Behold Jesus’ Grace
Today we are going to behold the grace of Jesus. Luke writes: "When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'" (Luke 23:33–34 NIV11)
If ever there was a moment to ask for revenge, this was the moment. If ever there was a moment for Jesus to say Father, destroy them, this was the moment.
But behold His grace! Behold the mercy that He cries out for. Behold the love that He has even for the very ones nailing Him to the cross.
One of the songs we sing at our church says this:
Sent from heaven, God's own Son to purchase and redeem
And reconcile the very ones who nailed Him to that tree
Even at the end He was trying to reconcile people to God. He was trying to show them: God's forgiveness is available.
Practising What He Preached
In this moment, He was practising what He had preached - right to the very end. Jesus often preached of forgiveness. He often said that if we want to be forgiven, we must forgive others. He said love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
What would it have said about Jesus if He didn't do this? It would have proved Him to be a false teacher - saying one thing, but doing another. It would have proved Him to be less than God, but just a man with some nice ideas that are too high to attain. Instead, this proved His integrity. His life matched what He preached - right till the end.
This moment also fulfilled Old Testament prophecy, by the way. The book of Isaiah had prophesied this, saying "For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12 NIV11)
Jesus does not just weep for lost people. He pursues them with grace and love!
Grace Extended to His Enemies
Friends, is there somebody you need to forgive and be reconciled to? Is there somebody you need to apologise to?
Behold the Lamb of God who extended grace to His very enemies. With Him in your heart, you can not only receive great grace but extend it - and you must extend it. He will help you to do it.
Behold the Lamb of God who is full of grace! Behold the Lamb of God who prays for His enemies - and I want you to think about this today: if you're far from Jesus, living without Jesus, disinterested in Jesus, still He prays for you! Still He intercedes for you! Still He graciously says Father, forgive him. Father, forgive her.
Jesus longs for you to find rest for your soul by receiving the grace of God. It's available for you.
Easter proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt - we see Jesus hanging on a cross, calling out for His enemies' forgiveness. You can come back to God today, no matter how many times you've beaten Him, mocked Him, berated Him, flogged Him, rejected Him - His grace is available for you!
As He was nailed to the cross, Jesus cried out for the forgiveness of His enemies - practising to the very end what He had always preached. Consider today whether there is someone in your life you need to forgive.