DAY SIX

FATHER FORGIVE THEM

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do...”

When I think of forgiveness, this passage always comes to mind. Jesus is suffering a miserable, long, torturous death, but even in his agony, he finds the ability to pray for the forgiveness of others. Jesus isn’t just praying for any sinners, he is specifically praying for those who are currently in the process of brutally murdering him. This, to me, was the ultimate act of forgiveness. How many of us could lie dying in agony and praying for our attackers? If we did pray for them, I am certain it wouldn't be for their eternity in heaven.

The men Jesus is seeking forgiveness for were pretty bad men. Here they stood mocking Jesus, humiliating him, and torturing Him. It would have been one thing to simply carry out the orders given to them to crucify Jesus, but they added another level of cruelty to the process. They went out of their way to make the crucifixion of an innocent man one of the worse the people would ever witness, yet Jesus still forgave them and asked God to do so as well. They had no sympathy for Jesus, yet He still cared for their eternity.

Jesus knew these men didn’t understand the depth of what they were doing. He knew they were carrying out God’s prophecy and that their sinful acts brought Him closer to His purpose on earth. Jesus didn’t have to pray for these men, but His compassion and forgiveness are shown once again in those moments.

There are times when we may feel we have done the unthinkable and we cannot be forgiven. This passage always reminds me that no one is left out of God’s will for forgiveness. The love of God is unconditional and so is His forgiveness. Don’t let anything hold you back from the love and forgiveness God has for you. Remember, no matter how far we have gone, how much wrong we have done, who we have wronged, and how greatly we have wronged them, He forgives us.