The Cross

Walking with Christ in Forgiveness

Apr 22, 2023

“[The prayer, ‘Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors’] is given so that Jesus’ followers can breathe in what he’s doing and so, with that breath, breathe in new life...The church is to be the advance guard of that great act of Forgiveness of Sins that God intends to accomplish for the entire cosmos. ”1 (Quote by NT Wright; more in NT Wright free ebooks at:

https://www.ntwrightonline.org/ebooks/

My painting is based on a verse about Jesus, from the Message Bible version:

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood John 1:14” (MSG).

Excerpts from Luke 23:

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. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The Death of Jesus

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Meditation

As we journey with Christ , we walk with forgiveness.

(Note: Forgiveness does NOT mean staying in an abusive situation. If you are in a situation that is abusive—physically, sexually, emotionally, spiritually or financially—GET OUT and get help. Here is info. on types of abuse and how to get help:

https://www.thehotline.org/resources/types-of-abuse/)

The tearing of the temple curtain signified Christ’s death opening the way for direct access to God (Hebrews 10:11-18). Now sacrifice for sin is no longer needed. What is needed is faith in Christ, who opened a “new and living way” for us to draw near to God through him. As we draw near to Christ, we receive the “Spirit of grace.” The Holy Spirit writes God’s laws in our minds and hearts, and enables us to keep God’s covenant of love (Hebrews 10:15-18, 20, 22, 29). When we confess and turn away from sin, God forgives us and cleanses us (1 John 1:9).

Nurturing Love

God desires to have an intimate personal relationship with each one of us.

This God who is a loving father is also like a nurturing mother. During Holy Week, Jesus wept over Jerusalem, longing to gather them like a mother hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings.

Forgiveness spreads God’s love

over a broken creation, and unlocks the chains that bind us. This Kingdom love is fragrant and beautiful, and it is also messy at times. There is a cost involved. There may be someone you need to forgive. You may need to forgive yourself, or to forgive God. We need God to help us forgive, with his own power and love.

Forgiveness helps us to know God as a loving, nurturing parent, who holds the keys to our past, present and future. May God guide us in how to forgive. May our love and forgiveness grow out of the deep knowledge that we are loved and forgiven by God and we are part of his intimate circle of love. May we know that our acts of love given to God and our acts of love given to others, spread the sweet fragrance, the knowledge of Christ.

Breath Prayer

Father, (breathe in)

forgive them (breathe out)

Into your hands (breathe in)

I commit my spirit. (breathe out)

(Luke 23:34, 46)

The Art of Faith by Barbara Sartorius Bjelland

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