“Father forgive them because they know not what they do.” Jesus said this as He hung dying on a wooden Roman cross. But who was He forgiving? The Romans whose idea of punishment was nailing human flesh to slabs of wood until they expired? The Jews who conspired against Him and falsely accused Him of crimes He did not commit? The people who cried out for Him to be crucified? Yes He was forgiving them, but never let us lose sight of the fact that He was also forgiving you and me — us. Forgiving us of our sin by His shed blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. We are forgiven of original sin - the sin of rebellion against God and subsequent separation from God the Father. Through His blood we are now in right standing with the Father. Any sins of commission or omission we may now commit in the flesh — is covered. All we need do is ask for forgiveness and it is given because the price for our forgiveness has already been paid— at the cross of Calvary. Does it sound simple - well it is! When we receive Jesus as our Savior we are forgiven of our sins. As forgiven people we are to extend forgiveness to others who may have hurt us, lied about us, mistreated us or even betrayed us with a kiss! We have been freely forgiven, let us freely forgive.