Father, forgive them...

Lately I've been watching The Bible dvds. If you're not familiar with them, it's a series of Bible stories from the creation up to the book of Acts. Today I watched the crucifixion & it moved me in a beautiful way.

I found tears running down my cheeks as I watched the Roman soldiers beat Yeshua until he could barely walk. I felt my chin trembling as I watched Yeshua pick up his cross, lean forward, and gently kiss it. I swiped tears as I watched Mary, obviously distressed, run out to her bloody and battered Son. I was overcome with emotion by a story I've read and heard a thousand times before. 

But this time? It was real.

You see, I was there with them.

I was there as they were screaming “Crucify him!”

I felt my heart breaking as I watched the Romans beat Jesus until he resembled a piece of raw meat.

And I nailed him to the cross. Not physically, of course, but it was my sins-our sins-that nailed Jesus to that tree.

As the Romans whipped Jesus, I found myself wanting to scream, “He's innocent, don't you see? He didn't do anything wrong!” It hit me for the first time how...pure and innocent this God-man was. As I watched the soldiers mock Jesus and yell at him on the cross, I wanted Jesus to come down. I wanted him to show them who was boss. I wanted him to display his might and power! Anything but hang on the cross without replying to their harsh comments.

All he said was, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.”

Father...forgive them...For they know what they do.

Jesus forgave the men who murdered him.

Why is it I struggle to forgive the people I love who hurt me?

Instead, I want to make them feel sorry for what they did, hear a sincere apology, then forgive them. But that is not the way our Teacher showed us.

And so every time I struggle with forgiving someone who has wronged me, I think to myself... “Jesus forgave the men who nailed him to the cross. How can I do anything less?” Make it a little more personal, if you want. “Jesus forgave me. How can I do anything less?”
I guarantee you will be hurt in life. Not just by your enemies, but also by those who love you the most. You can either let bitterness and resentment overtake you or you can forgive them. Remember forgiveness is not a feeling; it's a choice. 

But after all.

How can we do anything less?