I FORGIVE ALL (FULL OF FORGIVENESS)
Daddy Jack sent me a text Monday that said, “I forgive all!” Not sure where that came from, but God just gave it to me.
What a great 3 little words during this season of Lent. A perfect time to discuss the word FORGIVENESS.
This weekend I attended a women’s retreat. It was awesome. The gift they gave everyone was a heart. The heart wasn’t smooth; it was ragged. My mind began to think as I touched it. This heart just like our heart has had bits, and pieces chipped away. It has been hurt. Hurt by others, hurt inflicted from our own wrongdoings, hurt from situations and circumstances. Everyone has been hurt. No one’s heart is smooth and untouched by hurt. At times we feel we can’t forgive those that have hurt us, but we can.
Let’s look at Jesus. Jesus was on His Jesus walk! Of course, He was, but many didn’t like this step by step leading people to Christ. Some of them actually hated it. But Jesus kept going. He kept putting one step in front of the other journeying down the path that His father had placed in front of Him.
Luke 23:34-35 New International Version (NIV)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a]And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
We are going to go back to the beginning of Luke 23. What was going on here?
The elders bring Jesus to Pilate (the Roman governor). They accuse Him of opposes taxes to Caesar and a host of other things. Pilate however just can’t see what Jesus has done wrong. The elders keep on and insist that Jesus is stirring up trouble. They say He causes havoc by His teaching. They say that He is causing the people to rebel against the Roman emperor. The punishment for this? Crucifixion! Pilate however just doesn’t want to go through with this, so he sends Jesus to King Herod. King Herod and his soldiers treat Jesus with disrespect and send Him back to Pilate. Pilate not wanting to go against the people does as the people say. He releases Barabbas and hands over Jesus.
Talk about peer pressure. Pilate really wanted to release Jesus. He just couldn’t make that decision himself, why? Pilates wife had planted a seed. The seed that in a dream she had suffered much because of him. She said Jesus is innocent. So, Pilate turns the decision over to the crowd. Release Barabbas the murderer of Jesus? Of course, the people shouted, “release Barabbas crucify Jesus!”
The outcome of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Our pastor Bryan Fink in church yesterday told us about the Centurion. He was the one in charge of the crucifixion. He had to ensure the person had a slow death. Can you imagine what all he saw? There is no way that he wasn’t affected by all that took place.
One thing that stood out in Brother Bryans sermon was this:
The Centurion witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus however was different from the others that had been crucified. Jesus could have acted like all the others. He could have cussed, Jesus could have been mean and nasty. He could have been angry, but instead, Jesus says the words located within the scripture of Luke 23. FORGIVE THEM. He asked for forgiveness of those who wanted Him crucified and gone forever!
Forgiveness happened that day on the rugged cross that held Jesus. Forgiveness occurred to those who had accused Him, mocked Him, tortured Him and crucified Him.
Jesus forgave everyone. Those that were bad, those that had issues, those that in our eyes didn’t need forgiveness, those who had murdered, those that were lost, those that were unkind, those with addictions, Jesus forgave ALL!
Wow! We have a choice during this lifetime to forgive or not to forgive. Forgiveness happens all over the world.
When was the last time you forgave? When was the last time you were put in a situation when you needed to forgive, and forgiveness was difficult?
Life is complicated, life can be hard, people can cause us grief, they can hurt us. Just like they did to Jesus they can make us feel that we have been crucified, however even though those situations we need to forgive. Isn’t that what Jesus wants us to do? Forgive all?
The cross, the symbol of the crucifixion, but also the symbol of victory, and new life. The cross is the beginning of a great story of how life should be. FULL OF FORGIVENESS.
CHALLANEGES OF THE WEEK:
- Keep your daily appointment with God
- Daily Dive into the word everyday
- Forgive, forgive someone that you need to forgive
- Fill your cup with Christ so you can fill other cups
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