+ Luke 23:33-35 ~ "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

Luke 23:33-35

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One."

 

Let's be very serious. Is God re-inventing Himself in the New Testament?

Some people consider the God of the Old Testament to be Very Different from the New Testament. 


Instead of the reinvention of God, let's see Jesus and forgiveness. 

Because


Hear O Israel, the Lord Thy GOD is One.

Luke 18
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”


God is the Judge of faith and depth of soul. The Father who would put Himself on the Cross. A terrible thing.

Not us as we arm chair and give justice. With limited vision. We all Need His Compassion. Just not to treat that forgiveness as if it's like throw away plates.









 

Sincere Forgiveness came from the Innocent Son of God. 

Our goodness in forgiveness doesn't necessarily have an immediate payback.

1. They cast lots for what they could put their hands upon, to take further. 
They disregarded His forgiveness.
2. Others just looked on.
3. Rulers sneered.

What did God give us for a Real example of Forgiveness next?

1. The people saw the Dead walk.
2. 500 people saw Jesus alive and teaching.

A new Heaven and a new earth. And the new earth was formed as a progression of miracles and ripples. Death and the Troubles of Life were overcome.

Forgiveness has Boundaries.
Places where we don't have to bang our head over and over.
Forgiveness is a Deep, Clean Breathe.
Letting God have what we can't redo, can't renew, can't be more than human.

What?

We do not see Jesus stand in front of the Holy of Holies and make the Temple repair as HE stands to Proclaim Himself.

Jesus kept on Blazing His Path. For us. 

What?

Jesus does not appear in front of the Sanhedrin Council and destroy their Talmud records (we can read today in Scotland). The Sanhedrin Council cannot let go of the harm they did to God's Son and for years they discuss complete falsehoods to make themselves feel better. History records the real evidence. The Council takes their forgiveness and spin for themselves a way to keep doing the status quo. 

The rulers don't have enough remorse to have anything but excuses.  Old paths and circles. Old values, traditions.  Jesus provided forgiveness and we do not see evidence of any change.

Forgiveness was given.

The Status Quo of Power, died, in 70 A.D., the natural death Jesus would have had.

God was ending the powers that had ended His Son. A consequence to not opening a heart to forgiveness.  God didn't just go gooey.

 










 

What? Only the people who would crucify Jesus?   
Even those who loved Him.

Matthew 20
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left."

Jesus also told Peter.  Self before help. Peter moved into fear and betrayal. The cost of not being with the multitude of women and people who mourned Jesus on Good Friday brought a cost. They would give up their lives for Jesus. And this - they - chose to do.

Peter made a mistake to the Lamb of God, complete Innocence and Goodness.
Peter continued to Grow with Love towards Jesus. 
Jesus taught Peter not to walk on his own self-righteousness. 

 What? 
God was interweaving their failings to comfort us. We all fail. Those who walked with Jesus failed. God weaves all things to good for those who love Him and work to His purpose. Jesus promised many comforts to those who would continue in Him.







God tells us most about blessings when He says follow the Law.
The largest concentration of Blessings surround the Boundaries God gives us.
Jesus told us do unto others as the Law. Love ourselves, Love  others.

John, Luke, Timothy, Mark - the loved ones who stayed to help the dying - lived to be old.  THEY LOVED! Mark stayed and Peter declared him to be his son. Mark had failed Paul once before.

(Proving long life - God seeing His Creation as Good - God sees as a blessing!  Forget the good die young.)

What? The Bible isn't just a book of martyrs with long robes. 

 In this Life, God rewarded "Beloved, let us Love one another - Love is of God."

God provides Forgiveness and yet doesn't require lack of consequence or amnesia. Forgiveness is not a contortion.  This is a process. As the Father ran to the Prodigal Son, we read all through the paragraph - this has taken time. Luke 15. 

We forgive immediately as a start by saying, "I want to forgive, I will forgive, God help me each day as the Prodigal Father had time to forgive."


Jesus told us about this as well.


Matthew 7
"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit."


This is usually a good rule to be cautious. 
And is Scripture. God says Mercy is shown to the Merciful. A good point to remember in our discernment.

NOW. Jesus told Joshua in the Holy Spirit to be "Centered". Surely this heart is not centered in the Photo.  And yet we must be real and sincere in our Soul to Our Father who Loves us best.

Matthew 18
21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 

Jesus did not take vengeance. 
Yet, in the physical body - HE did not chose to attend the Sadduceen Council.

Rick Warren explained this Very Well in his brother-in-law's book "40 Days of Love". Divorced people forgive, they don't have to go back to abuse or being forsaken.

Our Father God wants the best for our upward Path. Peace.

1 Timothy 2:5
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all.


1 Corinthians 7 15 
But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 


Peace is important.  Peace usually is not slid into, we have to work or fight for peace.  Nicey will fall apart like kleenex on a rainy day. Let the people who have ears, hear.  Work to communication with respect.

We did this Today in this household. We had heated and loud words, I was overlooked and I refused to be the back of the bus for no apparent reason. I refused to quit. My husband said,  'cool off time.'  We did.  I sent an email saying my point of view and why POLITE with a constant communication Heard - Was IMPORTANT. 

Because Peace is Work in Progress - Our communication was completed. Misunderstandings were explained. The one flaw was admitted and forgiveness was completely exchanged. Nicey without apology and communication would have left this unresolved.  This peace was loudly fought for. And had a referee to say - stop - pause. Think. Someone cared enough to say - I'm also involved.  Love found a path with Words. 

Like Jesus - Our Hero, Savior, Beloved - we will not have all apparent victories. 

Our steps hope to follow those who love Jesus. Peter, Paul, Timothy, Barnabas, Mark - they all had times to leave. Changes and relationships ended. Towns said no. 

No Portion of the Bible discussing this transient Life had Huge and Continual Spike the Football.

God would never require a Pedophile to be housed with the Child of Abuse. Jesus would not do that. Release being provoked to anger.

A Boundary - An Important Boundary? !!!

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."


Matthew 5:24
Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

To what can we compare the Joy of forgiveness?

John 16
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.






Philippians 2:2
Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.


Build up the Body of Christ in Love. We ask Jesus for the Encouragement and Miracles You provided to Daniel. Fathers return to sons and hearts encouraged to Love.  Family. Your Will be Done. Amen!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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