THE WAY 3 – CHOOSE RADICAL FORGIVENESS, 4-19-26, Lead Pastor Jeff Aenk, New Hope Christian Church
Key Verse - John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - Jesus
JESUS FORGIVES EVEN HIS ENEMIES, & HE EXPECTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO DO THE SAME.
1. The Crowd Persuades Pilate, & the Soldiers Flog, Mock, Beat, & Crucify Jesus.
Matthew 27:24-31 - 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
2. Jesus Forgave Them All, Even the Repentant Criminal on the Cross.
Luke 23:32-43 - 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him (Jesus) to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
3. Jesus Says We Must Forgive Others, If We Want Our Father in Heaven to Forgive Us.
Matthew 6:9-15 - 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
*Forgiveness - The intentional, grace-based act of cancelling a debt—releasing resentment, vengeance, and the right to get even—just as God in Christ forgave humanity. It is a command for believers, reflecting God's mercy rather than condoning the sin. Key synonyms include pardoning, wiping the slate clean, and letting go. Putting them in God’s Hands, Not Yours.
Here’s What I Want us To Do this WEEK
*Who has Hurt You or Someone You Love, that you are having a Hard Time Forgiving? Ask Jesus Today, to Help you Forgive Them, the Way Jesus has Forgiven You. *If you did Not get a , “What Would Jesus Do?” – WWJD – Bracelet last Week, There’s a few left in the Green Buckets at the Communion Tables, to help you Live Jesus Way – “The Way.”
JESUS FORGIVES EVEN HIS ENEMIES, & HE EXPECTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO DO THE SAME.
1. The Crowd Persuades Pilate, & the Soldiers Flog, Mock, Beat, & Crucify Jesus.
Matthew 27:24-31 - 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
2. Jesus Forgave Them All, Even the Repentant Criminal on the Cross.
Luke 23:32-43 - 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him (Jesus) to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
3. Jesus Says We Must Forgive Others, If We Want Our Father in Heaven to Forgive Us.
Matthew 6:9-15 - 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
*Forgiveness - The intentional, grace-based act of cancelling a debt—releasing resentment, vengeance, and the right to get even—just as God in Christ forgave humanity. It is a command for believers, reflecting God's mercy rather than condoning the sin. Key synonyms include pardoning, wiping the slate clean, and letting go. Putting them in God’s Hands, Not Yours.
Here’s What I Want us To Do this WEEK
*Who has Hurt You or Someone You Love, that you are having a Hard Time Forgiving? Ask Jesus Today, to Help you Forgive Them, the Way Jesus has Forgiven You. *If you did Not get a , “What Would Jesus Do?” – WWJD – Bracelet last Week, There’s a few left in the Green Buckets at the Communion Tables, to help you Live Jesus Way – “The Way.”