The Power of Forgiveness: Stories of Lives Changed by Jesus

Forgiveness stands as one of humanity's most challenging yet liberating acts. In a world quick to judge and slow to pardon, the radical nature of true forgiveness can seem almost impossible—until we witness it in action.

This exploration delves into transformative stories—both ancient and modern—to uncover the profound healing that occurs when we choose forgiveness over vengeance, reconciliation over division, and love over hatred. As we'll discover, forgiveness isn't just something we give to others; it's a gift we ultimately give ourselves.

Corrie ten Boom’s Encounter

In 1947, while speaking in a church in Munich, Germany, Corrie was confronted by a former guard from Ravensbrück concentration camp. As she stood before her audience, a balding, heavyset man in a gray overcoat entered the room. Instantly, painful memories of the past overwhelmed her—she recalled the shame of standing naked with her frail sister, Betsie, before this very man.

After her talk, the man approached and said:

"A fine message, Fraulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea." Corrie writes in her book that it was the first time she had come face-to-face with one of her captors since her release, and she felt her blood freeze. The former guard continued, "You mentioned Ravensbrück in your talk. I was a guard there. But since that time, I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, will you forgive me?"

At that moment, she prayed desperately for Jesus to help her forgive. She recalled that forgiveness is “an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” As she reached out her hand to shake his, she trusted God to heal her heart. In that moment, as former prisoner and former guard clasped hands, she experienced the overwhelming intensity of God’s perfect love.

A Woman Caught in Adultery

The story is told in John 8 that one day Jesus sat down to teach a crowd gathered around Him in the temple court. While He was teaching, some Pharisees (the teachers of the Law) brought in a woman “caught in adultery.” They stood this accused woman in front the people gathered and questioned Jesus, perhaps to trap Jesus or to have a reason to accuse Him of breaking the Law of Moses. Probably everyone in that crowd would have known that the Torah (the Book of the Law) commands death (usually death by stoning) for adultery. This was a test because they wanted to see how Jesus would treat this woman. Would he extend mercy to her, or would He practice the Ancient Law? She was apparently “caught” and “accused” of adultery, but strikingly evident in this story is the absence of the man she was caught with. The sin of adultery involves two people, so maybe you’re wondering where is the adulterous man?

Studying this passage took me on a journey to the Old Testament to the book of Numbers, chapter 5, to the “test for an unfaithful wife.” Merciful God ordained in His law that if a jealous husband accused his wife of being with child by another man, he was instructed to bring the accused wife to the priest for a trail. This “trial” was an obscure practice of the Torah in which the priest mixed some dust from the floor of the tabernacle with holy water. The accused woman was instructed to stand before the Lord and drink the potion. The outcome was determined by God. She was proven guilty if the baby in her womb died and she was proven innocent if the baby lived. I imagine this testing “cup” would be dreadful to drink for the woman, but perhaps she would stand hopeful to be declared innocent instead of immediate execution by stoning, which was the more common practice for someone “caught” in adultery. Let not sinful men decide; God alone decides who is guilty.

Considering this “cup” text took me on another journey back to the New Testament to the Garden of Gethsemane on the night Jesus is praying blood, sweat and tears. Jesus was begging His Father to take the cup of God’s wrath away from Him if possible. Mark records his prayer as: “Abba Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36) We know that Jesus was about face the ultimate “trial” and though He was innocent, He was found guilty. Though He never sinned, He went to the cross for the sins of the world. For your sin and mine. For the woman caught in adultery and the man who wasn’t caught. For the unforgiven and the forgiven.

Do you know what Jesus did when he was asked what to do with the woman caught in sin? He bent down and started doodling in the dirt. Do you wonder what He was writing? Some scholars have suggested Jesus was writing Jeremiah 17:13:

Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
because they have forsaken the Lord,
the spring of living water.

I think he was simply naming common sins of all those gathered around because this is what I know to be true: God’s Word reveals to readers of His word and followers of His Way the sins we commit. And there we experience conviction. As Romans 2:4 says, “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.” In His kindness, Jesus wrote in the dirt and then looked up at the crowd and said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” and then he bent down and wrote some more on the ground.

One by one, the people of the crowd walked away. Convicted and accused of sin? I hope so. Brought to repentance by the kindness of Jesus? I hope so! I love the end of this story when only Jesus was left with the woman standing there. He looked her in the eyes and asked where the accusers were. “Has no one condemned you?” He asked her. Her response was “No one sir” and He declares forgiveness over her. Jesus declares to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” To be sure, we need to hear this, in Christ’s forgiveness there is now no condemnation! She walked away from her encounter with Jesus, the only person who ever lived on this earth without sinning, with no more shame! Fully forgiven. Fully changed by the kindness of Jesus to live a new life. Being made right with our Holy God, through the complete forgiveness of Jesus, may have compelled her to go and apologize to the people her sin may have hurt as well.

We respond to His forgiveness in a variety of ways. Lives are changed by the forgiveness of Jesus in such a way that shame is forever a thing of the past! Those who have been forgiven much are overwhelmed by God’s goodness, and new life in Christ is characterized by gratitude.

A Forgiven Woman Anoints Jesus

A beautiful picture of one such woman is found in all 4 gospels. Only John names the woman “Mary,” and perhaps Bible scholars are correct that Luke tells of another woman. Regardless, I love Luke’s account of her because of the beautiful unfolding of forgiveness and gratitude for the woman who has a reputation in her small town for living a “sinful life.”

One night as Jesus was enjoying a dinner party at a prominent Pharisee’s house, she interrupted the men while they were eating. She came in with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. Encountering Jesus in that moment brought her to such an outpouring of emotion that she wet His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair and then she poured out perfume on her Lord. This act of gratitude would have been culturally inappropriate for a woman in the presence of men. After all, they all knew this woman to be a “sinner!”  Not only that, but the men at the dinner party began to argue about the cost of the poured-out perfume and a discussion followed about their cultural customs of washing feet. Jesus directly reminds them that they did not wash his feet or put oil on His head, which would have been expected for an honored guest. Likely to the shock of everyone present, Jesus concluded the dinner party with a mic drop moment.

 We read in Luke 7:47-50 that Jesus says:

“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Her life was changed by Jesus. She was forgiven. Her faith saved her and her gratitude for His complete and perfect forgiveness gave her peace. No more shame. No longer identified by her life of sin. She was forgiven much so she gave much to Jesus.

Conclusion

Jesus invites His followers to forgive as He has forgiven. We can trust that when we do, He will be the One to avenge, protect, comfort and heal us. Remember Corrie Ten Boom. Remember the woman caught in adultery. Remember the forgiven woman at Jesus’ feet. Forgiveness is an act of faith that God sees and cares for us, that He has made it possible for us to forgive because of the tremendous price that Christ paid on our behalf! He has removed our shame and sent us out to “sin no more!” He receives our anointing oil and sincere tears as grateful appreciation for his sweet forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not easy. It often requires divine strength and a willingness to surrender our pain. However, through Jesus Christ, we are called to forgive as we have been forgiven. As we release others from their sins against us, we too find freedom. In doing so, we reflect the grace, mercy, and love of our Savior, who forgave us even at the greatest cost to Himself.

May we be people who extend the same forgiveness we have received, embracing the freedom that comes with letting go of bitterness and embracing the power of grace.

Who in your life do you need to forgive today? Who do you need to seek forgiveness from? Let the reality of Christ’s forgiveness transform your heart and guide your steps.