And Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide His garments. Luke 23:34 ESV

Usually, we only think about our inheritance, after the person who leaves it to us is gone. The chair they sat in, the back yard they planted the tree in, and the jewelry they wore, are the material reminders we have. But the real inheritance we hold onto is what remains in our hearts. While we are trudging through the daily drudgery of our responsibilities to them or the daily joys, we usually forget how quickly things can change. Then we are shocked when the moment comes and they are suddenly gone. Whether by divorce or death, a career change or altered financial circumstances, that individual has moved on and we are left with the attitudes we held towards them. Initially our inheritance from them may be frustration, anger, and disappointment, because of the choices they made or the way they treated us.

When Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, hung dying on the cross, He had every right to be angry, and to demand retribution on those brutal soldiers who were gambling for his clothing. But instead, Jesus prayed for their forgiveness and in so doing He inherited the name that is forever above every name in Heaven and earth. By forgiving, Jesus inherited an eternal kingdom of hope and peace, based not on what others had done to Him, but by grace.

This morning, some of you may be carrying hurts because of a failed relationship that was not your fault, or a sudden circumstance that was beyond your control. But the good news is that our spiritual inheritance can be changed. By HIs choice, Jesus changed the meaning of the cross from a symbol of judgement to the source of grace. Just as He chose to forgive and release the outcome of His suffering to His Father, so can we. Why not choose as He did, a new legacy, a different memory, and a new path to walk? Why not release what has lingered in our hearts for too long, and trust it forever into the hands of God?