The Word of Forgiveness

2/26/2023

"Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'[1] And they cast lots to divide his garments" (Luke 23:32–34).

COLLECT OF THE DAY: The First Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen (ACNA 2019 Book of Common Prayer).

(We typically read the prayer for Ash Wednesday throughout Lent along with the Collect of the Day).

COLLECT OF THE DAY: Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (ACNA 2019 Book of Common Prayer).

Father

The Father-Son relationship between Jesus and God the Father runs all through Luke's gospel. For Luke, Jesus is the “Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32) and the “Son of God” (Luke 1:35, 3:38). As a young man, he tells his parents when they found him in the temple that “I must be in my Father’s house” (Luke 2:49). At his baptism, God his Father declares, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased” (Luke 3:22). At his temptation, the devil tempts Jesus to prove his status as the Son of God (Luke 4:3, 9). At his Transfiguration, God declares of Jesus, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35). Jesus reveals, in prayer, that his Father had given him all things and that he (Jesus) was the only way for people to know God the Father (Luke 10:22). He teaches his disciples to pray to “our Father” for his kingdom to break into the world, for daily sustenance, for forgiveness, and for protection from temptation (Luke 11:2–4). In Gethsemane, he prays to his Father that the cup of suffering would pass from him, but ultimately, he surrenders to his father’s will (Luke 22:42). And his Father’s will was suffering and death on a cross.

Forgiveness

        Jesus’s first saying from the cross is, unsurprisingly, a prayer directed to his heavenly Father. Such was his relationship with his heavenly Father. He looked to him at every moment. So, what did Jesus say, after he had been betrayed by a friend, falsely accused, wrongfully convicted, mocked and shamed, beaten and flogged, stripped of clothes and dignity, and nailed to a Roman cross? He did not denounce his traitor. He did not correct his accusers. He did not castigate the cowardly Roman governor or vengeful Jewish leaders. He did not return insult for insult. He did not lash out at those who lashed out at him. He did not curse those who mistreated him. Rather, he prayed that God would forgive. How could he—whose mission was to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), who preached that heaven rejoices at the salvation of sinners (Luke 15:1–32), who taught others to pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4)—do otherwise?

Application

        How should we respond to Jesus’s Word of Forgiveness? First, we should marvel at the glory of Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God left heaven, took on human flesh, and endured humiliation to the point of death. What mysterious glory! Who could have invented such an “upside-down” story? Such is our Savior. Second, we should believe in him and receive him by faith. He wants to forgive. Maybe you’ve followed Jesus for decades. He still loves to forgive you. Maybe you’ve ignored Jesus for decades. He would love to forgive you. Come in faith to the one who said, “Father, forgive them.” Third, we should, in humble reliance on the Holy Spirit, follow Jesus’s example, especially in responding with grace and forgiveness toward those who mistreat us.[2] We are to forgive as we have been forgiven (Matt 18:21–35). We are much, much lower than Jesus and the offenses that we endure are much, much less than he endured. Surely he is able to help us to endure such trials.

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[1] Virtually every English Bible includes a footnote at this verse noting that some manuscripts omit this saying. Some very fine scholars come to different conclusions about whether or not this saying was written by Luke. However, even those who think that this saying was not originally part of Luke’s gospel think that it is genuine, that is, Jesus really said it and early Christians felt the need to preserve it so they stuck it in Luke’s gospel because it fit thematically. I personally think that the evidence tips in favor of the saying being originally part of Luke’s gospel, so I have treated it that way.

[2] Caveats don’t fit well in the devotional genre, but I also don’t want people to misunderstand what I am saying. Exhibiting Christ-like forgiveness doesn’t mean that we never seek physical protection for ourselves or others. It doesn’t mean that we never seek justice when we have been wronged. But it does mean that our hearts disposition should be toward forgiveness even if reconciliation or restoration are impossible.