"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:33-38, ESV)
Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship."
Jesus' first recorded words from the cross were words that he had been speaking since the first days of his earthly ministry. He taught forgiveness in the Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12). When asked by Peter, how many times should we forgive someone, Jesus answered seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). At the Last Supper, Jesus explained his crucifixion to his Apostles when he told them to drink of the cup: "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28).
In this word from the cross we come face-to-face with man's greatest and primary need. The first and most important lesson any person must learn is that we are all sinners, and as such, not fit for the presence of a Holy God. Everyone has their own ideas for how to do what is right. We all make resolutions, and adopt rules to live by. In our own way we humans try our best to deal with the "sin problem". But our attempts to develop good character and our efforts to please God while there is still sin between Him and us are nothing but vain efforts. What good is a treadmill to us if our legs are paralyzed? What use are glasses if we are blind?
The question of the forgiveness of my sins is the basic, fundamental, vital question of all of life. It does not matter one bit that I am highly respected, famous, prominent, or loved by a wide circle of friends if I am still dead in my sins. It does not matter one bit that I have developed success in business or career if I remain an unforgiven trespasser in the sight of God. What will matter most in the hour of death is, Have my sins been forgiven by the blood of Christ?
[Devotional thought written by Chris Stewart]
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