He Forgave, We Forgive

Luke 23:32-34 says, “Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 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. 34 And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”

 

In this glimpse from the cross we see Jesus being torturously killed at the hands of Roman soldiers as if he were a mere criminal.  I would guess that the words Jesus spoke were not familiar to the guard’s ears.  Jesus spoke these words in the least likely situation and they have resonated through history.

 As the disciples started the church they did not do so with sword and shield but with peace and love.  Sounds like the first hippie movement but in reality it was the movement of the Holy Spirit.  These men, chosen by Jesus, were filled by the Spirit and empowered to live a supernatural life.  They preached repentance and the forgiveness of sins.  They welcomed all people from every race and tongue.  There was no longer slave or free, Greek or Jew, but the good news of salvation through Jesus was open to all.  This message of forgiveness, which began at the cross, changed the world like nothing ever before or after.

If Jesus can forgive the men who had just mocked him, punched him, abused him, and now tortured him I think we can forgive those who wrong us.  If we are children of God we have been given the same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus and His disciples.  The same power that launched so great a forgiveness is ours in Jesus.  So what stops us from forgiving?  What causes us to hold grudges?  Where in scripture is it stated that we stand as higher judges than Jesus?

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:25-32, “25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Verse 27 warns us to not give Satan an opportunity.  As we look at this passage we see things that can do just that: falsehood, sin motivated by anger, holding onto anger (hate, grudge), stealing, destructive speech, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, malice.  It is good to check our motives from time to time.  Without careful attention to our motives and thoughts these sins can creep in and give our enemy just the opportunity he needs to bring destruction.

Verse 32 gives us the solution to these sins and protection from the enemy.  Be kind . . . even to those who have not earned your kindness.  Be loving, understanding, and caring towards everyone, even those who are failing to do this for you.  FORGIVE!  How?  We are to forgive in the same way that Jesus forgave us.  This forgiveness is not based on merit, it is not based on prior repentance, and it is only given by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There was absolutely nothing that Satan could do in the face of Jesus love and forgiveness.  How aggravating it had to have been in Satan’s moment of perceived triumph to hear such words spoken.  Would you like to thwart the plans of the enemy?  Would you like to aggravate the schemes of demons?  Then live in the power of the Spirit.  Jesus didn’t taunt Satan or the demons but instead loved the Father and gave Himself for us.  If you love God, you have to let go of all of your bitterness and anger and in tenderness forgive those who have wronged you.  Without this forgiveness, there is no victory.

This is the victory that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is forgiveness of sins.  There is hope for a better life . . . an eternal life.  The life of Jesus has changed the world more than any other event in history and it wasn’t because of a great war or powerful philosophy . . . it was because of forgiveness.