It was probably God the Father himself speaking, rather than Jesus, but the words were God's, not John's.
And yes, as you say, Jesus did preach love and forgiveness of repented sins, but he was stern and aggressive with unrepentant hypocrites.
The namby-pamby Jesus depicted by media is far from reality - on the contrary he was a strong, intimidating personality, feared by the religious leaders of the day, and even at times by his own apostles, whom he several times rebuked.
David Coory
Bethlehem
Jesus' message
Peggy Thornton (Letters, April 26) is absolutely right in declaring that Jesus' message was one of loving forgiveness.
However, almost without exception, his final words to those whose sins he personally pardoned were "Go and sin no more."
What fate awaits unrepentant sinners beyond this life is open to conjecture depending on what one believes.
One thing is irrefutable. Choosing a sinful life guarantees hell in this life on earth.
Ian Young
Pāpāmoa Beach
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