"Father, Forgive Them" Is Deep

Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. [Proverbs 11.17]

This verse is not far removed from the following verse in the same chapter of Proverbs:

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. [Proverbs 11.25]

Reciprocity (see definition) is what is presented here and it has much (everything actually) to do with Biblical forgiveness.

Since my post yesterday, I have been quite focused on forgiveness. Kindness, as mentioned above, is a form of forgiveness. Generosity, also mentioned above, is a form of forgiveness. In fact, many other words we use to describe "good unto others" are indeed forgiveness at their root. 

Let's compare several passages that might shed more light on forgiveness. Let's start with the Golden Rule.

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. [Luke 6.31]

Did you know that God made this clear long before Jesus came to earth? Check this out:

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. [Leviticus 19.18]

Jesus not only quoted this passage, but, in continuity with it, made it clear that our refusal to forgive others prevents our forgiveness from God.  

But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6.15]

Here is a Biblical fact: God's love did not save the world. It is why He saved the world, but it was not how He saved the world. God saved the world by forgiveness. Otherwise, John 3.16 would sound something like this: "God loved the world so He saved it." But we all know John 3.16 says something entirely different:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]

Here is another Biblical fact: We are not saved because God forgave us! Hang on... We are saved because God forgave Jesus as He took on our sin (the sin of the world). 

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. [2 Corinthians 5.21]

What's more (and this is the truly deep part), God did this, not because Jesus asked for forgiveness, but because Jesus forgave others, He did not say, "Father, forgive Me." He said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” As the world brutally murdered Jesus, transferring all their sin upon Him, He asked forgiveness for them - He forgave them. God's immeasurable pleasure with this selfless act of Jesus' faith (in asking forgiveness for the world whose sin He was suffering) was proven on the third day following when Jesus arose from the grave. Jesus was resurrected so all who believe in Him might, in Him, enjoy the forgiveness He secured by His sacrificial death on their behalf.

Our faith in the resurrected Christ puts us in Him. So, what does that mean?

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12] 

What are those same works that we are to do? All the miraculous things Jesus did - summed up in this one sentence:

 “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” [Luke 23.34a]

Every work Jesus performed for people was an act of forgiveness. Therefore, every work we do in Him is an act of forgiveness.

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man,  “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” [Matthew 9.1-6]

With this in mind then, what are the greater works Jesus mentioned in John 14.12? Jesus forgave us once (and for all time) on His cross. What we have the opportunity to do that is greater than what Jesus did is to forgive others daily as we take up our own cross (the place where Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”). Check this out:

Then he said to the crowd,  “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. [Luke 9.23]

The cross has been made out to be many things, but ultimately it is the place of forgiveness. Jesus took up His cross once. We have the opportunity to take up our cross every day. 

In no circumstance are we more like Jesus than when we forgive. AND, in no circumstance do we exceed Jesus' works except that we die daily as we remain in Him. And when we are like Jesus (we are in Him and) we are saved. 

Until we are broken and die to our right for justice by forgiving others, God's forgiveness is not for us.

Father, I cannot even begin to fathom all that is discussed here. Your grace is amazing. Your plan to save the world (including me) is a masterpiece of wisdom. Father, forgive those who have hurt me - truly, they do not understand what is said here and so, don't know what they are doing.