Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:34 KJV
Like Christ who forgave and continues to forgive all people of our sins we as a people must take little time to follow Christ’s example of forgiving people who have hurt us. Christ was in extreme pain on the cross when He forgave us all. So in our pain we can start the process of forgiveness 70 times 7 (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV).
Like Christ, forgiveness is from the heart. We must also transform our anger against others to forgiveness of them from our hearts with God’s deep peace “which passeth all understanding (which) shall keep (our) hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Many people unknowingly hurt other people not realizing what they are doing to themselves by hurting others or a whole community. These persons cannot spiritually “see” Jesus’ forgiveness for them in their anger until by the grace of God they learn to forgive themselves and others in order to “see.” Jesus forgave the spiritually blind who put Him on the cross.
Be glad that Jesus has given us the opportunity to have “sight” from our hearts to forgive the spiritually blind, and to go on with our life in Christ. It is a hard task, but doable involving much healing, true love, deep understanding, and divinely given communication from God to make the blind “see.”
Let us be ever beholding and obligated to God’s love for us in His forgiveness of our sins. Let us pray that the spiritually blind begin to receive godly counsel and make right decisions leading them on the path to loving others as they begin to love themselves.
Brenda A. McGee has attended New York Theological Seminary in New York, NY, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA as a Master of Divinity student.