The Hardest Words Ever Said

I have often wondered how Jesus was able to remain forgiving and compassionate to the very end, especially when you consider the lies, betrayal, injustice, false accusation and sheer hatred directed toward Him. I believe that the hardest words ever said by a human might possibly be these words that Jesus said just before He died on that cross: “Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do.” But that’s what love, in its purest form, does. Love is a powerful force.

     Allow me to add some perspective. What if you were on that cross, and the betrayers and the accusers were children you love—either your own or other children you love and care for? Wouldn’t it still be your greatest desire to see them someday forgiven and reconciled with their heavenly Father? Could you really wish to see them judged and condemned to hell? I think that must be what God saw when He looked out on all those who yelled, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” I don’t think He saw evil. I think He saw His children—His own flesh and blood—confused, manipulated, irrational and misguided, victims of legalism run amuck.

     This begs a few questions. When you hear words like betrayal, false accusation, injustice or offense, what face or faces immediately come to mind? I would venture that at least one face appears. And here is the challenge: As God looks at the names and faces in your mind, what do you think He sees? Of course, He’s not blind; He saw what they did to you. But what do you think God sees? What do you think He wants you to see?

     I have discovered that trouble is one of God’s great servants because it reminds us how we need Him continually. God is not put off by your struggles. He stands ready to help you, to comfort you and to heal you. When you have reached the end of you, God is always there. He is on the mountaintop, and He is in the valley. When you are ready to throw up your hands, throw them up to Him.

     God is the creator of new things. It’s time to let Him give you a new beginning . . . a restart. It’s time to stop limping and allow God to bind up your bruises and heal your wounds: “Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound” (Isaiah 30:26, emphasis added).

     Answer these simple questions and make a few decisions right where you are:

     Do you want to be right or reconciled?

     Do you want to be hurt or healed?

     Do you want to keep being the victim or start becoming whole?

     There is only one path to forgiveness. You must love like you have never been hurt. You have to be willing to say the hardest words ever said:

     “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.”

     “Father, forgive him. He knew not what he did.”

     “Father, forgive her. She simply does not understand the hurt she has caused.”

     “Father, forgive him. He could not possibly know the pain he caused.”

            . . . and yet, I ask You to forgive them and heal the hurt that is in me.”

     My guess is that there was one sentence above that resonated. Take a moment and find your sentence and think about it. Then pray on it a moment. Ask God to give you the strength and His Fatherly perspective to see that person or persons in a way you have not thought of. Ask the Lord to begin a work of forgiveness in you. More than likely this won’t all be solved right now, but I challenge you to give God permission to begin a healing work in you. Ask Him to begin the work of renewing your mind for the hurt you are holding on to, and for the person who caused the pain.

     The Holy Spirit will never go where He is not invited. Perhaps your greatest next step down the pathway to forgiving like you’ve never been hurt is in the act of giving God permission to do a new work in you.

     Allow me to pray this prayer over you as you read it.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, how hard those words must have been for You to say: “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” Help me to say those words in every situation, offering up those who have hurt me or someone I love. Teach me Your perspective, Lord. Help me see what You see so I can do what You want me to do. Thank You for forgiving me.

Based off the book Restart Your Heart by Jentezen Franklin used by permission of Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright 2018.