In this narrative of Jesus’s last hours, we encounter a slew of hard hearts. Sin has clouded with unjust vengeance the vision of those who once saw Jesus heal the blind and broken. Jesus, who was celebrated with a welcome fit for a victorious general, is now treated as a criminal—more guilty than Barabbas, a known murderer.
The officials treated Jesus as a joke, a troublemaker, a heretic—unable to see true power in humility. When everyone around Him was mocking Him, Jesus was a calm presence, offering mercy: “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Instead of asking for justice and wrath—even as the officials tempted Jesus to ask for God’s help to bring him down from the cross—He goes so far as to ask God to forgive them. Amid pain and persecution, Jesus offers forgiveness.
I’ve experienced what it feels like to have people spread lies about my character and intentions. I have felt them judge me, say hurtful words about me, and wish ill things for me. It’s easy to want God to persecute them instead of offering them forgiveness. Yet the only truly innocent one showed us how we can be merciful when we experience persecution, rejection, and hurt—we pray.
Only through Jesus’s blood can we hold the pain our enemies bring us and God’s free gift of forgiveness simultaneously. With a knowledge of God’s saving grace through Jesus, we can pray for our enemies knowing it is not within our power to offer forgiveness, but God’s. Phew. It takes the pressure off. As we wrestle with our limitations to forgive, we can trust that God can carry us gently through the process of healing and reconciling. When we are the wrongdoer waiting anxiously for someone to accept our apology, we can come to Jesus knowing that he has already canceled out our debt and called us “free.”
Who is Jesus? Jesus is merciful. He has the capacity to have compassion in our pain and extend a hand, offering a second chance to those who “do not know what they are doing.”
Taylor- you are going to be amazed at how much you will be at home at the YA gathering. You will know them already, by the Spirit! Excited for you.
In today’s reading in Luke 23:25, I thought it interesting that it says, “Pilate granted their demand and surrendered Jesus to their will.” But it wasn’t their will that was being satisfied, it was the will of the Father – as we read yesterday in Luke 22:42. God is the Master Planner. It was His plan since the beginning of time. Praise God, He made a way for us to be forgiven! Thank you Jesus for not coming down off that cross – it is the only thing that stands between me and eternity lost! Wonderful, merciful Savior!
A blessed Wednesday to you all!
KELLY NEO, I did read through Leviticus (and study) but didn’t remember about the specific offering for sins of ignorance. Thank you for mentioning that! I did a search and found a long sermon :) by Charles Surgeon on the topic. He ended with this comforting remark:
“My dear hearers, you are bound to confess your sins to God; but if pardon were offered you upon the condition that you should mention every sin you have committed, not one of you would ever be saved. We do not know, and if we ever did know, we cannot remember all our shortcomings, and all our transgressions; but the mercy is, though we do not know them, HE does, and he can blot them out. Though we cannot weep over them with a distinct knowledge of them, because they are not known to us, yet Jesus bled for them with a distinct knowledge of them all, and they are all put away by his unknown sufferings,— all cast into the deeps where an angel’s eye can never trace them. By his agonies immense, unsearchable, endured for us, and by his merits, infinite as his divine nature, our Redeemer has taken away that thick darkness of iniquity which we were not capable of comprehending. O believing sinner, the debt thou knowest not thy glorious Surety has nevertheless borne and discharged for thee. Blessings on his name. Rest in him, and then go thy way and rejoice. Amen.”
THANK YOU, BAILEY T. HURLEY, for another excellent devo – “Who is Jesus? Jesus is merciful. He has the capacity to have compassion in our pain and extend a hand, offering a second chance to those who “do not know what they are doing.”
May we all continue to put our hands in the nail-scarred hand.
Praying along with the requests.
TAYLOR and SARAH D- asking God to guide your heart and spirit as you seek out friends and fellowship!
@Lexi B– your response yesterday to my comment convicted me as well! There is a worship night at my church tonight and I am going. I was kind of dreading going for some reason. It felt like another “obligation” but I always force myself to go to these because I know they are beneficial. I haven’t had time to worship in my room recently… My sister has been in it a lot sick or just decompressing. So now I know I should go to this worship night for sure!
@Brenda- I also struggle with people pleasing. I thought I had gotten over a lot of it, but yesterday it was brought to my attention that I still care a little too much about how others receive me. I have went through times of rejection, but I guess there is still this measure of acceptance I search for in others. May the Lord break us of this!!!
@Taylor– glad to see you’re going to bible study!! I am in a young women’s group at my church that has been beneficial. It will help to have community around you to help understand Scripture and the issues of life they touch on :) May the Lord help you stay consistent and feel safe in that space.
Lord, we have all been the thieves on the cross. We all struggle to do good all the time. Forgive us and help us to live to please you. May we have eyes to see when people betray us, that God you don’t. And You have compassion on us all. Help us to have character like Jesus that is humble in face of our betrayers and mockers. Only by your Spirit– in Jesus name. Amen.
These parts of the readings, the scripture, is so,so powerful and impactful. So much to process when you break it down. The mocking, and being spit at, wrongly accused, abandoned by friends and the people he had healed…it just breaks your heart. YET..how could he save us all, if not for the cross! It is what everything is based on, for you and I to have security in an everlasting life, with our Heavenly Father, to be in Paradise with Jesus!!
I thank him everyday for this sacrifice, the perfect lamb, blood shed for us. Lord, help me to live in reverence for this gift, to praise you as the Almighty King that you are, the gift of eternal life. Each day is also a gift to show others, tell others, be your hands and feet, and live for your glory. Life changes when we understand this. We are born again, on fire for you Lord, and I want anyone I encounter to know how much my life is for you. Nothing else matters in the long run, except love for other, a light for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you…
Forgiveness is so powerful. I’m so thankful that He has forgiven my sins. And I’m so thankful that He helps me work on forgiving those that that I need to forgive. It’s not always an easy thing to do. Thank you everyone for all of your prayers! Continuing to pray for all of you ❤️
Good morning everyone! Hope you all have a good day. Praying for you @Taylor! I went to my small group last night. I was nervous, but we had fun. It has helped that I continue to go so that I can get to know the people more over time. There were guys there last night which was why I was nervous haha, but hoping this will help me get more comfortable just hanging out around guys. Seems trivial but it’s something that doesn’t come naturally to me. Praying for you all!! Hoping I get better with my mornings, I haven’t been waking up as early as I should to have a good amount of time for my devo. Work in progress!
Father I am a sinner, thank You that I am righteous in Your sight by the saving blood of Jesus. King Jesus, the lamb that was slain, how I long to see You return as the Lion of Judah! Your people await your return! In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!