Luke 9:51
Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
Forgiveness is a choice, it is something that we will decide to do when we come to the conclusion that the past doesn’t change, but how we process life right now can change the course of our future. You can either allow God’s forgiveness to be manifest through your life or you can choose to hold on to bitterness and live the rest of your life in torment. God’s will is to see you whole and healed, physically, mentally and spiritually God’s desire is for you this evening.
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” How we view the act or forgiveness will be the turning point of the rest of our lives. Beloved tonight I pray that forgiveness will be the focal point of your life.
In our scripture the bible tells us that the face of Jesus was steadfast toward Jerusalem. To be steadfast is to be determined, there are no distractions, nothing will persuade Him or veer Him off course, He knows where He is going and why. It is for the forgiveness of sins for all humanity. Jerusalem the place where forgiveness was performed for us to see.
1st Point “What was He looking at?”
Our scripture speaks of a very difficult walking path, a very disturbing truth, on betrayal, see beloved we read that Jesus was firm toward Jerusalem but the question is what was at Jerusalem? Why was Jesus so focused on making His trip there?
We look at the scripture at hand and we see the cross is at Jerusalem, the cross of Calvary is awaiting the Savior of the world. Three Nails, one cross and a crown of thorns was at the very hill of Calvary. So why would Jesus be so firm on setting His trip to such a place to die?
We look at this and begin to question His motives, nothing was in it for Him, it wasn’t a money scheme, it wasn’t a gain all and move on scheme, it was purely the love He had for those that would betray Him.
When we move on to further chapters, we come to Luke 23
Luke 23:32-34
32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Here we have this truth, Jesus died for His enemies: He was determined to face death at its worst, with a clear mind and senses unclouded. Listen to me this evening this was a very heart-breaking moment. Here we have the Savior of the world hanging on a cross as a criminal for the sins of man. Body broken beyond recognition, face spat upon, names being called outside of His royalty. Think with me for a moment the scenery, what was He looking at? Who were the people that were in such disarray?
Jesus was looking at the very people He healed screaming crucify Him. The very ones He would teach in the synagogue, the ones He would feed, the ones He loved and kept His mission for, they were the ones that would scream crucify Him and yet in this barbarous moment, we would hear the very words flow from His mouth. “Father forgive them.”
Jesus said many wonderful things, but rarely anything more wonderful than, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Beloved Christian forgiveness is an amazing thing. There is nothing so lovely and nothing so rare as Christian forgiveness. When the unforgiving spirit is threatening to turn our hearts to bitterness, let us hear again our Lord asking forgiveness for those who crucified Him.
There are moments that have taken our breathe away, moments that have surprised us to disbelief, hurtful things said and done from those whom you have given your all for and betrayal is cruel, unfair and hurtful and yet as the wrong has been done to us we have done wrong to God and yet we still hear Father forgive, we are deserving of death and we see that Jesus died so we can have life.
2nd Point “Forgiveness is Key”
Throughout life there are upsets and disappointments, but nothing hurts like a close one betraying you. Nothing takes the cake like a close friend or family member turning coat, this is cruel and can leave a nasty scar. But forgiveness is the only way to receiving complete healing and wholeness.
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
Psalm 130:4
But there is forgiveness with You,
Daniel 9:9
To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
Some of the hardest things to do are to forgive an offense, sometimes its so hard it takes a hold of our minds, our peace and eventually our health and sickness begins to set in. God gave us a way so we would not be victims of Satan’s devices.
Proverbs 14:30
30 but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
And now we are left with this truth that un-forgiveness will destroy you, it will make you sick and torment you. The key to good health and a joyful life is forgiveness. Christ is the pinnacle of forgiveness, we can go back to the cross and see the situation is crucial, He is nailed and beaten. Soldiers are mocking Him, maybe one of the soldiers’ present was holding his own ear the ear that Jesus restored and their along with his fellow cohorts mocking the healer of the world.
After Jesus is nailed to the cross, they begin to try to give Jesus vinegar with gall,
Matthew 27:34
they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
So, gall was mixed with drink to deaden the pain and the criminal was given a drink of drugged wine, prepared by a group of wealthy women in Jerusalem as an act of mercy. This cup was offered to Jesus, but He refused to drink it because He was determined to accept death at its bitterest and grimmest, and would not avoid this tremendous pain. Only a good parent would desire to take the pain from their children and dare to bare it upon their own body, here we have a picture of the mercy of God that He would take on the form of a man and become a curse so we did not have to endure such punishment of sin upon our own person.
Beloved the encouragement we see here tonight is that of a Savior that endured the cross so we don’t have to, His act of mercy and forgiveness is a prime example of how we are to process the offense. Father forgive them, beloved who is it that has had you in the prison of un-forgiveness that you need to release?
“Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.”
“Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment. It is a choice to show mercy, not to hold the offence up against the offender. Forgiveness is an expression of love.”
“Forgiveness is not always easy. At times it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.”
Some people believe that their sin is too much, to big for God to forgive yet scripture tells us otherwise,
Matthew 12:31
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men,
You are sitting here this evening in need of a God who is willing to work a miracle through the power of forgiveness. Beloved forgiveness is key, it is the key to your prison door, the key to unlock that place you have been tormented in for so long. He is willing.
Matthew 8:3
Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing;
Mark 1:41
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing;
3rd Point “Forgiveness is of God through Jesus Christ”
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free, only to discover that the prisoner was you.”
Let us close with this one thought, Jesus throughout scripture was healing all types of sicknesses and diseases on His way to Jerusalem, from the leper to the woman with the issue of blood. From the servant who was sick to Peter’s mother in law, from the little girl to the soldier who was with the army to arrest Him, healing can only come from a loving heart that has chosen to not allow bitterness to be the root of the person.
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
You need to really grasp this truth beloved God is willing to heal you and set you free, but you will have to make a decision to repent of un-forgiveness, and let the offender go and be free and begin anew. Will you consider with me this truth tonight? Jesus was steadfast toward Jerusalem for you and me. He died so we don’t have to, but He rose so we could with Him.
