More Than Words

"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what are they doing.'" Luke 23:33-34

How amazing it is that Jesus' first words from the cross were words of forgiveness and yet it is not surprising because the cross is all about forgiveness. Jesus spoke forgiveness from the cross. Jesus secured forgiveness through the cross. The words He spoke required that He die for sinners so that we could indeed realize the forgiveness of God in our lives. Our dollar bill used to be backed by gold so that it was certain that the promise represented by the bill was good because of the gold that stood behind it. God's promise of forgiveness to us (see 1 John 1:9) is good because it is backed by the power of the cross.

Father, I thank you for the sure promise of forgiveness backed by the power of the cross. During this Holy Week show me any sin in my life that needs to be confessed and forgiven. Draw me near you through the cross of Christ.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark