Famous Last Words – The Power of Forgiveness
As we approach Easter, we are beginning a brand-new series called Famous Last Words. It’s a reflection on the final words of Jesus as he was nearing the end of his life. As Jesus hung on the cross, enduring unimaginable suffering, he uttered seven phrases—seven powerful messages that continue to resonate not only with those who heard them in the first century but with each of us today. Over the next few weeks leading up to Easter, we will delve into these famous last words of Jesus, examining their meaning and what they can teach us about forgiveness, sacrifice, and love.
The First Words: “Father, Forgive Them”
The first words Jesus spoke after being nailed to the cross were not words of anger, frustration, or even self-pity. No, they were words of forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) These words are mind-blowing when you think about them. Here is Jesus, enduring one of the most excruciating forms of execution ever devised by mankind, and his first words are to ask for the forgiveness of those who are actively causing his suffering.
Why did Jesus forgive? The first reason is simple yet profound: He did it for our sake. Jesus’ death on the cross was not just a noble act of suffering—it was the ultimate act of love. As Paul writes to the Romans: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)
The cross represents the culmination of God’s plan to extend forgiveness to all of humanity. Jesus’ death was the payment for a debt we could never repay. Through his death and subsequent resurrection, Jesus overcame both sin and death. This is the foundation of the Christian faith—without the resurrection, Jesus’ death would have just been the tragic end of another martyr. But because Jesus rose again, defeating death, we can have hope for eternal life and the forgiveness of our sins.
However, there is more to Jesus’ forgiveness than just securing our salvation. The second reason Jesus forgave was to set an example for us. Jesus didn’t just ask God to forgive those who were torturing and killing him—He prayed for them. In the most unimaginable of circumstances, Jesus chose forgiveness, not because the people deserved it, but because forgiveness is a path to freedom.
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is hard. Really hard. Most of us can forgive small offenses—a harsh word from a spouse, a coworker’s criticism, or even a stranger cutting us off in traffic. But what about the deep hurts? The betrayals? The injustices that cause us pain so deep, it feels almost impossible to let go? It’s in these moments that Jesus’ words from the cross speak to us the most.
As Jesus hung on the cross, He forgave those who caused Him immense pain, and He did so without them asking for forgiveness. There was no apology, no recognition of wrongdoing from them. Yet Jesus still extended forgiveness. Why? Because forgiveness is not about the person who hurt us—it’s about us. Forgiveness is a decision we make, not for the other person’s sake, but for our own freedom.
When we hold onto unforgiveness, we allow those who hurt us to continue to control us. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. It harms us far more than it ever harms the one who wronged us. Studies from institutions like Harvard and Johns Hopkins have found that holding onto unforgiveness can lead to physical ailments such as high blood pressure, elevated cortisol levels, and a weakened immune system. It also contributes to mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. In short, unforgiveness hurts us, not the other person.
But when we forgive, we break free. Dr. Tyler VanderWeele of Harvard School of Public Health says that when we forgive, “We are no longer trapped by the past actions of others and can finally feel free.” Similarly, Angela Buttimer, MS, NCC, RYT, LPC, a licensed psychotherapist at Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, notes that forgiveness is “our path to mental and emotional freedom.”
The Path to Freedom
The challenge, of course, is that forgiveness is difficult, especially when the hurt runs deep. It’s hard to imagine forgiving someone who has caused us excruciating pain, especially when they are not sorry. But Jesus teaches us that forgiveness is not about the other person. It’s about us. It’s a decision we make to release the hold that past pain has on us and to step into the freedom that God offers.
In the Gospel of Mark, we read about a Roman soldier who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. This soldier was used to executions, but what he saw in Jesus was different. As he observed how Jesus responded to the cruelty, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”” (Mark 15:39). The soldier’s life was changed by what he witnessed—a man enduring unimaginable suffering with forgiveness in his heart.
Jesus’ first words from the cross offer us a model to follow. They remind us that forgiveness is not just a nice idea—it’s a powerful, transformative choice that can heal our hearts and change our lives. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is worth it. It sets us free and brings us closer to the heart of Jesus.
As we approach Easter, I invite you to reflect on who you need to forgive. It may not be someone who cut you off in traffic or a coworker who undermined you. It may be someone who has caused you deep, lasting pain. It may be a decision you’ve been avoiding because you think the person doesn’t deserve it. But forgiveness is not about what they deserve—it’s about what you need to release in order to experience freedom.
Jesus’ famous last words were words of forgiveness. In those final moments, He showed us that forgiveness is the key to healing and freedom. Will you choose to forgive today, for your sake?
Written By Pastor Mark Hardacre