Father forgive them! or father forgive us? which do you pray?

John 18:1  When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
( Hum the place of mourning and grieving, Cedron was a place of great lamentations, and Jesus often went there, often wept there, his purpose was us, his power was prayer..)
2  And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus often went there with his disciples.
10  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear.
11  Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
( To many times we want the glory and recognition without the pain and consequences, we want our will not his, to many times we question his will and circumstances, rather than see purpose in our obstacles we see pain in our objectives)
John18:37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
( I wonder what my witness really is, do I bear witness to truth or do I live a lie, do I tell lies, does my life evidence Christ in me or demons over me, have I found my purpose is to glorify God and not flesh, what do people hear from me, what do they see in me, )
38  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
He wasn’t going to get off that easy He had an obligation to protect those under his authority and sovereignty even from others in authority? the sin of omission?
( Notice he didn’t even wait for an answer, What is truth? wow what a question! wow! what an answer! Well truth is relevant not subjective, If only Pilate had stuck around for the answer oh what he would have heard, Truth is that we serve a mighty God, truth is he whom the Son has set free is free indeed! truth is by his stripes you are healed! truth is you don’t need another drink, another Church, another mate, a new job etc, truth is there is one God! no other savior among men whereby we must be saved, save Jesus! now that’s TRUTH my friend)
39  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?  But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
40  Then cried they all again, saying, release not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. 

( Ah the custom of release! it was practiced once a year as an example of mercy demonstrated toward others, and by the heathen at that, imagine them setting an example to us of mercy! Problem is  some of us are still stuck in that custom only once a year maybe just maybe we will extend mercy to others. )

Now lets not look pass this vs. but lets investigate it more in depth for a moment, you see the people had a chance to have either Jesus or Barabbas released to them,  and the other well he would have to die for his crimes,  already we have a problem Jesus didn’t do anything wrong in the first place, in any case they called for Barabbas why?  You see Barabbas represented everything the world is, hatred, murder, rape, thievery, unjust gain, abortion, infanticide, and more but Jesus well he represented everything the world needed, love, peace, healing, restoration, kindness, compassion, we must beware of the Barabbas mentality the world still cries out give us Barabbas! we want abortions, murder, divorce, rape, promiscuity, adultery, and other self destructive activities, just don’t give us Jesus! we don’t want moral values, judgment or honesty and integrity, no don’t give us counsel or advice, correction or admonishment, we want war not prayer! fun not faith, sin not the Son! gossip not the Gospel yeah they want Barabbas alright.)
John 19:16  Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 
Sometimes you will have to bear your cross all alone, at least it seems that way but he will never leave you nor forsake you, there just comes a time when we must be mature and refuse to shuck of on others our responsibility, our hurts, our troubles..)
Luke 23: 33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and two thieves, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
( Oh what a prayer! Oh what compassion! oh what love! If only I could pray like that especially after being gossiped on, attacked, lied on, beaten and left for dead, wonder what I pray when I’m down, hurting, discouraged, persecuted, guilty? or am I always to concerned about my own need for forgiveness to be able to forgive others? to pray for others? do I ever realize that there is an enemy at work behind them, for they know not what they do but on the other hand is it possible that I know what I‘m doing?)
39  And one of the thieves which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 
There are always those who want to be saved without having to recognize their sin or their savior! then there are those who confess and repent despite their circumstances wow what a difference it makes! )
41 And we indeed suffer justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
What a time for faith to speak so boldly, to express itself in the mist of dire circumstances.
43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
John 18:26  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Did you know we are all family that the spiritual bond is stronger than the family blood bond, that we are responsible for the other‘s care, it’s a divine decree )
27  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:
Question is will you finish your course? will you accept your cup? will you pray; father forgive them! forgive me? help them? help me?

Reflections... Forgiveness what an easy word to pronounce or even confess but so difficult to put into practice! why? Could it be that I am more concerned about my  feelings than my faith, more about my flesh than my friend, my world than my word, my greed than my God, could it be that I to have become hardened by the world rather than softened by the word! Forgiveness what an amazing thing! it heals the deepest scars, soothes the greatest pain, comforts the confused, breaks the destructive bondage of shame and guilt, sets the tormented mind free to soar, who could have ever thought of such an idea or act as forgiveness? Wow what an amazing person, what an amazing God! what an amazing plan, forgiveness can be a sweet friend or a tormenting foe; it can either bring hope and healing or without it self destruction and disease, shame and hatred, it presents us opportunities daily, consequences, all around us lies it’s opportunity to either become better or bitter, forgiveness what a sweet aromatic fragrance it must be unto our Lord and savior. For when we choose to extend forgiveness we let loose a legion of healing properties to those in our mist whom are the afflicted and shamed, condemned and accused and oh what a freedom, what a sacrifice; the sacrifice of bitterness which then showers us with the gift of betterness! Could anything be more blessed? to be blessed means to be happy, for to forgive is to leave the sad, destructive and dangerous paths of self pity and pride and walk the narrow paths of compassion,  joy and happiness, forgiveness is to be set free from the shackles of hatred and resentment and that is something to be happy about. To be free to love! to care, to move on, to grow, to worship from a clear heart and a clean conscience. To be free to pray father forgive them! as easy as it is to breathe.
Maybe I should take a look at the privilege of forgiveness in place of the power of hatred, I should notice that the yearly custom of release is always superceded by the daily custom of payer and love! that I to must learn to bear my cross and sometimes alone and without becoming bitter, that I to must learn not to question my fathers will, my fathers cup. that I to will not only receive truth but boldly proclaim it, yea live it!  That I would realize that forgiveness is usually found in the lonely and weary battle ground of Cedron on my knees, forgiveness results when I give up self in place of others, when I to realize that they know not what they do! or better yet choose to care not , judge not, condemn not, should they actually know what they do yet still do it?  When I have learned to finish my cup, my trial, my discipline.

Prayer:  Daddy although I too need to pray for forgiveness, may I first for this moment offer you my praise and worship! my adoration, my devotion, my love, you are my hero, my Lord, my lover, O how I want so much to please you, yet so often I grieve you, father forgive me, forgive me for the times when I have been so self centered as to not see the need to forgive others, to pray for others, help me to be more concerned about the others in need; in  my mist, to love without expecting, to give without doubting, May I too choose to go the better way of Cedron rather than the bitter way of arrogance and self, please help me to pray they know not what they do, despite the fact that I may feel they do know what they do. May I forgive without grudging and without remembering their past but rather looking to their future, daddy never let me lose sight of the purpose and value in forgiveness, I pray that this world might know your forgiveness, your mercy, your truth! and that they would experience these truths through me your servant. May you overcome the wickedness, unforgiveness and hatred in our world through the love of Christ that we to would know the peace of Jerusalem! the mighty God in Jesus, thank you father for your grace and mercy! truly you are blessed, let me cry Hosanna! Hosanna! while others cry crucify crucify! Daddy thank you again, for caring, for loving, for forgiving, you are so amazing! may I through my hurts see hope, my pain see purpose, may I through this world see Jesus that I may in heaven worship God! Thank you Lord! Amen...  I love you......




by: George R. Nava 2170 E. Market St. Stkn, Ca  ph46-59731