“Forgive Them” (Luke 23:34)

On Friday, Jesus was put on trial, condemned, beaten, and crucified by those who hated Him. But on the cross Jesus showed that His compassion was so much bigger than their cruelty. In Luke 23:34, Jesus spoke from the cross, addressing His Father on behalf of those who were wrongly crucifying Him:

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

At a time when it would have been easy to return hate for hate, Jesus Christ taught us how to show greater love through His incredible act of forgiveness. Throughout His ministry, the Lord consistently taught about our responsibility as disciples to let go of past hurt and allow His love, His mercy, and His perfect judgment to guide our lives. He also taught that when we choose to forgive, we will be forgiven of our own wrongdoings and missteps. When we choose forgiveness, He offers His ultimate peace and healing.

In 2022, President Russell M. Nelson suggested that we each show gratitude to the Savior by forgiving others:

I repeat my call to end the conflicts in your life. Exercise the humility, courage, and strength required both to forgive and to seek forgiveness. …

… I invite you to seek an end to a personal conflict that has weighed you down. Could there be a more fitting act of gratitude to Jesus Christ for His Atonement? If forgiveness presently seems impossible, plead for power through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ to help you. As you do so, I promise personal peace and a burst of spiritual momentum. (“The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” Liahona, May 2022, 100)

Invitation: Forgive and Find Greater Love

To honor the Savior’s sacrifice for you, you can try to put an old grudge or resentment to rest this Easter season. It may not happen immediately, but with the help of the Lord, peace and restitution will come.

It is important to remember that offering forgiveness doesn’t take away the consequences of a person’s actions. For example, your forgiveness does not require you to put yourself back in harmful situations. Forgiveness is about letting go of bitterness, anger, resentment, and thoughts of revenge as you allow the Lord to heal you. You could also study the scriptures to learn more about how forgiveness can bless your life.

Questions

As you sought to forgive or ask forgiveness, what is something you learned about the blessings of forgiveness that you didn’t know or feel before?
How does your practice of forgiveness help you to understand and know Jesus Christ better?

Record Your Impressions

Videos

Forgiving Others: An Easter Message from President Russell M. Nelson

Song

“Gethsemane,” Hymns—For Home and Church, no. 1009

Activity for Children

After Jesus Christ died for us, He was buried in a tomb. Do this craft together and talk about how after three days He lived again!