It's All About Forgiveness

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. - Luke 23:34 (NIV)

Listen to Jesus.  Notice “Father” is the very first word that comes out of His mouth at the onset of intense physical and emotional pain.  Jesus doesn’t call down fire and brimstone He calls on the Father.  Instructive.  Secondly, Jesus sets the tone of the crucifixion in His first words…its about forgiveness.  It was about forgiveness from the beginning, when His mission was bringing joy during His first recorded miracle and Jesus turned water into wine, it was about forgiveness.  When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, it was about forgiveness. When He taught the multitude at the Lake of Gennesaret, it was about forgiveness. When Jesus told Mary that He is the resurrection, it was about forgiveness, When Jesus prayed all night so hard that he began to sweat drops of blood and His disciples couldn’t stay awake to comfort Him, it was about forgiveness. Even when Judas showed up at Jesus’ camp with hundreds of soldiers and gave Jesus the kiss of death, it was still about forgiveness. 

With Jesus, it was about forgiveness from the beginning. Despite the great pain of the nails in His hands, or the searing pain of the spike through His feet, or piercing pain of the spear in His side; Jesus does not take a detour of anger, hate or revenge. He just forgives. 

Why, maybe because He can see our pain through His pain. Why, maybe because His love is so great He can help but think of others first.  Why, maybe because He knows to do what His Father told Him.  Why, maybe because He so desires to right our broken relationship with the Father that He will do anything to repair it.  Probably all those are true.

Since He did all that for us.  Since He voluntarily left eternity for the confines of time.  Since He gave up ever expanding ubiquity to be wrapped in the diminished space of flesh.  Couldn’t we accept this wonderful gift called “forgiveness?” Can’t we just say thank you Jesus?  Shouldn’t we accept that He made our relationship right and move on to fulfill our call in Him?  Couldn’t we just know that He is the perfect sacrifice and He needs no assistance from us to finish His work? Do we need to increase Jesus’ work from the cross by questioning His unfathomable example of love?

I say “NO!” It has been about forgiveness from the beginning and it's about His forgiveness now. Maybe that is why the first of Jesus’ last words started with forgiveness. Our job is to accept His forgiveness enjoy our right relationship with the Father through Jesus and fulfill the call God has on our lives.  Accept His forgiveness.

-Wil McCall