And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke 23:33-34
As Christians, we have a perfect model of everything we should be doing in the person of Jesus Christ. In these verses, we have the perfect model of forgiveness. Jesus had been sentenced to die. He was on the cross being crucified. People at the foot of the cross were casting lots for His clothes. These people hated Him, wrongly accused Him, insisted He be crucified (the most horrible death of the time), and mocked and tortured Him as He died.
Still He forgave them.
He had done everything for them. He had healed their sick, caused their blind to see, their deaf to hear, and made their lame to walk. They paid Him back by betraying Him and rejecting Him in His hour of need. They chanted for His crucifixion, instead allowing a known murderer to go free.
Still He forgave them.
Whatever anyone has done to us, we can surely find a way to forgive them. We have no right to hold grudges and harbor unforgiveness in our hearts when we have the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was able to forgive those who betrayed Him and crucified Him. No one that we know has ever, nor will ever, do anything of that magnitude to us. So why should be not be forgiving, as was our Lord?
We have the perfect example of forgiveness. We have only ourselves to blame if we do not follow it. Forgiveness is a way of life for the Christian.
Justified Freely 
Posted by Debbie on March 23, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Thank you for reminding us about forgiveness. I really can’t hear it enough! God bless you!
Posted by justifiedfreely on March 24, 2013 at 7:27 am
We’re so programmed to want to get revenge and to stay bitter, that we need a reminder to be forgiving from time to time!