When a friend betrayed me, I knew I would need to forgive her, but I wasnt sure that I could. Her words pierced deeply inside me, and I felt stunned with pain and anger. Although we talked about it and I told her I forgave her, for a long time whenever Id see her I felt tinges of hurt, so I knew I still clung to some resentment. One day, however, God answered my prayers and gave me the ability to let go completely. I was finally free.
Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith, with our Savior extending forgiveness even when He was dying on the cross. Jesus loved those who had nailed Him there, uttering a prayer asking His Father to forgive them. He didnt hang on to bitterness or anger, but showed grace and love to those who had wronged Him.
This is a fitting time to consider before the Lord any people we might need to forgive as we follow Jesuss example in extending His love to those who hurt us. When we ask God through His Spirit to help us forgive, He will come to our aideven if we take what we think is a long time to forgive. When we do, we are freed from the prison of unforgiveness.
Read more about forgiveness at discoveryseries.org/hp071.
In the first century, the common attire for a Jewish man included five pieces of clothingshoes, turban, belt, loincloth, and outer tunic. After crucifying Jesus, the soldiers divided the Saviors garments as their spoils for performing the task. After each took a portion of clothing, one remainedthe tunic. This infers that even the loincloth was takenand Jesuss last shred of human dignity with it.
In a heartbreaking fulfillment of Davids messianic song, they stripped Jesus naked and then gambled for the tunic. In Psalm 22:1718, where crucifixion was prophetically described some 600 years before it was invented, David said it would be so: All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. The soldiers gambled for all they could get, unaware of the fact that mere feet away Christ was freely forgiving and giving all He had out of love for them.