Forgive
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. Matthew 26:50
Forgiveness is one of the most powerful expressions of God’s love—and one of the most challenging things we are called to do. In this moment from Matthew 26, Jesus knew Judas had come to betray Him. And yet, He looked him in the eye and called him “friend.” What unbelievable restraint. What indescribable grace. Jesus didn’t lash out, condemn, or even expose Judas in front of the others. Instead, He responded with love. Why? Because forgiveness was already in His heart.
Jesus’ whole ministry was defined by forgiveness. He healed the broken, restored the outcast, and offered mercy to sinners long before the cross. But it was on the cross that He paid the ultimate price for our sin. The forgiveness that He lived out became the forgiveness that covers all of humanity, and yet, that gift has to be received. It’s not automatic. It’s personal. Just as we choose to receive His forgiveness, we also must choose to extend it.
Forgiveness is not easy. In fact, in our own strength, it’s often impossible. But we don’t have to do it alone. God gave us the ability to forgive when He placed His Spirit and His love on the inside of us. Forgiveness isn’t forgetting. It’s not pretending nothing happened. It’s choosing to release the debt someone owes you and handing it over to God. It’s trusting that His justice is perfect and His love is greater.
Here are some steps you can take to get started:
- Receive God’s forgiveness fully. Remind yourself daily that your sins, past, present, and future, are covered by Jesus’ blood. When you truly grasp that, it becomes easier to offer grace to others.
- Decide in advance to forgive. Don’t wait until offense comes. Make forgiveness a preset in your heart. Ask the Lord to help you develop a posture of mercy.
- Pray for those who hurt you. This is hard but transformative. Ask God to bless them, heal them, and reveal His love to them. Prayer softens your heart and strengthens your spirit.
- Speak it out. Say aloud, “I forgive [name] for [offense]. I release them to God.” Hearing yourself declare forgiveness can break spiritual strongholds.
- Repeat as needed. Forgiveness is often a process. If the pain resurfaces, keep releasing it to God. It’s not weakness, it’s faithfulness.
When we look at today’s passage, we see more than betrayal. We see Jesus demonstrating His love in the face of heartbreak. We see power under control. And we see the choice to forgive, not just to fulfill prophecy, but to model the very heart of God.
Today I want to encourage you to remember that forgiveness is not about denying pain, but it’s about breaking the chains that pain wants to place on you. Jesus showed us that even when betrayal is fresh, love can still lead. When you choose to forgive, you look more like Jesus than almost any other moment in your life. Just like Him, your choice to forgive will lead to freedom and not only for the one who hurt you, but for you, also.
Let the love of Christ Jesus move you to receive His forgiveness fully and then give it freely. This is the heart of the Gospel. This is the power of the cross.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 26:47-56
47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.
48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.”
49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.
53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?
54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.
56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
The Daily Dose 