One of Them (Bringing Bold Faith to a Broken World)Sample

"FORGIVE THEM"

Forgive them? Really? Father, forgive them, He said. Jesus being fully human and fully divine at the same time had every right to die with an attitude towards everyone. Yet, He says forgive them. I am a fan of forgiveness and I love to preach about forgiving others. Forgiveness is freedom from a self-created prison that the other person knows nothing about. And unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. We must learn to forgive and if Jesus could forgive, surely, we can forgive as well.

The mistake we most often make is that we see ourselves in the group of people who Jesus died for but fail to accept that he was also talking about us when he said forgive them.

Some of you are wondering, how could Jesus have been talking about me when I wasn’t there. I wasn’t even born yet. Jesus was crucified over 2000 years ago and I’m grateful that He died for my sins, but Jesus wasn’t talking about me. I’m not “one of them.” Am I?

Surely, He was talking about the people who were mocking him and saying, ‘He saved others save yourself!’ Jesus was talking about the soldiers who beat him and drove the nails into his hands and feet.

Yeah, and Pilate who allowed the unjust sentence. Oh, and Barabbas who should have been killed, so Jesus could be set free. Jesus was talking about Peter who denied knowing him and Judas who betrayed him. Not me!

“Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” There is no way Jesus was talking about me.

Yes. He was. You are “one of them.” You may not have been there physically to beat Jesus, but you have whipped Him with your negative words and mocked Him with your disbelief. And like Judas, you have sold Jesus out and betrayed Him for a little bit of money or status or to accomplish your own personal agenda. Your 30 pieces of silver came in the form of a house, car, designer clothes, or maybe a degree. You made money a bigger, better god than Jesus.

You are “one of them.” And like Peter, you have denied Jesus. You have walked with Jesus and witnessed many miracles, yet when you were afraid, your words and actions screamed out, “I don’t know Him!”

Like the crowds, you have celebrated Jesus on one day only to turn your back on Him a few days later. Like Barabbas, you have been the guilty one who should have died for your sins; and you celebrate the freedom that came from Christ dying in your place without acknowledging Jesus or living in a way that at least shows you are grateful.

You have done things that are like driving nails into the hands and feet of God, and you have done them repeatedly. Jesus said forgive them. He saw through the window of time and space to you being you and needing God to forgive you, too. You are “one of them!”

This devotion doesn’t have a feel-good illustration. It is only a reminder that you are “one of them” and you are forgiven. Your challenge is to live in a way that never takes that forgiveness for granted.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy. Forgive me for not always living a life that is pleasing to You. Forgive me for my unforgiveness of others. Thank You for the reminder to live my life with gratitude that I am forgiven. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

REFLECT

What do you hear God saying to you through this reading?

Change-Reaction Challenge

Your challenge is to write a letter of apology to God and ask His forgiveness for any and all things you have done to offend Him.