The Cross – Love Poured Out
Scripture: Luke 22:33-46
Devotional
As Jesus hangs on the cross, beaten, mocked, and abandoned, He speaks words that defy all human instinct: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” In the face of unimaginable and suffering, Jesus does not respond with anger or retaliation—but with forgiveness. This is not a denial of the evil done to Him; it is a declaration that love is stronger than it. Love endures the unthinkable and still chooses mercy.
At the cross, we see forgiveness not as a feeling, but as a costly act of will. Jesus absorbs the violence and releases grace. He refuses to let hatred have the final word. Good Friday reveals that forgiveness is at the very heart of God—and it comes at a price. As we stand here, we are both the ones in need of that forgiveness and the ones invited to extend it. The cross shows us that through Jesus, even the deepest wounds can become places where love breaks through.
Reflective Questions
- Where is God inviting me to choose forgiveness, even when it feels undeserved or impossible?
- How have I personally received the kind of mercy Jesus offers from the cross?
Prayer
Jesus, From the cross You spoke forgiveness over those who wounded You.
Your love endured what I cannot fully comprehend.
Thank You for extending that same mercy to me.
Search my heart and reveal where I am holding onto resentment or pain.
Teach me to forgive—not by my own strength, but through Your love at work in me.
Amen.