The example set by Jesus……

We live in a fallen world.  It has become all to common for people to deeply hurt each other.  We lie about each other, we criticize each other, we often have no tolerance, grace or forgieness to offer one an0ther. We keep track of the wrongs done against us, and refuse to try to undertand.

Jesus came down from heaven to try to teach us a better way.  His life was an example of how we should treat each other, how we should look past the disgraceful behavior we sometimes exhibit.

Jesus was acused of blashphemy by claiming to be the Son of God.  He was beaten, mocked and disrepected by the authority figures of His day. He was nailed to a cross with a sign hanging above his head declaring him “The King of the Jews”.  The very soldiers that had driven the nails through his wrists and feet, gambled for his clothing.

After all of this, He looked down from the cross and said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

I have no place to complain about any way I’ve ever been treated.  All of the hurts of my life don’t amount to even the last hours of His life. The religous leaders that had Him crucified, dispised Him, they hated Him, and they would not listen to the Son of the God they claimed to serve.  I can’t even imagine how it must have hurt Him to be treated like that, and then to willing die for all the sins of all mankind before and since His crucifiction.

What are we to do with this knowledge, how are we to repond after all He did for us?  He told us, “Love others as I have loved you.”  As you bow before Him consider all those that have hurt you and crushed your spirit and ask yourself if you can do what He asked, forgive them for they know not what they do.

May your heart be blessed in the knowledge that He came, He lived, He still is with us in spirit, was crucified, died and was buried, but on the third day He arose from the grave to live forever more and to wash away our many sins!  Please accept His gift of a new life for you.

Be blessed,

the Pilgrim