Today is a day of celebration!
The Holy Week is not a sad and somber week as many would want to portray it. In actuality, the Holy Week is a celebration! It is a celebration of the greatest miracles that God has ever done in our lives – Salvation.
As we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us reflect on the 7 last words of Jesus Christ and its significance in our present and daily lives. What does it mean for us personally?
This is a beginning of a 7-part series of The 7 Last Words of Jesus Christ – It’s Significance to Our Personal Lives.
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do – Luke 23:34
If you read the first part of the chapter where He said this, you will see the harsh things that Jesus Christ went through in the hands of the people.
The very people who welcomed Him inside Jerusalem, shouting “Hosanna” were the same people who sent Him to Pilate and strongly appealed for Him to be sentenced to death. Then, from thenceforth, Jesus was subjected to endless and unimaginably painful torture.
He was mocked, sent to different people to be evaluated, and found not guilty, He was stripped off of His robe, spat on His face, crowned with a crown of thorns, flogged more than a hundred times that His flesh was torn out of His body – unimaginable pain and suffering.
Yet, as He was hanging on the cross, He looked up the sky and said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
The Unconditional Forgiveness through Jesus Christ
If you are a parent, have you ever seen someone hurt your child? Doesn’t it make you so angry that you’d want to just crush someone’s skull?
Imagine seeing your child going through the same things that Jesus went through. What would you have done if you are the Father?
The first word of Jesus shows us this:
– That even before Jesus Christ died on the cross, He was already appealing for us.
Jesus Christ was already appealing to the Father to forgive us for we are not aware of what we’re doing.
Were we really unaware? Were these people really unaware? The truth is, these people know what they are doing. However, because they are spiritually dead and are blinded by hate, jealousy, greed, and fear of being stripped of power, they did this.
And these are things that blind us even up to this day.
Sometimes, even though we know what’s right and wrong, it becomes blurry when we start to fear our future, become too greedy of power and money and so much more.
But isn’t it assuring to know that no matter what we have done or no matter where you are or what you’re doing with your life right now, Jesus is there, mediating for you, asking God to forgive you?
That is the wonderful news of Jesus’ death for us. That we have unconditional love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
The Unconditional Grace
If you think you’re unredeemable. If you think you’ve done too much that there’s no turning back, think again.
Look at what these people did to Jesus Christ – how they treated Him, how NO ONE pleaded for Him, and how He was betrayed and denied even by His followers.
Nothing is unforgivable. You were forgiven through Jesus Christ. And that’s the unconditional love of God.
Does that mean you can keep sinning then? I don’t think you would want to keep sinning though.
If someone died for you just so you can live, wouldn’t you want to lead a better life? Wouldn’t you want to make your life worth it in reverence and respect to the one who sacrificed for you?
In the same manner, if you know that the only Son of God had to go through this much suffering just for you to be saved, you wouldn’t want to disappoint Him at all. And therefore, you wouldn’t want to sin ever again.
This is the logic of God’s unconditional grace.
Choose Him Now
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds, we are healed.
If you are suffering in any way right now, mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially, remember this – Jesus Christ has already suffered it on your behalf.
Just come to Jesus Christ and surrender everything to Him. Leave it all at His feet and receive the redemption that He has given you.
And you will experience the peace of God that passes all knowledge and understanding.
We’d want to pray for you. If you have something you want to pray for, talk to us.
You can message us at +1 (707) 600 – 6010 or leave us a message on our Jesus Reigns Ministries Facebook page or DM us on Instagram @jrmvallejo.