Gospel Prism

Here is what I shared at our joint worship on Good Friday with Creekside…

But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

It’s hard for me to forgive bad drivers. I’m driving along the road quite peacefully, listening and singing to a song that sings of the glories of the Gospel of grace, when out of nowhere a car will cut me off in my lane. It’s strange how worship can so suddenly turn into self-justified anger. I want to pull up right next to the person and tell them exactly what they did wrong, making sure all the while that there is no doubt in their mind how they had failed me, the roads, the state, and the highway system. As for me, I’m a model of excellent driving, until I too fail as well, and trust me I will. And when I do, I will expect that person to show me forgiveness and grace. And if they do not, then of course once again I have the right to be angry at their lack of forgiveness and grace. What a vicious cycle!

Somehow when I “accidentally� cut someone off, I am suddenly an excellent driver who only needs grace and forgiveness. After all, even the best drivers among us make the very occasional mistake. And it is in these little things that teaches me much about the corruption of my heart and why Jesus had to die such a cruel death.

When our Lord was on the cross forgiving his executors, He was living out what he spoke of earlier on in the Gospel when he said: “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.� Jesus lived by His words perfectly. We are not talking about being cut off on the road here. No, we are talking about the ultimate of injustices, the only perfectly moral and sinless person ever to walk this earth was being accused of crimes against humanity. And for this He suffered an unimaginable death, a death so hideous and terrible, that to watch Him die in such a way would truly be a spear into the heart of his mom, Mary. I have a hard enough time forgiving bad drivers. I also claim a sense of rightness when I have no right to such claims. Jesus forgives not only His executors but also all of us who have turned and rebelled against the Father. And so Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21 exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.� Jesus forgives those who trust in Him. Jesus was also perfectly righteous, unlike me who claims righteousness all of the time and yet, fails in being righteous so many times. Isn’t this every reason why I am so thankful that through the cross and through His everlasting forgiveness, He made me righteous? So when I have trusted in Jesus and what He did for me on that cross, I know that nothing, not my terrible flaws, addictions, and failures, and sins in this life, and yes, not even my good works, and spotless resume, and moral behavior, nothing can separate me from the love of God and being a child of the King! Thank God for forgiveness. May I now humbly show it to others, especially to the person who cuts me off on the road as I drive home tonight!