The first & last words that Jesus uttered on that cross were prayers to the Father. The first were asking forgiveness to those who had done this. The second words were forgiveness to a man crucified next to Him. As followers of Jesus, we celebrate the crucifixion & death of Jesus on the cross because He died that we might live a new life. Truth is……He still lives! And we often struggle with forgiving someone that was a little “cross” with us…..
Luke 23:34 (TNIV)
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”Luke 23:29-48 (TNIV)
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Greek word used by Jesus in Luke 6:37 that is translated as “forgive” is apoluo [ap-ol-oo-o]. This word is has other meanings: “release”, “put away”, “send away”, “let go”, “to set free–to detain no longer”, “to loose the bonds” ….as in when someone is a prisoner.
When we ask God for forgiveness, He wants to set us free to move forward. He wants us to no longer be detained by our sin. Release yourself by asking God for forgiveness. Know that God has let go of that sin or wrong and you should let go also. Remember that true repentance is a turning around, a turning away from that which God knows harms us.
Ask Jesus to open the doors before you to the new life that He promised, and don’t look back. God doesn’t….you don’t have too. He wants us to move forward into a life lived to the fullest.
Isaiah 43:25 (TNIV)
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
The key here is, I believe, to LEARN from our mistakes, not to become crippled by our memory of those mistakes. Think about it, if someone YOU love makes a mistake, sins, or messes up………you would want them to learn from them and move on, wouldn’t you?
My grandson lied to his mom one day (as little children do) and yes, she corrected him and he suffered consequences for his lying. However, she wanted him to learn from his mistake….not keep paying for it. In a sense, she remembered it no more. At least until he does it again. Then it is a separate sin that is dealt with then. The key for him is to learn not to lie, it is not to be so reminded of his error as to not be able to get beyond it. I know that this is a pretty simple example, but hopefully you get the idea.
Luke 6:37-38 (TNIV)
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”