The Roman soldiers were simply obeying orders on a normal Friday morning. They banged the nails into Jesus’ wrists and feet. Did Jesus curse them? No. He prayed for them. He asked God to forgive them because they didn’t realize what they were doing. It was all part of God’s perfect plan.


Jesus had taught about forgiveness before. Peter asked Him how many times he should forgive his brother when he sinned against him. Up to seven times? Jesus replied, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). In other words, forgive always. Why? Paul tells us to be “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). When we consider all that has been forgiven us and all that was paid for us at the cross, how can we not forgive each other? You and I may not have been the ones who nailed Jesus to the cross, but it was our sin that held Him there. Yet He freely forgave every offense of ours before we had even taken one breath of life. Amazing!


About the writer:

Jane Sveska first wrote for Anchor in 2006, so we welcome her back this month! She grew up in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master’s degree in Library Science. She has two grown children and two baby granddaughters, Sofi and Lily. Jane loves listening to the waves crash on the shore of Lake Huron, spending time in the Word, and imagining heaven.