A Cross of Forgiveness
Tim Webb • March 31, 2026
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
In the middle of suffering, Jesus spoke words that reveal the very heart of God: “Father, forgive them.”
He had been beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross, yet His concern was not revenge, it was forgiveness. The very ones who crucified Him were the ones He prayed for.
The passersby mocked Him. The religious leaders mocked Him. Even those crucified beside Him joined in. Yet Jesus responded with mercy.
This is what makes the cross so powerful. It is not just a place of suffering, it is a place where forgiveness flows freely.
He could have called down judgment. He could have destroyed His enemies. But instead, He offered grace.
The cross declares that no one is beyond forgiveness. If Jesus would pray for those who nailed Him to the cross, then there is hope for every sinner.
Respond: Come to Jesus today with your sin. Receive His forgiveness, and then extend that same mercy to others.
KEEP LOOKING UP!
Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
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Luke 23:42-43 Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. The thief found salvation. The thief found the Savior. He did not have time to change his life. He did not have time to make things right. He simply believed. He looked at Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me.” And Jesus answered with certainty: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” This is the power of the cross. Jesus Saves. Salvation is not about what we do. It is about what Christ has done. In a moment, a sinner can be made right with God. The thief did not understand everything, but he knew enough to trust Jesus. And that was enough. The cross still offers that same salvation today. Respond Call upon Jesus today. Believe on Him, and rest in the promise that He saves all who come to Him by faith. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. The thief on the cross understood something powerful: he deserved to be there, but Jesus did not. He said, “We indeed justly… but this man hath done nothing amiss.” He recognized his guilt and Christ’s innocence. Jesus was not forced onto that cross. No man took His life from Him. He laid it down willingly. That is what makes it a sacrifice. He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. He chose the cross. He chose to bear our sin. The thief could not save himself. But he saw that Jesus could. In that moment, he turned in faith. The cross is the greatest act of love the world has ever seen. It is God giving Himself for sinners. Respond: Stop trying to earn what Jesus has already paid for. Trust fully in His sacrifice and rest in His finished work. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
John 19:11 Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above… The cross was not a moment of defeat: it was a display of sovereignty. Jesus was not a victim of circumstance; He was in control the entire time. Even as He hung on the cross, everything unfolded according to the plan of God. Before the foundation of the world, this moment had been set in motion. The centurion saw something different. He had witnessed many deaths, but never one like this. Jesus did not die in panic or despair. He died with authority. He cried out to the Father. He spoke with purpose. And when the time came, He bowed His head and gave up the ghost. He gave His life to give us life. The cross reveals a King who is always in control, even in suffering. Nothing happened by accident. Every detail was part of God’s plan to redeem sinners. Respond Trust the sovereignty of God in your life. Even when you do not understand, remember that He is in control, just as He was at the cross. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities… If you could ask Mary (the mother of Jesus) what made the cross so special, her answer would tell of a cross of sorrow and suffering. She stood and watched her Son endure agony beyond anything the world has ever known. He was betrayed, arrested, mocked, and condemned. He was scourged until His body was torn. A crown of thorns was pressed upon His head. The pain was excruciating. But it was not just physical suffering. He bore grief. He carried sorrow. He took upon Himself what belonged to us. Our sin. Our sorrow. Our suffering. Our condemnation. No one has ever suffered like Jesus suffered. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. This was not meaningless pain. It was purposeful suffering. Every blow, every stripe, every moment of sorrow was for sinners like us. Respond: Pause and consider what Jesus endured for you. Let His suffering lead you to gratitude, repentance, and a deeper love for Him. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved… Salvation is always a miracle. In the church at Philippi there was: Lydia, a seller of purple, a refined and well-to-do woman whose heart the Lord opened; the demon-possessed girl, delivered by the power of Jesus; and the hardened jailer who cried out, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And the simple, straightforward answer was: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Different backgrounds, different stories, but the same Savior. It takes the same gospel to save a child in Sunday school as it does to save someone who has lived a long, hard life of wickedness. Maybe for you, it seemed almost natural. You heard the gospel at a young age. The Lord opened your heart, and you believed. Perhaps you encountered Jesus in your moment of greatest desperation. But either way you needed something internal and eternal. You needed new life. Whether it seemed the Lord gently opened your heart or you found yourself crying out to Him from rock bottom, you needed the same grace. Paul said to the Philippians, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” because he knew where they came from and what it took to bring them to Christ. It was a miracle of God every time. Respond: Thank God for the miracle of your own salvation and pray for the salvation of others. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
Acts 16:9-100 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us… assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Paul had a good plan. He wanted to preach in Asia. But the Spirit of God stopped him. Then came the vision: “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” When God hinders your plans, He has a greater plan. Paul could have been frustrated. Instead, he obeyed. And because he did, the gospel entered Macedonia. A church was born in Philippi. Lives were changed forever. Often when we see someone who needs help, we think only of physical or external needs. But Paul understood something deeper. The greatest help anyone needs is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The man said, “Help us.” Paul gathered that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel. Every person you meet needs some kind of help. And the greatest gift you can give is Jesus Christ. Respond: Submit your plans to the Lord. Ask Him to redirect you where needed. And pray for eyes to see those around you who need help, the help only Christ can give. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
Matthew 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. The difference between a good church and a great church is not talent, polish, or appearance. It is the towel. A good church may be full on Sunday morning with people who came to get served. But a great church is made up of people who leave the service ready to serve someone else. When believers gather only thinking about their rights, preferences, and recognition, the church begins to feel more like a country club than a family gathering. But when believers come saying, “How can I help? How can I bless? How can I strengthen the next generation? How can I pray for this church? How can I serve where there is a need?” then the spirit of Christ is being displayed. Jesus did not say greatness belongs to the most impressive. He did not say it belongs to the one with the most regal robes, the strongest gifts, or the most visible position. He said greatness belongs to the servant. So the real question is not, “Am I important here?” The real question is, “Have I taken up my towel?” Maybe the work is small. Maybe it is hidden. Maybe no one applauds it. But if it is done for Jesus, it matters greatly. A church becomes strong when its people care more about responsibilities than rights. It becomes beautiful when believers gladly take the low place for Christ’s sake. Respond: Look for one practical way to serve this week. Stop waiting for the perfect role or public opportunity, and simply do the next humble thing the Lord puts before you. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Jesus did not wash the disciples’ feet in order to receive something back. He served without expectation. He did not take the towel hoping they would return the favor. He did not wash feet so they would praise His humility. He simply did what love required and what His Father willed. That cuts against the grain of our flesh. We like service that gets noticed. We like sacrifice that earns appreciation. We like ministry that comes with visible results. But true service is not a bargain. It does not say, “I will wash your feet if you wash mine.” It does not say, “I will serve if I am thanked, recognized, understood, or repaid.” Jesus teaches us a better way. You wash feet with no expectation. You serve because it is obedience. You serve because Christ served you. You serve because the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Many believers become discouraged because they expected too much from people. They served, but secretly hoped for applause, loyalty, or return. When those things did not come, their towel fell to the floor. But the Lord never asked us to serve for those reasons. Remember this: our reward is not in the response of people, but in the smile of Christ. Respond: Ask the Lord to cleanse your motives. Pray, “Help me serve with no thought of praise, repayment, or recognition. Let it be enough that I have pleased You.” KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
John 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. One of the most humbling truths in this passage is that Judas was there. Jesus knew exactly what was in Judas’s heart. He knew Judas would sell Him for thirty pieces of silver. He knew Judas would betray Him with a kiss. Yet Jesus still washed his feet. That is staggering humility. That is astonishing love. He did not serve only those who would be loyal. He did not reserve His kindness for those who would appreciate it. He bowed before one who would wound Him deeply and knowingly met his need. This is where our service is often tested. We may be willing to help the grateful, the kind, the dependable, or the pleasant. But what about the difficult? What about the doubtful? What about the ones who misunderstand us, resist us, or even betray us? Jesus did not discriminate in His service. He washed the feet of John, and He washed the feet of Judas. If we are ever going to take up our towel, we must settle this matter. We are not serving for reward. We are not serving only the lovable. We are serving because Christ has called us to serve. We are serving because it is our towel. Some of the feet you wash may belong to people who never thank you. Some may belong to people who later hurt you. Still, the call remains the same. Take up your towel. Serve without discrimination. Serve because Jesus is worthy. Respond: Bring before the Lord anyone you have been unwilling to serve. Ask Him for grace to love, bless, and help others without bitterness, favoritism, or fear of being hurt. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
John 13:4-5 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Every disciple had ignored the need. The meal had gone on. The feet were still filthy. The room still carried the evidence that no servant had stepped forward. Then Jesus rose from supper. Those words are full of wonder. The very Son of God stood up, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and girded Himself. The One whom angels worship took the place of the lowest servant. He did not command someone else to do the work. He did the work Himself. This act revealed more than good manners. It revealed His heart. He is the Lord who stoops. He is the Master who serves. He is the King who condescends. In many ways, this moment pictures His whole life. He rose from Heaven’s glory, laid aside the visible splendor of His majesty, and came low to redeem sinners. He came near to wash what we could never cleanse. Jesus did not serve because He was lesser. He served because He was glorious. His humility did not diminish Him. It displayed Him. When we behold Christ like this, excuses begin to die. How can we cling to dignity when the Son of God took a towel? How can we insist on place and preference when He bowed before sinful men? He rose from supper. He bowed to serve. And in that moment He showed the beauty of heaven’s King. Respond: Spend time today worshiping Christ for His humility. Then ask Him to make His mind your mind, so that you gladly stoop to serve others in His name. KEEP LOOKING UP! Taken from the preaching ministry of Tim Webb
