6/1/2021

"Father forgive them for they do not know what they do." This is what Jesus said during His final moments on the cross before He gave up His spirit. In His final moments, He never reacted to His accusers out of anger against this unjust trial that they have put Him through. No, He begged His Father to forgive them for they were consumed with hate and jealousy that they didn't know what they were truly doing. They were helping to fulfill many prophecies and gave us all a way to be saved. I just wish that Jesus didn't have to suffer through all that. The first time I watched 'The Passion of Christ', I cried nearly through the whole movie and wondered how Jesus could go through all that. But now I know. It was to save me, you, and everyone in this world that we live in. He is a truly perfect Son of God. The point is, Jesus didn't curse at His accusers or condemn them to death and neither did He come down from the cross and show them that He truly was the Son of God. That is what everyone else would have done if they were in His position, because when we feel an injustice against us, we react to it out of anger. But that is what we shouldn't do. ESV Scripture James 1:19 says, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" I have often heard this from my parents because I lash out a lot in anger and hold grudges against those I feel have wronged me. But that is not the way of being a Christian. We shouldn't lash out or hold grudges. We should forgive and ask God for help in forgiving those who have wronged us. Leviticus 19:18 (ESV) Scripture says, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Even the Scripture in the Bible says that we shouldn't hold grudges or take vengeance upon those who wronged us. "'Vengeance is mine', says the Lord". God will take vengeance Himself while we need to forgive and find it within our hearts to have peace instead of anger. It may sound hard but if you ask God for help, then all things are possible through Him. So, don't hold a grudge against a colleague, a friend, a family member, a loved one, bullies, or anyone who has wronged you. Rather, forgive them and ask God to help you find it in your own heart to forgive and repent.

Amen