Tuesday, March 24th

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Tuesday, March 24

Luke 23:32-34

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Like most parents my wife and I tried to teach our children the importance of both apology and forgiveness early in their lives. Once, when our boys were very young, two of them got into some kind of conflict. By the time we arrived on the scene one was crying and accusing the other of whacking him or pushing him or some other heinous offense. The boy being accused looked rather guilty, so I said, “Did you whack your brother?”

He nodded sheepishly.

I said, “Is that the right thing to do?”

He shook his head.

I said, “What are you supposed to do?”

He responded dutifully, “Use my words.”

I said, “That’s right. Now, what do you say to your brother?”

He looked at the brother he had whacked and said, “I forgive you.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Right idea, wrong application!

Most of us would agree, I think, that forgiveness is both terribly important and exceedingly difficult.

Luke tells us:

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

What I notice here is that Jesus forgives first. That is, he does not wait for or require those who have mocked him, beaten him, and nailed him to the cross unjustly, to apologize or seek his forgiveness. He offers it first!

What kind of forgiveness is that?

How can you forgive someone who isn’t sorry for what they have done? How can you forgive someone who hasn’t apologized?

Most of us tend to think of forgiveness as something that must be requested or deserved by the one who needs to be forgiven.

But that’s not what Jesus teaches us.

Jesus teaches us that forgiveness is never deserved. Forgiveness, properly understood, can never be earned or deserved. Forgiveness is always a gift.

Forgiveness is a gift that is offered by the forgiver, never deserved by the forgivee.

Forgiveness is indeed costly, but that cost is paid by the forgiver, not by the one needing forgiveness.

The final truth about forgiveness is that while being forgiven does bring a kind of freedom, offering forgiveness is the greatest freedom.

Jesus forgives first because that is what forgiveness is and what forgiveness does. Jesus forgives first because his heart was free.

What can you learn about forgiveness from the one who forgives you?

Pastor Brian Coffey