March 30, 2026

🌿LIVING WATER VINEYARD — HOLY WEEK DEVOTION

DAY 6 — FROM THE UPPER ROOM TO THE CROSS ✝️

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As we started this journey…

40 days until Resurrection Day.

Day by day, we’ve been walking slowly, intentionally through the final words of Jesus.

We’ve sat with Him in the Upper Room.

We’ve listened as He spoke in John 13… 14… and 15.

We’ve heard Him:

   •   wash the disciples’ feet

   •   call us to love one another

   •   promise the Holy Spirit

   •   invite us to abide in Him

And now…

We come to the final hour.

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THE LAST HOUR

Jesus has now been:

Rejected.

Arrested.

Tried.

Beaten.

Whipped.

And now…

Crucified.

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Before there is resurrection…

There is the cross.

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“THE SEVEN STATEMENTS FROM THE CROSS” ✝️

This week, we slow down.

These are not casual words.

These are:

   •   words spoken in agony

   •   words spoken in love

   •   words spoken while He is giving His life

And today…

We begin with the first.

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“FATHER, FORGIVE THEM”

Luke 23:34 (NLT)

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

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Friend… picture this.

You’re just outside Jerusalem.

It’s loud.

There’s shouting.

There’s tension in the air.

Roman soldiers are carrying out executions.

The crowd gathers.

Some curious.

Some angry.

Some heartbroken.

And then…

Three crosses rise.

And on the center cross—

Jesus.

The One who healed.

The One who restored.

The One who loved.

Now…

Beaten.

Bloodied.

Hanging.

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CRUCIFIED?

Crucifixion wasn’t just death.

It was:

   •   torture

   •   humiliation

   •   exposure

   •   slow suffering

Every breath requires Him to push up…

and collapse again.

Over and over.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND HIM?

Not silence.

Mocking.

   •   “He saved others—let Him save Himself!”

   •   Soldiers gambling for His clothes

   •   Religious leaders sneering

   •   People watching

This is rejection at the loudest level.

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AND THEN… JESUS SPEAKS

Not anger.

Not defense.

Not retaliation.

He says:

“Father… forgive them.”

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Not after the pain.

Not when it’s over.

In the middle of it.

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WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?

Forgiveness means:

   •   releasing a debt

   •   canceling what is owed

   •   choosing not to hold it against someone

Jesus isn’t saying, “It doesn’t matter.”

He’s saying,

“I’m choosing not to hold this against them.”

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WHAT ARE WE BEING FORGIVEN OF?

Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)

“He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins…”

Let’s break this down.

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1. TRANSGRESSIONS

   •   willful rebellion

   •   crossing a line you know is there

It’s choosing your way over God’s way.

Like stepping over a line you clearly see.

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2. TRESPASSES

   •   falling short

   •   missing the mark

Even when you try… you don’t quite get there.

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THE REALITY

Every sin creates a debt.

Not just a mistake.

A debt.

And we couldn’t pay it.

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WHY BLOOD WAS REQUIRED

Hebrews 9:22

“Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

Sin costs life.

And the only way the debt could be canceled…

was through sacrifice.

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WHAT JESUS WAS DOING ON THE CROSS

While they mocked Him…

He forgave.

While they rejected Him…

He redeemed.

While they nailed Him…

He paid.

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And friend…

He was paying for you.

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STORY — Corrie ten Boom (chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0)

Corrie ten Boom and her sister were imprisoned in a concentration camp for helping others.

They suffered deeply.

Corrie later admitted there was bitterness in her heart.

Years later, she was speaking in a church about forgiveness.

And after the service…

She saw him.

A former guard.

A man who had been part of her suffering.

He approached her and said how powerful it was to know that sins could be forgiven.

Then he extended his hand.

Corrie froze.

She said she felt nothing—no warmth, no desire to respond.

And in that moment, she prayed:

“Jesus… help me.”

Because she knew…

She had been forgiven.

And now she was being asked to forgive.

She said as she reached out her hand, something changed.

A healing love flooded her heart.

And she realized:

Forgiveness isn’t just something we do.

It’s something God does through us.

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THE INVITATION

Jesus said:

“Father, forgive them.”

And now He says:

As you have been forgiven… forgive.

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Who do you need to forgive today—even if they don’t deserve it?

2. Have you truly received the forgiveness Jesus already paid for you?

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PRAYER

Father…

As we step into this Holy Week, we come to the cross.

We don’t rush past it.

We don’t minimize it.

We see what it cost.

Jesus… thank You that You said,

“Father, forgive them.”

And that includes me.

Today, I receive Your forgiveness—fully.

And today, I choose to forgive.

Break every chain of bitterness.

Heal every wound.

And let Your love flow through me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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If you didn’t get a chance to be with us yesterday…

I want to encourage you to take some time this week and watch the service.

We spent time in John 16—talking about the Holy Spirit, how He leads us, strengthens us, and walks with us through every season.

I believe it will really encourage you as you continue through Holy Week.

And I just want to say…

I’m so thankful for what God is doing right now.

In our church.

In our community.

And in your life.

He is moving.

He is drawing people closer.

He is changing hearts.

Let’s keep leaning in together this week. ✝️🙏