34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
How like Jesus to plead for forgiveness of His adversaries in the midst of His agony. He strengthens His petition by proclaiming their ignorance and lack of understanding concerning their actions. He sets forth for us a wonderful example to follow when it falls upon us to forgive. He verbally lays out the command in the Sermon on the Mount which He is now fleshing out on the cross:
14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matt 6:14-15 (NIV)
A Christian’s forgiveness towards others is based upon their realization of their own forgiveness by God. Paul tells us in Ephesians:
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:32 (NIV)
“Never dread any consequence resulting from absolute obedience to His command...Dare to trust Him! Dare to follow Him! Then discover that the forces that blocked your progress and threatened your life become at His command the very materials He uses to build your street of freedom.” F. B. Meyer
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
The story of Joseph is a wonderful case in point. Hated and sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and thrown into prison, forgotten by man yet remembered by God – Joseph spent twelve to thirteen years of his life, albeit unbeknownst to him, in the fiery furnace of God’s preparation.
“Nothing great was ever done without much enduring.” Catherine of Siena
After God establishes him as the second highest in command in Egypt he once again comes face to face with the brothers that deserted him. His response is below:
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Gen 45:4-7 (NIV)
After their father Jacob had died, his brothers once again approached Joseph as they were fearful that perhaps he would hold a grudge. His response remains the same:
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Gen 50:18-21 (NIV)
Joseph provides us with an Old Testament picture of Jesus. Joseph was sold out by those closest to him as Judas betrayed Jesus; he became a slave as Christ did by becoming humanity, he was blessed by God yet disregarded by man; his brothers were terrified in his presence as one day the unredeemed will be terrified in Jesus’ presence; he redeemed his people by saving their lives “by a great deliverance” through his provision of food as Christ redeemed us from our sins on the cross; as Joseph’s brothers fell at his feet proclaiming their slavery to him yet he reassures him of their brotherhood so Christ states those who believe in Him are no longer slaves but brothers.
“Make me into a rock which swallows up the waves of wrong in its great caverns and never throws them back to swell the commotion of the angry sea from whence they came. Ah! To annihilate wrong in this way – to say, ‘It shall not be wrong against me, so utterly do I forgive it!’” George MacDonald
In all actuality, forgiveness is more for the person who is forgiving than for the one who did the offense. Lack of forgiveness will result in bitterness which, like acid, will corrode the vessel that contains it. God alone handles revenge – it is ours to forgive.
God not only offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing, but wants to lift up these gifts as a source of joy for all who witness them.” Henri Nouwen