Forgiveness is always a gift. No one ever deserves it. When we do wrong we generally expect to be punished. When we hurt someone we are not surprised when they try to get even. Forgiveness doesn't get caught up in those kind of games.
Forgiveness is a gift that can only come from a truly free person.
If you have never really experienced the gift of forgiveness yourself, you will never be able to fully forgive. If you do not know the freedom that can only come through Jesus Christ, then you are not truly free. And our crucifixion scene went on. The soldiers gambled for his clothing. The sky grew black.