The Han Dynasty fell in A. D. 222. From that point, China saw a series of coups that left the country in confusion and fear. Finally, in 959 A. D., General Chao K’unag-yin became emperor and took the name Sung. He wanted to avoid the assassination that plagued previous emperors and he had an idea how to do it. He threw a banquet to celebrate his new dynasty and invited the powerful leaders of the army. Toward the end of the banquet, Emperor Sung dismissed the guards, which left the military leaders afraid that he would murder them all.
Instead, he offered to give them estates and beautiful homes if they would resign their commissions in the army. On the following day, everyone of them resigned. These men were powerful and ambitious, but with one move, he turned them into lambs.
About a decade later, another Chinese king, King Liu, surrendered to Sung after rebelling against his authority for years. Rather than executing him, Emperor Sung gave him a rank in the court of the emperor and invited him to the place to seal their friendship. Liu became a trusted friend of Emperor Sung.
Yet another king in the empire, Ch’ien Shu had been rebelling but was defeated. Emperor Sung’s ministers advised that he execute Ch’ien. They had found documents which proved that Ch’ien Shu had planned to assassinate Sung. Ch’ien Shu went to the palace, but instead of throwing him into prison, Emperor Sung once again showed grace. He sent a package home with Ch’ien Shu, telling him to open it later. On the journey, when Shu opened the package, he saw the documents which showed his treachery. Sung had known about it, but let Ch’ien Shu go anyway.
While Emperor Sung was probably not a Christian, or even claim to be one, he did understand the power of acting gracefully. “Grace” is extending favor to someone when they do not deserve it. A number of times, the NT uses a word, often translated “to forgive” which has “grace” as its root word. The verb is used 24 times: Luke 7:21, 42-43; Acts 3:14; 25:11, 16; 27:24; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:12; 2 Cor. 2:7, 10; 12:13; Gal. 3:18; Eph. 4:32; Phil. 1:29; 2:9; Col. 2:13; 3:13; Philemon 22.
Let me direct your attention to two of these passages, both from Colossians. In Colossians 2:13, Paul writes: “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.” The verb here translated “forgiven” is our verb: “to be gracious.” Then in the next chapter, Paul tells us we need to act the same way toward each other: “bearing with one another, and forgiving [“be gracious with”] each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”
Act with grace toward those around you. Give them favor they do not deserve.
Paul Holland
