
"Our family has met together and we have decided to petition that the most generous treatment possible within the laws of your government be given to those who have committed this criminal action ... In order to give evidence of the sincere hope contained in this petition, we have decided to save money to start a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational, and social guidance of the boys when they are released ... We have dared to express our hope with a spirit received from the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ who died for our sins."
A remarkable story, from a country where Christianity is little more than 100 years old. Those Korean Christians take Jesus at his word.
