Jesus Forgave the Unforgivable

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Jesus Forgave the Unforgivable

Andrea Lende • December 26, 2021

Luke 23:33-34

Jesus Forgave the Unforgiveable

You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Jesus-Forgave-the-Unforgiveable-e1c69aq

Luke 23:33-34

“And when they came to the place which is called The Skull [Latin: Calvary; Hebrew: Golgotha], there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.”

“And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them.”

Jesus prayed for the people who put Him on the cross.

He prayed for those who demanded He be crucified.

As I read our passage today, I was taken aback by His prayer.

Sometimes it takes more strength than I have to pray for my enemies.

However, Jesus not only prayed for them, but He asked God to forgive them.

He asked God to remove their death-desired actions towards Him from God’s view.

What may be even more significant is Jesus asked for their forgiveness while in writhing pain.

This goes beyond anything I could ever do.

When I am in pain, all I can think about is the pain.

And all I can pray about is that it will stop.

Yet Jesus asked God to forgive the sins of those who caused His pain.

This is grace.

This is love.

A love that is impossible for us to fully understand.

God heard His prayer.

And the finality of His death would make it possible for Jesus’ accusers, the Chief priests and others, to be forgiven.

As I read about His grace in our passage, I experienced His grace over me as well.

Undeserving to be loved as He loves and forgiven of our sins, the Lord offers both freely and abundantly.

We are blessed beyond measure to be freely forgiven and fully loved by God and His Son, Jesus.

Today I am thankful for the love of our Father and His Son and pray for His compassion and love to be infused into my heart as well.

May you find the love of God is alive and well in your heart and His grace is lavishly poured over you.

Daily Prayer:

O Lord, my God, thank You for loving me so beautifully. Thank You for sending Your Son to this world to take sin’s place and offer me forgiveness. He saved me from myself and delivered me to You. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to sit with You and be made whole. Thank You for walking with me through this life and guiding me along the way. May Your love fill my soul to the brim and bubble over into the lives of those around me. Help me love as You love. Help me offer grace as You do. And help me forgive as completely and freely as You forgive. Keep my eyes on You today, Lord. May my heart be full of Your Light. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.

Answer: I AM with you My child, and My love is within you leading and guiding you.

Response: Undeserving of such love and grace, thank You Almighty and merciful Lord.

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By Andrea Lende • December 26, 2022

This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.

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This is a picture of red Christmas balls and the words Merry Christmas

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By Andrea Lende • December 20, 2022

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