A Lesson on Forgiveness"

This is based on a study that I am doing during the Season of Lent on the "Seven Last Sayings of Christ on the Cross." This is derived from our Lord's First Saying on the Cross; "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

One of the hardest things to do from experience is to forgive and forget! I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, and even said myself, "I can forgive; but I just can’t forget." But, as Henry Ward Beecher reminds us this is not forgiveness. He writes; "‘I can forgive, but I cannot forget,’ is another way of saying, ‘I will not forgive.’ A forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note, torn in two and burned up, so that it can never [be brought up again]."
This is exactly what God has done for us. The first saying from the cross offers us a powerful lesson on forgiveness. Jesus said; "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Jesus was interceding for those who were carrying out and involved in his crucifixion and pleading on their behalf for the Father to forgive them. In this very instance Jesus assumes his role as our Great Mediator and Intercessor. He is not only the sacrifice for the sins of the world, but also the High Priest - the one who makes intercessions to God the Father on our behalf.
This prayer was not only meant for those who had a literal hand in the crucifixion of Christ, but also for those whose sins Christ bore on that first Good Friday. For it was our sins which, as a scapegoat, he carried to the cross. Thus, we had a hand in his crucifixion.
The story is told that when the great painter, Rembrandt was painting the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion, along with the crowd of onlookers he painted his own self in the crowd. He did this as a way of expressing his hand - sin, that was responsible for Jesus’ death. The old hymn asks; "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" the answer is yes, you were there - standing in the crowd. And, what a comfort it is know that Jesus looked down from the cross and said; "Father, forgive them..."
The Hebrew word nasa’ is a word "to forgive." This powerful words suggests "to bear" or "to forgive." This word quickly called to mind the idea or concept of the scapegoat to the Hebrew people. In Leviticus chapter 18 we read of Aaron confessing all of the sins of the people of Israel over the head of a live goat. After placing the sins of the people onto the goat, the goat was then escorted into the wilderness on the Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement, to symbolize taking away their sins. The term, "scapegoat" was used to refer to one of the two goats that served as a sin offering on the Day of Atonement. One of the goats was sacrificed as part of the sin offering and the other was kept alive so it could be taken into the wilderness by an escort. These two goats or, better yet, their roles were a foreshadowing of Christ’s role as both our Sacrifice and Scapegoat. Upon Christ were placed all our sins, he was led out of the city to Golgotha where he died for our sins.
The word for "forgive" that our Lord spoke from the cross, when asking the Father to "forgive" those who had taken part in his crucifixion, is the Greek word aphiemi, which literally means; "to omit". It denotes the idea of not only omitting or forgiving one’s sins, but also forgetting them. The Psalmist wrote; "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). What a profound thought! The Holy God, not only forgives our sins but also forgets them. The One who offers forgiveness, receives our repentance, our confessions and expressions of being sorry for having offended him and grants us forgiveness - to the point he promises to forget them.
Such a thought brings light the prayer our Lord gave us; "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" (The Lord’s Prayer).
Forgiveness is vital! How can we expect to be benefactors of God’s forgiveness, if we are not willing to forgive others? We can’t! That is what Jesus meant when he said; "so when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sisters, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24). Forgiveness means giving up the right to react to the injustice done to you. When we are not willing to forgive we contribute to the problem rather than the solution. Forgiveness allows new beginnings.
There is a story that is told of a woman in Rwanda, a country torn apart by civil war and strife, whose son was killed by another soldier. Despite this, she refused to become bitter like so many others had during the ethnic war. Instead, she prayed for her killer to repent. One day the killer came to her and handed her his gun and told her to take him to the authorities to be punished, which would likely result in execution. Instead, the punishment she inflicted was to take this young soldier into her home in place of her son and care for him. She said; "The only way to God is through the house of your enemy. If you cannot forgive, you cannot expect forgiveness in return. The way to the cross always passes through your neighbor’s house." This is the forgiveness that Jesus both taught and expressed on the cross that day.
When forgiveness is expressed it becomes a testimony and witness to God’s love, grace and forgiveness. That is why forgiveness is so important! That is why it is one of God’s greatest gifts and he wants us to not only experience it, but also to share it. "Father, forgive them..." can you offer such a prayer? I hope so, because Jesus did for you!