{"id":89733,"date":"2026-01-25T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/club31women.com\/?post_type=devotional&p=89733"},"modified":"2026-01-26T04:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T12:29:13","slug":"how-jesus-forgave-generously-on-the-cross","status":"publish","type":"devotional","link":"https:\/\/club31women.com\/devotional\/how-jesus-forgave-generously-on-the-cross\/","title":{"rendered":"How Jesus Forgave Generously on the Cross"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The topic of forgiveness kept my mind occupied a good bit last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the genealogical chart of my family of origin reside several names of people who refused to forgive. These people sat in church every week from childhood through adulthood with a breach unrepaired. Sadly, a few in succeeding generations have made similar decisions. We watch with great sadness; our hearts hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remembering the two times Jesus spoke of forgiveness in His last hours of life, I decided to look more closely at those words. Like most of you, I have rushed past these brief snippets of conversation because I already know the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Father, Forgive Them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, I saw afresh that Jesus spoke the words, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do\u201d (Luke 23:34) at the beginning of the crucifixion as He was being stripped naked, nailed to the cross, and then hoisted into the air. Here we see Jesus forgive without being asked, without the guilty ones even aware that they had sinned; hence His words, \u201cthey know not what they do.\u201d He modeled what He taught the disciples in the Lord\u2019s Prayer (Matt. 6:12), when He told Peter to forgive seventy-seven times (Matt. 18:21-22), and even to His last breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, have you thought about the two men also hanging on crosses on either side of Jesus? Luke doesn\u2019t explain, but something enlightened one guilty man to recognize Jesus\u2019s innocence, which became a rebuke of the other: \u201cWe are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.\u201d The now self-aware guilty thief dared to ask, \u201cJesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom\u201d (Luke 23:41-42).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRemember me.\u201d<\/em> Such a simple request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Jesus Did Not Ask<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What Jesus did not<\/em> ask in reply stands out as if in neon letters. Jesus did not require the thief to pray the \u201csinner\u2019s prayer.\u201d He did not ask the man to confess all his sins and make restitution first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus saw a man who displayed a genuine belief in His deity. He saw a repentant heart, one that turned from the ways of sin to embrace the ways of Christ. And that was enough. Jesus forgave. There was no need to admonish the guilty man to bring additional fruits of repentance, because he had just demonstrated genuine humility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus demonstrated in one of His last acts of mercy on earth that \u201clove covers a multitude of sins\u201d <\/em>(1 Peter 4:8). <\/em>Jesus has charged us as His disciples to \u201clove one another: just as I have loved you\u201d <\/em>(John 13:34). Therefore, we must be careful not to withhold love and grace for a standard Jesus never expected of the thief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

May you forgive as generously as did Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because He is risen!<\/p>\n\n\n