If any of us feel that there is some sin we cannot forgive someone for we are ignoring the words Christ spoke as He was being nailed to the cross. At that time in Luke 23:34, Christ cried out:
“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Can we comprehend such forgiveness? He came to forgive His people, and they repaid Him by driving nails through His hands and feet, torturing, crucifying, and murdering Him. None of us have ever gone through such a horrible experience as Christ did on the day He was crucified. Yet in the midst of the torture He cried out to the Lord, and asked Him to forgive His torturers for their sins.
How many of us have asked the Lord to forgive our persecutors as we were still being persecuted? It’s hard to even consider doing so, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. We need to forgive those who sin against us even as they commit their sin. If others slander us because of their sins we must forgive them as they try to. We can fight the slander, and oppose it, but we cannot hold the sin against those who commit it. One who persecutes the Lord’s followers does not know Him, and may still come to know Him with forgiveness.
We must forgive all of their sins in the midst of persecution just as Christ did on the cross. Christ proved on the cross that He expects nothing more out of us than what was expected of Him. If He could forgive in such a way so can those who follow Him.
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