Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  Jesus set a great example for us in our text. Forgive them… let’s look at them for a moment.
Them represents those who were mocking Him, those who drove the nails in His hands and feet. Those who beat Him and spit on Him, those who forsook Him.  The physical agony was excruciating,  the mental anguish even more so.  Yet Jesus did not harbor resentment and bitterness in His heart.  There’s something worthy of noticing here, the crowd in front of Jesus did not acknowledge their wrongs,  nor did they ask for forgiveness.  You will experience hurt in this world,  even at some point you may be hated by others.  Those who hurt you may never ask you to forgive them. Forgive them anyway!  They may never acknowledge their wrong doings,  but it is never right for a child of God to hang on to that resentment.  If we do it will turn into bitterness for sure. Consider… Matthew 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  You will notice as you pray for them there will be a release from the resentment.  Forgiveness can be one sided.  Jesus forgave His enemies.  He is praying when He said Father forgive them.  Now notice this, even though forgiveness can be one sided, reconciliation requires a willingness of both sides.  Example… Jesus forgave the crowd, but He reconciled the thief who saw his need for forgiveness and recognized Jesus as Lord.  Father forgive them, Lord remember me.  A crowd was forgiven, an individual was reconciled.  Have you been reconciled?  We hurt Jesus too.  He forgives us, but to be reconciled we must receive Him just as the thief did.
Have you been hurt?  Don’t allow that hurt to make you bitter, allow it to make you better. Joseph did, and we can too!  To forgive is to set a prisoner free, only to discover the prisoner was me!  Amen.  Pastor