Picture the scene on Golgotha (The Skull) that day. Placed on a cross between two thieves, Jesus hung there, his body broken and bleeding. Blood flowed from his head, his side, his hands, and his feet. Roman soldiers beat him and mocked him and in his thirst when he asked for a drink, they gave him sour vinegar and then cast lots for his clothing. Now amid this atmosphere of contempt and distrust, Jesus offered a prayer. While hanging between heaven and earth and between two thieves, Jesus called on his Father. While on the cross in excruciating pain, nails in his hands, crown of thorns on his head, the sun beating on his bruised face, exposed to the world, a spectacle stripped of all dignity, bloodied sweat mixed with saliva flowing down his hair and face, lacerations on his back, there, the rejected One (Jesus) called for God's forgiveness... not for himself, but for those who placed him there. What?
From the cross, Jesus asked for grace for those who crucified him, for those who spit on Him, beat Him with sticks, crowned him with thorns that pierced his brow. Jesus prayed for those who betrayed, denied, and deserted Him.
He pleaded for God to forgive those who taunted Him with insults, who loved their tradition and legalism more than they loved God, whose righteous indignation and religious zeal were more important than a relationship with the divine.
Jesus requested mercy for those who had waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord," on the previous Sunday as he entered the capital city of Jerusalem but then on Friday, they were shouting: "Crucify him! Crucify Him!"
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," is also a statement on our behalf. We muddle through our days sometimes not knowing the hurt we bring to the Kingdom of God by our actions and speech. Our egocentric attitudes look for ways to please ourselves rather than reaching out to others. Our inward focus forgets that people are watching us, hoping that as Christians we will show them a different way. How often, even today, does Jesus say about us, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?"
In like manner we are to forgive others, whether we deem them worthy or not, even when they are unaware of what they are doing. Our response should exhibit the love of God as demonstrated on the cross. Even when the unthinkable has happened, we are to forgive. That is the action of Jesus while hanging on the cross. His taunters and detractors certainly did not deserve forgiveness, and neither do we.
My sins and your sins were nailed to the cross on that dark day when Jesus was crucified. And because we have believed in him we are a forgiven and redeemed people!
by Sesky Paul
How often, even today, does Jesus say about us, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?"
ReplyDeleteSesky thank you for personalizing this for me. It is so easy for me to read this account and say, how could they have done this to Jesus, as if I would have been the one who would have stood up for him. The reality is I need his prayer for them to be for me.
Thank you Lord for your intersession for me.