FATHER FORGIVE

• DAY 109
• FAITH FILE: THE COURAGE OF JESUS
• SCRIPTURE: LUKE 23:34

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.”

LUKE 23:34 NKJV

People will turn on you. That’s the first thought I had as I read this chapter and the entire journey from Gethsemane to the cross. First the sleeping prayer partners, then the kiss of betrayal, desertion and denial of the disciples, the stripes and beatings and the decision of the mob to save a murderer over the miracle working saviour. Ah!!!

Where were the people He healed, the once He cast the devil off their family members? What happened to the friends of the blind, lame, adulterous, tax collectors and sinners? Nobody, could stand up for Him? Not one person? Did they join the chant to crucify Him, were they conveniently absent or did they just decide to keep silent? Either way, they did Jesus dirty. And I would have thought that when Jesus finally got His grove back, when He finally returned to Glory, He would show them who’s boss. So imagine my surprise when He said the prayer in our text today.

A Prayer For Forgiveness

Forgive them? Who did He include in “them?” The ones that nailed Him, or the ones that deserted Him? I don’t mean to sound immature but all of “them” people needed a little dose of retribution but Jesus was not that type of guy. He was a man of faith and courage.

Jesus knew that everything He went through was in the plan. Every single detail was prophesied before His arrival. God had worked out every detail of His life to the letter and He was just living it out. But those who put Him on the cross had another thing coming.

“And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” - Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yet they too were part of the ones He died for, so He pleaded for mercy. And incase you are thinking that only Jesus could do this, let me remind you of Stephen. He forgave those who persecuted and killed him of their actions and he also prayed for them. Forgiveness i can fathom but asking God to forgive is beyond me.

Forgive & Pray

Often we tend to look at the actions of people over the plans of God, we tend to hold on to their failures and hurt more than the agenda of God in that hurt and because of this many of us are hurt, vengeful, and bitter.

But even when we do forgive, we do so hoping that God will judge them on our behalf, that He will repay them with a pressed down, shaken together, and running over measure. We never think to do what Jesus said in Matthew 5.

““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” -Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Beloved, we need grace. We all do. I know by experience that kneeling to pray for someone you can prove beyond reasonable doubt hates you and wants nothing good for you is hard. So let’s lean on God’s already supplied grace.

Pray now for that evil colleague, mean boss, debtor, client, landlord and frenemy. Say, Father, forgive them. And if you still struggle with unforgiveness pray now for healing. Tell God you want to obey but you’re going to need help with the hurt you feel in your heart. In Jesus name. Amen

Shalom