Following JESUS’ Example
“32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out
with Him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there
they crucified Him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on His
left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they
are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.” (Luke 23:32-34)
Christ suffered on the
cross for our sins to save us and give us eternal life. He left us an example
that we need to follow in His steps, “To this
you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that
you should follow in His steps.” (1Peter 2:21)
Jesus passed through
the experience of the cross and overcome because He adopted the attitude of
forgiveness. Forgiveness is God’s way to save people and the way for people to
enter the Kingdom of God. When there is forgiveness, God delight in that, and
His Holy Spirit will be there to help things to be orchestrated and happen as
ordained by His will.
Jesus offered himself
on the cross through the Holy Spirit as we can read on Hebrews 9:14 “How much
more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to
death, so that we may serve the living God!”
And the point that we
need to emphasized to you that when you go along the will of God you will find
the Holy Spirit there to assist you and to help you to do that particular task.
Crucifixion is painful agonizing but Jesus was not alone, the Holy Spirit made
it happen in a way that glorified God.
When you read the
stories of the early church leaders and the missionaries who underwent
persecution and were executed for Christ, they truly passed through painful
times but they were not alone and they were helped because they adopted the
right attitude of forgiveness to those who persecute them.
Jesus on the cross
after His crucifixion he prayed the following: "Father,
forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
From the events of
Jesus’ crucifixion, you can learn who the people who had hurt you are, and in
which way: so that you can understand events in your life in a better way in
order for you to deal with them appropriately. Forgiveness needed to be
directed to the following categories of people:
1- Jealous and envious
people: The high and the chief priests with the Pharisees are
the people who plotted against Jesus because of their envy and Jealousy. People
who are envious and jealous of you might hurt you with their jealousy.
2- Non faithful and
non committed people: When Jesus was
arrested all His disciples left Him, including those who affirmed to Him that
they will not leave Him even if it caused them death. People who promised you
certain things and they left you especially in times of your troubles and they
let you down, they are the people who caused you hurt.
3- People who are hypocrites and delight in politics: When Jesus was arrested, was brought to Pilate to be
sent to death. Now Pontus Pilate knew that Jesus is innocent and out of envy
the Jews wanted to execute Him. But because he wanted to please them he agreed
with them. The governors who do not practice justice and give you your rights
they are harming you and you need to forgive them.
4- People who you are
not meeting their expectations: Two criminals
were crucified with Jesus and they were hurling insults on Jesus because they
were expecting Him to help them. In the same way people may insult you and
speak bad to you or about you because you did not go or do what they want from
you.
5- People who are
hungry to get things from the world: The Roman
soldiers treated Jesus without mercy and without consideration; they pierced His
hands and feet. They were waiting to do that to share with themselves His
clothes. People who steal from you and take by force what belong to you without
considering your interest they are harming you.
6- People who are
illiterate and powerless: The crowd who shouted
to Pilate and requested him to crucify Jesus they were illiterate people
without any power and were enslaved by the chief priests and the Pharisees.
People who are of such category they might be used by others to harm you,
therefore you need to forgive them.
7- People who take
advantage of your suffering and got relieved of their due punishment: Barabbas was release at the cost of Jesus sent to death. Sometime your
privileges are withhold from you and be given to wicked people who do not
deserve them.
8- Yourself: Jesus was
arrested in a place called Gethsemane with the help of one of His disciples. Somebody would
say, ‘Why He did not deal with Judas before this would happen,’ or
someone may say ‘Why He went to Gethsemane and why He did not go to other place?’ Certain times you are blaming yourself with the same
way as above. You are not the one at fault but at fault those who sinned
against God and harmed you. Forgive yourself; you have done your part.
9- God: You might be
tempted and say, ‘Why God did that, or why God made me a victim?’ God is
not at fault, but the people who harmed you.
The above description is helpful for you so that you can see things in
more clear way so you can practice forgiveness and be set free. Moreover the
followings are the possible things that you might be harmed and affected:
Material losses: Even Jesus’ clothes
were taken away.
Humiliation: You might be named
and accused badly to the public and get bad reputation. You might be considered
and categorized among sinners or criminals as Jesus was accused and
categorized. Isaiah
53:12 declares that Jesus was “ ... numbered
with the transgressors,..” He was mocked, laughed on and they spat on his face.
Disturbances of plans and careers: When Jesus was
arrested, sure lot of things were interrupted and much turmoil was in the life
of His disciples. When you are get trespassed and harmed there are many things
of yours that you might suffer; your plans, finances, schedules, work,
relationship, family, etc.
Pain and body injuries: Jesus was beaten,
flogged, carried His cross on His back, hurt by the crown of thorns, His hands
and feet were pierced and was hung on the cross for three hours before he died.
Those who hurt you may cause you illnesses or body injuries.
In spite of all these
bad effects forgiveness has healing effect on your life and makes you whole and
gives you relieve. As you practice forgiveness in dealing with the enemy’s
attacks, you will gain the following;
1-You will be lifted
up and what will be in your mind is the same of God’s mind and thought:
As Jesus was lifted up
when he humbled Himself and accepted to suffer and die on the cross you will be
having clear mind and the same thoughts of God.
“5 Let this
mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in
the form of
God,
thought it not robbery to
be equal
with God: 7 But made himself of
no reputation ,
and took upon him
the form of
a servant,
and was made in
the likeness of
men: 8 And
being found in
fashion as a man, He
humbled Himself,
and became obedient unto death, even
the death of
the cross. 9 Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is
above every
name.” (Philippians 2:5-9)
As you
forgive you will be lifted to a heavenly way of thinking and you will be seeing
things in the same way as God and Christ see them; Ephesians 2:6 declares
to us the following “And God
raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in
Christ Jesus.”
2- Your
path and plans will be replaced with heavenly paths and plans:
As you forgive those
who had hurt you and had harmed you, God will lift you up and open your eyes
and mind to see the new path that He had placed you in. After Jesus died on the
cross, He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven to be seated on
the right hand of God the Father. Therefore, “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we
will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” (Romans 6:5)
3- As you forgive God
will do things beyond your thoughts or sights:
When Jesus was hang on
the cross, at that moment after crucifixion when He forgave those people who
harmed Him the situation was complicated from all aspects, but the Lord worked
it out that all things went well in accordance to God’s will and plan. You
might be passing through a complicated situation that beyond what you can bear
or fix, but as you release your forgiveness to those who hurt you, the Lord God
will work it for your good, “However, as it is
written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has
prepared for those who love him.” (1Corinthians 2:9)
My Prayer: Father God I come before you in the name of Jesus who died on the Cross
for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Lord I commit
myself to abide with your word in doing your will. Lord I forgive those who
hurt me and did me wrong _______________________________.
Lord
they did not know what they were doing. Lord helps me to forget the past events
and open my eyes to see the path that you had opened to me to pursue. Lord I
thank you for restoring me and adding me blessings and joy. This is my prayer
and song of praise in Jesus name, Amen.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances
you may have against one another.
Forgive as
the Lord forgave you.”
(Colossians
3:13)
FORGIVE PEOPLE
IN YOUR LIFE, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT SORRY FOR THEIR ACTIONS!
HOLDING ONTO
ANGER ONLY HURTS YOU, NOT THEM!
(Anonymous)
