Jesus Offers Forgiveness

OPENING PRAYER:

Lord, forgiving others is difficult. As we consider the words of the sermon on this topic, help us put them into practice. Amen

READ: Luke 23:34 (NIV)

“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)

REFLECT:

This week we are beginning a series entitled “The Last Words” leading us to Easter. O.S. Hawkins in his book The Prayer Code calls these “Prayers from the Cross.” Hawkins entitles this a compassionate prayer. He states, “The tense in the New Testament indicates that this was not a single prayer shot at random from dying lips but one that was repeated over and over and over.” He goes on to write, “No one knows how many times that prayer penetrated the heavens that day. Jesus dies loving others and praying on their behalf.” Jesus’ love and willingness to do this is beyond anything I can imagine.

There is no way I could have been this benevolent towards someone who was treating me like Jesus was treated. Growing up I was quite heavy and took much tormenting for it. One nickname I had was “two ton.” In high school I was put down because of my weight by several of the students and one teacher. This was devastating to me. I can’t imagine that I was ever willing to ask for them to be forgiven as I was being bullied. Christ took more abuse than this but lived out what he preached because he knew it would lead to the salvation for many. Isaiah 53:12b states, “because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (ESV)

APPLY:

Christ modeled for us how we are to respond to others when we are being mistreated. O.S. Hawkins closes his discussion of this prayer by saying that, “This prayer is recorded in order that we might know the power and liberating effect that forgiving others can have on and in our lives.”

CLOSING PRAYER:

Lord, help me to be able to ask for the forgiveness of others when I am being mistreated. Amen

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