How Much Did Forgiveness Cost Jesus?

When Jesus carried that cross through the streets of Jerusalem after having His back scourged, His face spit on and slapped, that was not easy.

When the hammer struck the nails that pierced His hands and His feet, that was not easy.

When people jeered and insulted Him as He hung naked on the cross, that was not easy.

How could anyone so wounded by others say these words to God, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” [1] The people who hurt Jesus so deeply never asked Him to forgive them. Yet, Jesus asked God to forgive them and meant it.

After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus said to His disciples, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” [2]

He died and rose again, and summed up what He wanted His followers to do afterwards, namely, preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Encourage a culture where everyone recognizes our tendency to sin and our need of God’s forgiveness. Consider Jesus constantly!

The most painful lesson that Jesus ever taught was the lesson of forgiveness. He spelled forgiveness with the letters of His wounds, with the insults He endured, and with all the hatred that He experienced. He also spelled forgiveness in His resurrection because God was well-pleased with Him and raised Him from the dead on the third day. And so, it will be for all who choose to believe in Jesus and follow His ways.

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” Mark Twain

“Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, it means choosing to remember love instead.” Kyle Gray

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” Martin Luther King Jr.

“Without forgiveness, there’s no future.” Desmond Tutu

“Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” Cherie Carter-Scott

“When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.” Alan Paton

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and realize the prisoner was you.” Anonymous

[1] Luke 23:34
[2] Luke 24:46-48