It’s December 23rd. Christmas is nearer now than ever and this morning I read Luke 23.
In Luke 23 Jesus stood before Pilate accused of misleading a nation, not paying tribute to Ceasar, and blasphemy because he claimed to be the Christ. He was also sent to Herod. Neither Pilate nor Herod found Jesus guilty of anything deserving death. Pilate sought to release Jesus therefore. The crowds didn’t want that and being under pressure from the crowds, Pilate released Barabbas who was an insurrectionist and ordered Jesus to be crucified. That day Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified as though a criminal. Yet, he was innocent. After his death at 3pm, he was placed in the tomb of Joseph from Arimathea.
While on the cross Jesus said ten powerful words. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus requested for God to forgive his accusers, his enemies, of their wrongdoing. This is the example those who follow Jesus are to do. We Christians are to forgive as Jesus forgave.
But also understand this. Jesus’ death had a purpose. Jesus died so that the sins of all men could be forgiven. He was slain as a sacrificial Lamb, so that the sins of men would be atoned for. The Bible says all men are under sin (Rom. 3:9). The Bible says no one is good (Rom. 3:10). The Bible says all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). The Bible says that consequences of our sin is death (Rom. 6:23).
That’s why humanity needs a Savior. That Savior is Jesus Christ. God says that if we repent of our sin and confess Jesus as Lord of our life and believe that Jesus is the only Son of God who God raised from the dead, he will forgive us of our sin and grant us eternal life.