Luke 23:33-43
Have you ever done anything for someone out of the goodness of your heart? How about for someone who has done you wrong…someone who has made fun of you and mocked you…someone who has stolen from you…or even someone who you know has done something wrong to someone you love? If you’re like me…it is a hard thing to do. How about forgiving someone who has done you wrong or someone you love…or even someone who you don’t even know who does something wrong…something evil to someone else? To truly forgive someone who has done wrong is a tuff thing to do. It’s our human nature. We want to see someone pay for what they have done to us or those we love…they deserve whatever they get for what they have done. But here…on the cross…Jesus shows us a different way of life. We are shown a radical forgiveness.
Jesus’ ministry on earth was pretty radical to begin with. Instead of fighting we were told to love one another as ourselves…instead of cursing our enemies we were told to pray for them…instead of thinking of our self first we were told to think of ourselves last…the last shall be first and the first shall be last. And now…here on the cross…we are shown that we are to forgive…even unto death. Jesus’ words from the cross found in vs. 34 “Father, forgive them: for they do not know what they are doing”…ushers in a new way of life for us as Christians. We are shown…no we are commanded…to forgive no matter what.
But…in these passages from Luke…I see another thing that we should do. We need to not only forgive but we need to truly forgive. When the thief asked in verse 42 “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”…he is asking for Jesus’ forgiveness and to be remembered by him. Jesus in turn completely forgives him of his sin when he tells the thief “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
I can only imagine how that thief felt when he was totally forgiven of his sins…to know and trust that he would be in Paradise with the Messiah. He knew that he deserved the death that he was facing. He knew he had done wrong in life. But …he also knew who Jesus was and that only he could truly forgive him of his sins.
My husband Ray wrote a poem about this conversation on the cross. I think it fits well with the scene that was taking place there. It is called “Asking for Forgiveness”. It reads:
In the pain of the cross,
shared by each of them, he asked
he asked for forgiveness
of the king, on the cross beside him
asking for forgiveness, for entry
through the narrow gate
the way to heaven
through the son
And the King forgave
promised him grace
and presence in paradise
that very day
What a joy that must have been
in the midst of the pain,
the humiliation, the taunting
he was to see the savior
in paradise, in forgiveness
What a joy…what freedom…this criminal must have felt on the cross…Freed from sin by God himself. WOW!
In giving forgiveness to others…we not only free ourselves from the burden of anger, of resentment, and yes even from hatred…but we also free the person who is asking for forgiveness from their sin of doing something wrong to us…from the guilt they are feeling. Let me give you an example…Someone comes and asks you for forgiveness…You say to them “yah whatever” and go about your business. Is that true forgiveness…or are you just brushing them off? Now let’s try another way…Someone comes to you and asks for forgiveness…you look at them and say something like “I forgive you, I don’t like what happened and it may take me a little while to get over it, but I do forgive you.” In this case…you are forgiving them but you are also letting them know that what they did hurt you but you are willing to work through it so that you can be at peace with what they did within yourself. This gives both you and the person who is asking for forgiveness a feeling of being free.
In reading this account in Luke…we see that both of the criminals asked to be saved. The first did so out of unbelief (Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!)…the other out of faith (Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom). The first acknowledges no wrongs and criticizes Jesus…the other his guilt and Jesus’ innocence. The first received nothing…the other all that he asked for. In order to receive forgiveness we must ask for it. We need to admit we are wrong and want to make amends for what we have done. I would like to share with you another poem…yes it’s by Ray…it is about the moment when we face our sin and ask for forgiveness. It’s called “Jesus remember me”
The sinner, in a moment of awareness
of truth about himself,
the man who was God beside him
an innocent man on the cross
“Jesus, remember me
when You come in Your kingdom!”
A prayer like none other,
but one we share, at whatever moment
when we face our sin
and beg for the grace offered
available from the father
by the blood of the son
the lamb on the altar
given for our redemption
once and for all time
In the asking, he, like we
are saved
Forgiveness…why is it so hard to do? Why do our ego’s get so bruised? Why do we do things to each other that we need to ask for forgiveness? Well…we live in a fallen world. We are told by society to look out for number one…you need to be on top no matter what…just do whatever you need to do to get there. Never admit you are wrong and when you are wrong…blame someone else (boy that one’s been around since Adam and Eve). As Children of God…as Co-Heirs with Christ…we too are called to a radical ministry. No one said it would be easy but if we are to be transformed into the likeness of Christ we must keep trying to make the changes that need to be made. We need to renew…uncondition…our minds and recondition them in the likeness of Christ.
We also need to learn to forgive ourselves in order to be able to forgive others. We human beings are sometimes reluctant to accept forgiveness. WE continue to recall our sins and failures, unable to forgive ourselves even when God has forgiven us. We know that nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, but we often act as if we are unforgivable…disbelieving that God’s anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime. If we can’t forgive ourselves…how can we extend forgiveness to others?
So…how do we begin on this road of radical forgiveness? One way I have found is to pray for those who hurt you. Not just pray that they will see the wrong that they have done but also for God to soften your heart towards them…for God to reveal any part that you may have played in the situation…for God’s grace to forgive. Another way I have found is a great visual. It was in one of the devotionals I read from the Spiritual Formation Bible. It was very powerful to me and I hope it helps you too.
If there is a person that you cannot forgive
Open your arms wide
Breathe deeply and let Jesus pray within you:
“Father, forgiven them; for they do not know what they are doing”
Believe me…this is a powerful way of asking for help to forgive. It reminds you that you have been forgiven for your sins and that you should do the same for others whose sin is more than likely less than what Jesus went to the cross for you.
Forgiveness…it is a hard process but with the grace of God all things are possible…even forgiveness from the Cross on Calvary.
AMEN
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