Living 4 Him

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24

Jesus’ final act of love came upon the cross.  With a brutal sacrifice, his gentle love poured over the earth in a brand new way.  In seven instances, Jesus spoke from the cross and during these 7 weeks of Lent, we will study his words, gleaning the essence of his final messages to us before his death.

Hanging from the cross, Jesus continued his mission to love and to save by speaking these words: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24  Hearing these words uttered from Jesus in the circumstances he endured tells us a great deal about the kind of grace that we have been given; the grace surrounding us every day.

The impact of these words manifests more completely in our minds when we think of the grisly treatment Jesus was receiving.  Nails in wrists and feet.  Flesh hanging.  Spirit sagging.  Yet, he managed deep within himself to find the foundation of forgiveness that his entirely earthly mission was based on and to offer that forgiveness to the brutality of his captors.  He looked beyond their actions to their souls and saw their need for love.  His captors did not know what they were doing.  His gallant example models a foundation to live from.  Mercy.  Forgiveness.  Looking beyond actions to a soul in need. 

A few years ago I  wrote a reflection on forgiveness that seems most appropriate as we begin the Lenten season:

If I were to write a poem about forgiveness, the first word I would use is “compassion,” for it is the fire of compassion that melts the hardness of our hearts and leads us to forgive.

The next word I would use is “mercy.”  Mercy looks beyond the undesirable act to the most essential need of the person.  Mercy mends the brokenness, letting new life begin.  And yes, new life would be words to use as well because forgiveness unloads a burden and makes a way for newness to thrive.  

No poem about forgiveness would be complete without the word “love.”  Love stretches its arms over all the other words; stoking the fires of compassion, building a platform for mercy, and cheering the new life that begins.  Love overcomes all.  

Last and most important, I would use the word “Jesus” because Jesus portrayed the ultimate story of forgiveness when he hung suffering and dying on a cross and spoke the words quoted above, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they do.”  His compassion, mercy and love brought new life for us.  He opened the door to let sinners enter and laid the path for us to walk on as His followers – to forgive. 

Forgiveness is the epitome of love.  Live 2 Love!  It’s God’s Way! 

After Jesus’ resurrection, before he ascended to Heaven, he told his disciples that forgiveness through the repentance of sins would be preached in his name. (Luke 24:47) Throughout the Lenten season, may you remember the forgiveness given, the forgiveness freely shared, and may you live your own life from a foundation of forgiveness. 

Reaching in (allowing God’s Word to work in your soul):  Read several places in the Bible where Jesus talks about forgiveness: Mark 11:25, Luke 7: 44-48, Matthew 18: 21-35, Luke 17:3-6, Luke 24: 46-47.

Reaching out (taking God’s Word into the world): Thank God for his forgiveness and ask him to help you to give forgiveness where it is needed.