30 Day Challenge - Day 7

Forgiveness is the Beginning

Without forgiveness communion would not exist.

Luke 23:34-38, 47-48 TPT

“While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, he prayed over and over, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”

The soldiers, after they crucified him, gambled over his clothing.

A great crowd gathered to watch what was happening. The religious leaders sneered at Jesus and mocked him, saying, “Look at this man! What kind of ‘chosen Messiah’ is this? He pretended to save others, but he can’t even save himself!” The soldiers joined in the mockery by offering Jesus a drink of vinegar. Over Jesus’ head on the cross was written an inscription in Greek, Latin, and Aramaic: “This man is the king of all the Jews.” And all the soldiers laughed and scoffed at him, saying, “Hey! If you’re the king of Jews, why don’t you save yourself?”

“When the Roman captain overseeing the crucifixion witnessed all that took place, he was awestruck and glorified God. Acknowledging what they had done, he said, “I have no doubt; we just killed the righteous one.”

“The crowds that had gathered to observe this spectacle went back to their homes, overcome with deep sorrow and devastated by what they had witnessed.”

We cannot become numb to the phrase “they crucified Him:” He was innocent. In the moment of great injustice He repeatedly cried out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.

I believe that this was the single most powerful statement He ever made.

When Jesus said “Father, forgive them for they know not what the do”, the centurion standing there was forgiven. When Jesus died, the centurion was overcome by what he had witnessed.

Not only did he watch of the son of God die but he was forgiven for his part in the injustice that day. He was so overcome that all he could do was praise the God of forgiveness.

The same crowd that yelled “crucify him” and jeered him as He hung in darkness bearing the sins of the world now went home “overcome with sorrow, overwhelmed with grief”. His words rang in their ears, like a high pitched ringing that they couldn’t run from! The words they heard over and over and over and over again! “FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO!”

As we receive communion we remember His suffering, the injustice, the torture, the death He suffered on our behalf! We celebrate the forgiveness He has given us.