Anger and Forgiveness

"Knock out or Talk it out."
A Skit Based from The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 19)
by M.Stewart

Peter: "Hey Jesus, how many times do I forgive someone who has offended me? Seven?"

Jesus: "Seven?! Hardly! Try seventy times seven."

Peter: (looks frustrated and counting on his hands) Are you kidding me, Jesus?! After all I do for these people, and I get nothing in return but bad looks and cussing at me! Look, they're doing it now,... (Peter points at a man in the crowd), Man, I could punch him out RIGHT NOW! Come on!

Jesus: (Stands in the way of Peter and guides him away.) Peter, look... I'm noticing you get angry alot. But you forgive, hardly ever. What are those men to you?

Peter: (mad and looking down) They are nothing... they don't deserve to be forgiven.

Jesus: Nothing!? Are you nothing? Peter, where is God's kingdom?

Peter: (angry looking at Jesus)

Jesus: Is God's Kingdom right here-with just you and me? Or is it also over there? (pointing) Peter, God's people are ALL PEOPLE. God is someone who has forgiven all of us everyday, and all the time, do you even realize how many times you offend him EVERYDAY and he forgives you?

Peter: Uhhhhhh, (looking around) no, I've never thought about that.

Jesus: God is near, God has given us all ALOT of second chances. But, you won't give even your brother anything. Why?

Peter: Well, Jesus you make that sound so nice, and easy. But I don't like forgiving. Those people wrong me over and over and over and over...

Jesus interrupts: But, doesn't God continue to forgive and forgive and forgive you...?

Peter: I don't even know how to forgive someone that has angered me so bad!

Jesus: Forgiving is forgetting the offense and moving on.

Peter: How in the world do you expect me to do that when they don't understand how to move on...

Jesus: Well, that's when trusting in God comes into play. You trust God that your example to forgive will leave an example to others of God's love.

Peter: Walking away is cowardily! It leaves no justification of taking care of some business... (with his fist in the air).

Jesus: So, knocking someone lights out, only proves you get an black-eye, bruises, and you both look like two immature adults that don't know how to responsibly take care of an argument.

Peter: Once again, Jesus. You are making it sound easy and now I feel like an immature adult.

Jesus: I'm not trying to make you an immature adult, you are doing that for yourself.
Fighting leads to just more division, and more anger, and less forgiveness that you will push way deep inside. Do you want to walk around carrying years of anger, and no forgiveness just because you are too stubborn to work through it?

Peter: No, but what do I do with all that anger!?

Jesus: Get that man, you are angry at and TALK IT OUT.

Peter: Talk it out?

Jesus: Talk it out.