Father Forgive Them 9a

Devotional

Day 1: The Radical Nature of Christ's Forgiveness

Jesus' first words from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," reveal a profound and unconditional offer of forgiveness. This wasn't a forgiveness earned by the offenders' repentance, but an act of grace extended in the midst of immense suffering. It demonstrates that God's forgiveness is not a reaction to our rightness, but a proactive outpouring of love, even for those who cause us pain. This radical forgiveness challenges our human tendency to withhold it until others meet our expectations. [57:37]

Luke 23:34 (ESV)
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Reflection: In what specific area of your life have you been waiting for someone else to change before offering forgiveness, and how might Jesus' example encourage you to release that expectation?

Day 2: Forgiveness as a Choice, Not Just a Feeling

Mary Johnson's journey illustrates that true forgiveness is often a process, not an instant emotional shift. While she initially thought she had forgiven the man who murdered her son, genuine forgiveness arrived later, after courageously entering the prison and engaging in a difficult conversation. This shows that forgiveness involves a conscious decision and action, even when deep-seated bitterness remains. It's a choice to release resentment, which can unfold in layers over time. [01:02:49]

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Reflection: Consider a past hurt where you've struggled to fully forgive. What is one small, concrete action you can take this week to move towards a conscious choice of forgiveness, even if the emotions haven't fully caught up?

Day 3: The Ignorance of the Offender and God's Grace

Jesus' prayer for forgiveness, "for they know not what they do," highlights that our actions can be offensive to God, even when we are unaware. This ignorance doesn't negate our guilt, but it underscores the immense grace offered through Christ. His forgiveness extends to the things we do that we don't even realize are wrong. This truth offers comfort and assurance that God's mercy covers our blind spots. [01:06:49]

1 Timothy 1:13 (ESV)
though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.

Reflection: Where have you recently sensed the Holy Spirit revealing something you were doing that was not aligned with God's will, and how can you embrace God's grace in that discovery?

Day 4: Releasing the Burden of Unforgiveness

Holding onto unforgiveness is like carrying a heavy burden, impacting our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Studies show that unforgiveness leads to increased stress, fatigue, and even physical ailments. Jesus' words in Matthew 6 reveal a stark warning: if we do not forgive others, our Father will not forgive us. Choosing to release others from our judgment is not only an act of obedience but also a path to freedom and wholeness. [01:29:41]

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Reflection: Think about a person or situation that you've been holding onto with resentment. What is one specific thought or feeling associated with that resentment that you can consciously choose to release to God this week?

Day 5: The Power of Dropping Your Rock

The story of the woman caught in adultery powerfully illustrates the freedom found in receiving Jesus' forgiveness and letting go of the stones of judgment. We are called to be both recipients of His grace and those who extend it to others, and even to ourselves. Dropping the "rock" of unforgiveness, whether directed at others or ourselves, creates a spiritual space for God's mercy and love to fill us anew. This act of release invites a fresh experience of His cleansing power. [01:32:03]

John 8:11 (ESV)
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

Reflection: What is one area where you have been holding yourself in judgment, and how can you, by faith, "drop that rock" and receive Jesus' forgiveness for yourself this week?

Sermon Summary

Jesus speaks forgiveness from the place of ultimate suffering, offering mercy not as a response to repentance but as a gift extended in the very moment of bearing humanity’s guilt. The invitation of “Father, forgive them” demonstrates that God’s grace reaches people even when they are ignorant of the wrong they have done, and that forgiveness can be received for sins people do not even realize they commit. Practical paths toward releasing others are given: name the hurt specifically, seek to understand the other person’s perspective without excusing the offense, and then relinquish the right to punish by handing the matter over to God. This threefold practice is presented not as a quick fix but as a layered process that may need repeat encounters and honest expression.

Real-world testimony—Mary Johnson’s meeting with the man who killed her son—shows that authentic forgiveness can free victims from bitterness and open space for transformed relationships, though it does not erase consequences or automatically restore trust. The preacher carefully distinguishes what forgiveness is not: it is not forgetting, instant trust restoration, removal of consequences, ignoring the offense, immediate emotional healing, restoration of the prior relationship, or a means to wield power over another. The bodily and neurobiological costs of unforgiveness are described: chronic resentment exacts measurable stress on the heart, immune system, and brain, depleting emotional and cognitive resources.

Using the biblical image of stones and the account of the woman caught in adultery, the congregation is invited into a symbolic act—dropping rocks and coming to the table for communion—to physically release long-held grievances and to receive Christ’s pardon. The practice of remembering Jesus’ last words is framed as weekly formation: to be repeatedly reminded of both the offer of pardon and the call to a changed life, so that forgiveness shapes individual hearts and the health of the community. The overall aim is repentance of holding grudges, disciplined confession and prayer, and the deliberate work of letting go so God’s mercy can work in practical, embodied ways.

Key Takeaways

1. Forgiveness offered before human repentance God’s mercy is proactive: forgiveness is extended even when offenders remain in ignorance or hostility. This means reconciliation begins as a divine initiative, not as a human bargain. Receiving that gift requires an act of faith to accept pardon that arrives apart from deservedness. This reframes repentance as response, not prerequisite. [56:34]
2. Forgive despite offender's ignorance Many harms arise from people who truly do not know the full weight of their actions. Forgiving in those cases acknowledges both the wrong and the offender’s blindness, which allows compassion without excusing harm. This creates space for restoration while keeping moral clarity. [66:49]
3. Three-part prayer for release A practical pattern—name the hurt, see the offender’s perspective, and surrender judgment to God—helps move forgiveness from sentiment into disciplined action. Repeating these steps peels back layers of resentment and prevents spiritual bypassing. It also safeguards against weaponizing forgiveness as control. [71:02]
4. Unforgiveness damages body and brain Harboring grudges produces chronic stress responses, drains emotional energy, and narrows cognitive capacity, with measurable health risks. Letting go is not merely moral; it is somatic and neurological work that restores bandwidth for love and service. Choosing to forgive can therefore be an act of self-care that honors God’s design. [89:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[44:47] - Build-a-Home Trip Announcement
[47:04] - Upcoming Events & Conferences
[48:26] - Prayer for Parker Devero
[49:57] - Rock Distribution (symbol explained)
[50:16] - Series Introduction: Last Words
[52:52] - The Seven Last Sayings Overview
[53:55] - Communion Instructions
[54:27] - Reading: Luke 23 (Forgive Them)
[56:34] - Forgiveness in the Hour of Suffering
[59:05] - Mary Johnson & Oshea Israel Testimony
[71:02] - The Three-Part Forgiveness Prayer
[78:01] - What Forgiveness Is Not
[84:39] - Stones, the Adulterous Woman, and Letting Go
[91:18] - Invitation: Come Forward & Drop Rocks
[97:25] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary and transcript:

Bible Reading

Luke 23:34 (ESV): "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'"

1 Timothy 1:13 (ESV): "...though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief."

Ephesians 4:18 (ESV): "...darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."

Observation questions

Jesus' first recorded words from the cross were, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." What does the phrase "they know not what they do" suggest about the state of those who were crucifying him? [54:51]
The sermon highlighted Mary Johnson's journey of forgiveness towards the man who murdered her son. What was a key moment in her process where she felt something significant leaving her? [01:01:41]
The sermon mentioned that unforgiveness has measurable costs on the body and brain. What are some of the specific physical and cognitive effects of harboring resentment that were described? [01:29:41]
When discussing the story of the woman caught in adultery, what was Jesus' response to her accusers, and what did he say to the woman? [01:26:47]

Interpretation questions

The sermon stated that God's offer of forgiveness is not waiting for us to get our lives right first, and that forgiveness does not have to wait for the right response from the person being forgiven. How does Jesus' prayer from the cross challenge the idea that repentance is a prerequisite for receiving God's grace? [57:37]
The sermon presented a three-part prayer for release: name the hurt, understand the other's perspective, and surrender judgment to God. Why is it important to include the step of seeking to understand the other person's perspective, even if it doesn't excuse their offense? [01:12:24]
The sermon explained that forgiveness is not forgetting, regaining automatic trust, or the removal of consequences. How does understanding these distinctions help us to approach forgiveness in a more biblical and healthy way? [01:18:01]
The sermon suggested that unforgiveness can make us "less smart" by limiting mental resources. How might holding onto grudges impact our ability to think clearly, make good decisions, and engage with others in a positive way? [01:30:51]

Application questions

The sermon emphasized that God’s mercy is proactive and that forgiveness is extended even when offenders are ignorant or hostile. How can we begin to see God’s initiative in offering forgiveness to us, and how does that change our perspective on receiving it? [56:34]
The sermon shared a practical, three-part prayer for releasing grievances. Can you identify a specific hurt or offense that you need to name, and then prayerfully consider the other person's perspective and surrender that matter to God? [01:11:02]
The sermon highlighted that unforgiveness exacts a toll on our physical and mental well-being. What is one tangible step you can take this week to begin the process of letting go of resentment, recognizing it as an act of self-care that honors God's design? [01:29:06]
The sermon used the imagery of dropping stones to symbolize releasing long-held grievances. What is one "stone" of unforgiveness that you are carrying, and how can you symbolically release it this week, perhaps through prayer or a similar act of surrender? [01:24:39]
The sermon reminded us that forgiveness is not about forgetting or instantly restoring trust, but about releasing the right to punish. In what area of your life can you practice releasing someone to God's mercy, even if trust or the relationship isn't immediately restored? [01:18:39]
The sermon encouraged us to remember Jesus' last words weekly as a way to be reminded of both the offer of pardon and the call to a changed life. How can you intentionally incorporate remembering Jesus' sacrifice and the call to forgive into your weekly rhythm? [01:27:37]

Sermon Clips

The moment that Jesus said these words was in the hour of his greatest physical and emotional and psychological pain that he'd ever experienced. Everything is being piled on him. The sin of the world is being put on him. He's experiencing the separation of eternal communion that he had shared with the father and the spirit. He's experiencing rejection all around him. Even those that believed in him and loved him and served him and were devoted either were not there because they had abandoned him, or they were standing more at a distance kind of watching. [00:56:36] (42 seconds) #ForgiveInTheMidstOfPain

The second part of the prayer is that it's expressing understanding and perspective of the other person. So this is trying to have a little bit of empathy. So it might be something about, like, recognizing what dad's experiences were like with his dad growing up or some of the things he was dealing with in his life. It's not to excuse the sin or the offense. It's not even to minimize it, but it's just put yourself in a place of understanding the other person. [01:12:15] (29 seconds) #EmpathyNotExcuse

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Father Forgive Them 9a

Devotional

Day 1: The Radical Nature of Christ's Forgiveness

Day 2: Forgiveness as a Choice, Not Just a Feeling

Day 3: The Ignorance of the Offender and God's Grace

Day 4: Releasing the Burden of Unforgiveness

Day 5: The Power of Dropping Your Rock

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Father Forgive Them 9a

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