Last Words: Father, Forgive Them

Nobody wakes up in the morning hoping they’ll need forgiveness. We don’t want to be the one who messed up. We don’t want to be the one who said too much… or didn’t say enough. We don’t want to be the one who hurt someone, failed someone, disappointed someone.

So instead, we do what comes naturally. We hide. We minimize. We explain it away. We tell ourselves, it wasn’t that bad… it wasn’t really my fault… they had it coming.

Because as much as we talk about forgiveness… most of us spend our lives trying not to need it. And yet—deep down—we all know the truth. There are things we can’t undo. There are words we can’t take back. There are moments we wish we could erase but can’t.

This week, we come to the cross and hear one of the most shocking things Jesus ever said: “Father, forgive them…”

Not after everything is fixed. Not after anyone apologizes. Not after the damage is undone. Right in the middle of it.

Because forgiveness may be the one thing nobody wants…but it’s the one thing everybody needs.

Scripture: Luke 23:32-34

Rev. Becca Bruner