Luke 23:33-37(NKJV)
Jesus’ Priority is The Forgiveness of Our Sins
33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 [h]Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
Among the seven Last Words of Jesus Christ on the Cross, we may say that the forgiveness of humankind was His first priority. Our forgiveness matters to Him before His own personal concerns. Jesus showed that His love for us never left him even He was forsaken by the Father for our sins. Yes, true forgiveness happens there at the Cross!
But how can we know that true forgiveness happens to us also?
Let’s study how Christ Jesus showed that His forgiveness was true or genuine.
First, no one can withhold True forgiveness. In Jesus’ story at the Cross, while they were mocking and punishing Jesus with harsh words and lashes, He at the same time shouted and asked the Father to forgive them. He did not wait for His resurrection which will happen immediately in three days before He forgives. Compared to us in this world, many are withholding their forgiveness for a very long time. Sometimes a little dispute could take them years and years before they could be able to forgive. True forgiveness is something that cannot be withheld.
Second, True forgiveness is when you are still concerned to gain back the souls of the people who wronged you. Let’s see the story of the two pilgrims who lost their faith and turn their backs from Jesus Christ (Luke 24:13-35).
The Road to Emmaus
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was ]seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you ]walk and are sad?”
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He [h]indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was [i]known to them in the breaking of bread.
Third, True forgiveness does not keep a record of wrongs, shows patience and kindness. Remember Jesus was abandoned by His disciples. Remember that Jesus was denied by Peter three times. And yet, He was found by them waiting for them at the shore, already preparing breakfast for them. After He broiled and baked bread, He invited them to have breakfast with Him (John 21:1-13).
Breakfast by the Sea
21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and [a]immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
Jesus' way should be our way. The forgiveness He wants us to have is the True forgiveness from the heart (Matthew 18:35). Otherwise, the Father will not also forgive us from the heart (Matthew 6:14-15). Where there is no love, there is no forgiveness. AMEN
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