Words can hurt… or heal

Luke 23:34

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ “

Words are powerful, aren’t they? Words can hurt me deeply; words can encourage me greatly.

Consider the words of Jesus above, and imagine that Jesus was speaking them about you. “Father, forgive Tom.” Wow! I can only imagine how great I would feel to hear Jesus speaking those words to me, about me. Wouldn’t it be great?

And here’s the deal. Jesus DOES “speak those words”, both about you and to you. We’re told that Jesus is our mediator, the mediator between God and humans. What’s his plea? “Father, forgive them. Father, forgive Tom.” He’s speaking those words about you! He’s speaking those words to the Father! 

And then he also speaks those words to you and me, whenever we forgive each other, or hear God’s words of forgiveness. “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven,” Jesus promises. When you say to someone, “I forgive you,” it’s really Jesus speaking to that person. And when they say those words to you, it’s really Jesus who is speaking to you, assuring you that you’re forgiven!

And what could be more encouraging than that?

Thankful for Jesus’ encouraging words, just like you,

pastor