Topics – Forgiveness, Love, Reconciliation, Relationships, Repentance
When Jesus prayed from the cross, “Father, forgive them …” he was expressing the radical love of the Father that extends forgiveness to all the world. While such an expression of forgiveness is far from typical, it contains the ability to heal, transform hearts and release people to forgive others.
Focus Scripture – Luke 23:26-34HIDESHOW
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30 Then
" 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
and to the hills, "Cover us!" ' [a]
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 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. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." [b] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
" 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
and to the hills, "Cover us!" ' [a]
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 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. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." [b] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Extended SummaryHIDESHOW
As Jesus is hanging naked and humiliated, dying on the cross, he prays for the forgiveness of all his executioners. “Father, forgive them…” It very well could be the most amazing, beautiful and important prayer in the Bible. The questions raised by Jesus' prayer include: Can we believe that Jesus expresses the Father’s heart when he prays this prayer? Can we believe the Father answers this prayer? Can we believe the God’s forgiveness extends to all? And can we ourselves learn to forgive like this?
In the New Testament, there are kinds of “forgiveness.” The first refers to a release of debt that does not require the other party to acknowledge or receive the release. The second involves reconciliation, which cannot happen unless the offending party repents and asks for forgiveness. The first is unconditional, but the second cannot be experienced unless both parties are complicit.
Many people think all forgiveness is conditional, that God doesn’t forgive unless you repent and we shouldn’t forgive unless the offending party repents. If this is so, then Jesus' prayer makes no sense. It would imply that every single sin you commit remains unforgiven until you repent of it.
Unforgiveness is rooted in a demonic illusion. While it feels empowering, but it’s actually dis-empowering and destructive. By refusing to release a debit, you’re surrendering the keys to your own freedom and well being over to the other person. We should extend unconditional forgiveness to all because it’s good for us, but even more fundamentally, we do so because this is how god forgives us. God’s forgiveness is unconditional and extends to all, not just to those who repent.
In the New Testament, there are kinds of “forgiveness.” The first refers to a release of debt that does not require the other party to acknowledge or receive the release. The second involves reconciliation, which cannot happen unless the offending party repents and asks for forgiveness. The first is unconditional, but the second cannot be experienced unless both parties are complicit.
Many people think all forgiveness is conditional, that God doesn’t forgive unless you repent and we shouldn’t forgive unless the offending party repents. If this is so, then Jesus' prayer makes no sense. It would imply that every single sin you commit remains unforgiven until you repent of it.
Unforgiveness is rooted in a demonic illusion. While it feels empowering, but it’s actually dis-empowering and destructive. By refusing to release a debit, you’re surrendering the keys to your own freedom and well being over to the other person. We should extend unconditional forgiveness to all because it’s good for us, but even more fundamentally, we do so because this is how god forgives us. God’s forgiveness is unconditional and extends to all, not just to those who repent.
Practical Applications (homework)HIDESHOW
We’re called to follow the pattern of Jesus in our radical forgiveness of others, but it’s often very difficult to do. Go through this exercise as your homework for the week:
- Think of a person you haven’t forgiven for something. This could be a wound from your past, or something that’s currently going on. It could be someone who did something directly to you or maybe they hurt someone you care about. Picture them in your mind, and get in touch with your feelings about them and what they did.
- At the heart of our demand for “payment” for being mistreated is the sense that we’ve had something stolen from us. Identify what they harmed or took from you. Your sense of worth? Your honor? What have you lost because of them? A feeling of safety? Self-respect? Dignity? Write these things down if it would help you process your emotions.
- In prayer, go to God with this wound. Share with him how you were mistreated and how it made you feel. Tell him what was taken from you and how much it is still bothering you. Hear and see him empathize with you. Let him remind you about his love for you, and that he can be the source of all your significance, worth, dignity and safety. Experience him returning everything you were robbed of. Hear him ask you to release this pain to him and to no longer hold it against the person who hurt you.
- In prayer and in your imagination, spend some time relaxing with God. Bask in his love and acceptance for you. Feel the release from the burden of your unforgiveness and trust God to take care of it.
Reflection QuestionsHIDESHOW
- What stood out to you most from this message and the supporting texts?
- When you think about God’s forgiveness, what is your immediate response? Do you see yourself as freely forgiven, unconditionally? Why or why not?
- Put yourself on the day that Jesus was hanging on the cross. What is your place that day? Are you a soldier who is gambling for his clothes? Are you mocking him? Are you a bi-stander? Maybe you are the disciple John or one of the women who remained? What are you feeling right now? Then you hear Jesus say, “Father forgive them …” What is going on in your heart after you hear him say that?
- What is the different between unconditional forgiveness and reconciliation which is conditional?
- Can you share a time when you have been forgiven in an unconditional way? How did that impact you? What was your response to it?
- How does the experience of unconditional forgiveness impact how we forgive others? How does the lack of it impact our ability to forgive others?