“Ready to Forgive”

4. How did Jesus show himself “ready to forgive”?

⁴ Like his Father, Jesus showed reasonableness by being “ready to forgive” over and over again. (Psalm 86:5) Consider the time when Peter, a close companion, denied Jesus three times on the night of Jesus’ arrest and trial. Jesus himself had earlier stated: “Whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father.” (Matthew 10:33) Did Jesus rigidly and mercilessly apply this rule to Peter? No; after His resurrection, Jesus paid Peter a personal visit, no doubt to comfort and reassure this repentant, brokenhearted apostle. (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5) Shortly thereafter, Jesus permitted Peter to have great responsibility. (Acts 2:1-41) Here was sweet reasonableness at its very best! Is it not comforting to think that Jehovah has appointed Jesus as Judge over all mankind?​—Isaiah 11:1-4; John 5:22.

Flexibility in the Face of Changing Circumstances

6. How did Jesus display reasonableness in dealing with the Gentile woman whose daughter was demonized?

⁶ Like Jehovah, Jesus proved himself quick to alter course or adapt to new situations as they arose. On one occasion a Gentile woman begged him to cure her badly demonized daughter. In three different ways, Jesus initially indicated that he was not going to help her​—first, by refraining from answering her; second, by stating directly that he was sent forth, not to the Gentiles, but to the Jews; and third, by giving an illustration that kindly made the same point. However, the woman persisted through all of this, giving evidence of extraordinary faith. In the light of this exceptional circumstance, Jesus could see that this was no time to enforce a general rule; it was time to bend in response to higher principles.a Thus, Jesus did exactly what he had three times indicated he would not do. He cured the woman’s daughter!​—Matthew 15:21-28.

[Picture on page 16]

When a woman showed extraordinary faith, Jesus saw that it was no time to enforce a general rule