Easter is almost here. The bonnets are on display as is the new clothing that so many will purchase in the next few weeks. Yes, we are going to have our Community Sunrise Service and I trust I will see you there! We will come together to sing, “Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow”! And it will remind me of the old song, “I don’t know about tomorrow – but I know Who holds my hand”!

The first Easter celebrations was nothing like the ones I have celebrated. We always had eggs to hide and hunt, a big meal to enjoy together, and occasionally a new shirt to wear to church. The crowd on that Crucifixion Day (which was only three days before Easter) had asked for the death of Jesus. They even had asked that the blood of Jesus be upon them and their children. How could Jesus pray forgiveness for them as He hug from the Tree? How do we forgive what is unforgiveable?

In Jesus’ case, we see a mob in desperate need of forgiveness, but still completely focused on continuing in their sinful ways. The amazing thing is that Jesus’ words did not even land in the crowd. The soldiers still gambled for His last shred of clothing, and the crowd mocked Him the more. Yet Jesus prayed for them.

Contrary to all the surface evidence, Jesus gave us one of the great principles of forgiveness here: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

On first hearing that, it seems wrong. “You do not understand! You knew exactly what you were doing. It was premeditated. It was planned. They knew they would inflict great pain, yet they did it anyway.”

We think of that person who stole our business. We think of the spouse who had the affair. We think of the classmate who lied about us in school, or the co-worker who stabbed us in the back at work. In each case, the damage was carried out according to plan. Our “tormentors” knew exactly what they were doing and seemed to get delight in doing it!

Get a picture of the kind of knowledge Jesus is referencing. The people could not see or discern spiritual truth; the light was not on in their heart of spirit. This was not head knowledge; it was the seeing of revelation or truth.

In essence, Jesus said, “I can forgive them because I know that they are not the enemy; they are bing manipulated by evil, and I will see them as worth saving.” Jesus did not win the battle with evil by giving us what we deserve, but by seeing the possibility of change within our hearts.

How does this principle play out in our lives when it comes to our responsibility to forgive? Jesus knew that what people need more than anything in this world is not just the forgiveness of words, but to hear us acknowledge to others, “I forgive you because I see good in you, and I am willing to fight for your redemption.”

Jesus is trying to teach us how to say, “I forgive you because I believe you are worthy of it. Your value to me is more than what you have done wrong. I see the good in you, and I am willing to fight for your redemption.”

Those who do not know Christ expect us to be like them, but when we fight for them by offering forgiveness, it can change their eternity. Our forgiveness can become the key to hardened hearts that breaks through satanic strongholds and reaches that person’s core with the power of the Gospel. When that happens, another priceless soul is ushered into the Kingdom. True victory and real joy comes from looking beyond people and the hurts of life. In following Jesus’ example, we find the victory that He has for us as we live in genuine forgiveness.

Jesus had a reason to die! Only by becoming our sacrifice could He offer us forgiveness! And He was willing to die for us! For whom are we willing to die? It takes a willingness on our part to die in order to forgive others as Christ forgives us, but it is worth it. Try it!