The Easter Story In Virtual RealitySample

The Death of Jesus in Virtual Reality

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"Father, forgive them." (Luke 23:34)

One of the most amazing things about the crucifixion of Jesus is His reaction immediately after the Roman soldiers drove the nails into His feet. At a moment like this we would expect any normal person to respond with either screams of pain or foul cursing. Remarkably, the first words recorded from Jesus' mouth are "Father, forgive them." This radical declaration of forgiveness to his tormentors confirms just how much Jesus' natural mind was conformed to His Father's will. He forgave the people who committed this torturous act both willingly and obediently. Jesus submitted everything that He endured into His Father's hands, in order to carry out God's will. He came to show us the Father's heart, and at its core is forgiveness. Jesus' crucifixion is not just an historical event for us to look back on, but an example for us to follow.

Think about this - Jesus Himself taught us to forgive our brethren from our hearts, and that if we did not forgive them, the Father would not forgive us (Matthew 16:14-15, 18:35). Surely the greatest expression of forgiveness is to excuse someone who is in the process of torturing you to death. If Jesus could pray that the Father would forgive these men at the height of His agony, is this not a sublime lesson for us? Even when we are deeply offended, and when our hearts have been broken, forgiveness is not only possible but admonished. We can and must ask the Holy Spirit to be the Lord of our hearts, in order to forgive others "just as God in Christ has forgiven us." (Eph. 4:32)

Forgiveness is never a work of the flesh. It is nothing that we can conjure from within ourselves. It is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us. The degree to which we invite Him into our pain is the degree to which we will be able to forgive others, and receive God's ultimate blessings.

Transformational thought - Don't let offenses grow into unhealthy and debilitating grudges. Forgive others from your heart. God's Spirit within you will help you.

Transformational prayer - Lord, let Your Spirit, Your selfless example, and Your Word transform me into a person who both loves and forgives. Let the sweet aroma of Christ permeate each of my thoughts and deeds.

All Gospel references in this plan are from The Merged Gospels translation of the four Gospels. The video above is based on Stories 279-286 of The Merged Gospels.