DAY 1, Morning
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they do.”
(Luke 23:34)
The first words
Jesus spoke from the cross were those of a plea for forgiveness. They were not
a cry of pain or a plea for rescue. They were not words of anger or accusation.
They were a prayer of forgiveness that revealed the heart of the One who came
to save.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and
cast lots.
The word Jesus
uses for “forgive” is the Greek word aphiēmi. It means to
release, to let go, or to send away. It is the same word Jesus used when He
taught His disciples to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as
we forgive our debtors.” This forgiveness is not sentimental
or shallow. It is a deliberate act of releasing someone from the debt they owe.
Jesus is not
declaring universal forgiveness for every person standing at the foot of the
cross. He is not excusing their sin or pretending that their actions are
harmless. He is revealing His heart. He is showing them that His love is strong
enough to release them if they would receive it, even those who
are actively harming Him.
The soldiers who
nailed Him to the cross did not ask for forgiveness. The
religious leaders who mocked Him did not repent. The crowd that
blasphemed Him did not understand the magnitude of what they were doing. Yet
Jesus prayed for them. He released the debt into the hands of His Father, the
only One who judges perfectly.
Forgiveness begins
in the heart of the forgiver. It does not begin with the worthiness
of the offender. Jesus is not minimizing the evil done against Him. He is
choosing to place the burden of justice into the hands of His Father. This
forgiveness frees the soul from bitterness. This
forgiveness refuses to let hatred take root. This forgiveness
does not require reconciliation with the unrepentant. No, this
forgiveness entrusts justice to God.
When Jesus prayed,
“Father, forgive them,” He was revealing the heart of the Father. God
desires to release sinners from their debt. He yearns for repentance rather
than destruction. He opens the door of mercy even while the nails are still
being driven in.
As we begin these
seven devotionals on the last words of Christ, we begin where Jesus began, with
forgiveness. Forgiveness does not deny the truth. Release does
not say wounds do not hurt. Forgiveness does not enable sin,
nor does it remove healthy boundaries. Forgiveness releases the
debt into the hands of God. This is the forgiveness that reflects the cross.
This is the forgiveness that looks like Christ.
Pray this prayer to God: Lord Jesus, thank You for praying for Your enemies even as they wounded You. Teach me to release the debts others owe me. Help me to entrust justice to the Father and to walk in the freedom that forgiveness brings. Change my heart to be more like Yours. Amen.
