Father, Forgive Them
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."--Luke 23:34
Even as he is dying on the cross, Jesus cries out a prayer of mercy to God " "Father, forgive them . . ."
For whom is he praying? Is it for the soldiers, who are just "following orders?" Is it for Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who gave the order so he might satisfy the angry crowds and at the same time make sure that no other "king" would challenge Caesar? Is Jesus praying for the religious leaders who want him dead so that his message of a gracious God who loves everyone might be silenced? Or is Jesus praying for the ordinary people who first flocked to him but then became disenchanted when he offered love rather than might, community instead of victory? Or perhaps Jesus is asking mercy for his own disciples who had abandoned and denied him. What do you think?
"They know not what they do." That's what Jesus says. But surely the religious leaders knew what they were doing when they tried to get rid of him. Pilate knew he was sentencing an innocent man, but was willing to do so for political gain. The crowds knew that Jesus was the Lord of Love, but were angry when they didn't get what they wanted from him, and sought to punish him for it. The soldiers knew they were nailing a defenseless man. And the disciples surely knew that they were leaving Jesus alone, even if they were scared.
Sometimes we mistake forgiving for excusing. We think that when someone is forgiven, its like letting them off the hook for something wrong. But that's not it! In the Christian Scriptures forgiveness means (1) removing barriers (2) loosening what binds us (3) laying down burdens (4) setting people free for new life, including confession, repentance, and healing (5) giving gifts, regardless of merit. When Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them," he prays that God's love will transform them even if they have done terrible things. He doesn't want even the worst sin to be a barrier from God's loving presence and inspiration. Nothing and no one is beyond God's healing power.
Jesus wants people set free from their fear and their hatred, because fear stifles and hatred murders the spirit and living with either is like living in jail. They lead us to hurting other people. Jesus wants people to learn that even when we're angry we don't need to hurt or punish other people.
He wants those of us who have made mistakes , even really bad mistakes, to get a new start and to be free to make amends and heal the world. He doesn't want his disciples to be forever stuck in the shame of having failed him. He wants the soldiers, who can tell right from wrong-- orders or not-- to have God become their ultimate authority. When Jesus says "they don't know what they're doing," he means they really don't know why they are doing what they are doing! And they haven't yet learned another way.
But Jesus, in his intimate prayer, shows everyone that this is how God is; this is who God is. And since we are all made in God's image, Jesus wants us to live in God's image. My late friend Jim McGinnis, who started Teens Acting for Peace, used to teach: In the face of escalating violence, escalate love! That's what Jesus does, and in doing so he exposes what is wrong and takes away every excuse for it. Responding to wrong with wrong will never make a right. At the same time he shows us clearly what is right and true. And he offers hope for a different future, because God is committed to a future of love and peace, no matter how much forgiveness is needed.
And he's going to include us in that future.
The image below is entitled, "Father, Forgive Us," and is by artist James B. Janknegt. It speaks to our lives, and God's for-giving love in them.
Even as he is dying on the cross, Jesus cries out a prayer of mercy to God " "Father, forgive them . . ."
For whom is he praying? Is it for the soldiers, who are just "following orders?" Is it for Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who gave the order so he might satisfy the angry crowds and at the same time make sure that no other "king" would challenge Caesar? Is Jesus praying for the religious leaders who want him dead so that his message of a gracious God who loves everyone might be silenced? Or is Jesus praying for the ordinary people who first flocked to him but then became disenchanted when he offered love rather than might, community instead of victory? Or perhaps Jesus is asking mercy for his own disciples who had abandoned and denied him. What do you think?
"They know not what they do." That's what Jesus says. But surely the religious leaders knew what they were doing when they tried to get rid of him. Pilate knew he was sentencing an innocent man, but was willing to do so for political gain. The crowds knew that Jesus was the Lord of Love, but were angry when they didn't get what they wanted from him, and sought to punish him for it. The soldiers knew they were nailing a defenseless man. And the disciples surely knew that they were leaving Jesus alone, even if they were scared.
Sometimes we mistake forgiving for excusing. We think that when someone is forgiven, its like letting them off the hook for something wrong. But that's not it! In the Christian Scriptures forgiveness means (1) removing barriers (2) loosening what binds us (3) laying down burdens (4) setting people free for new life, including confession, repentance, and healing (5) giving gifts, regardless of merit. When Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them," he prays that God's love will transform them even if they have done terrible things. He doesn't want even the worst sin to be a barrier from God's loving presence and inspiration. Nothing and no one is beyond God's healing power.
Jesus wants people set free from their fear and their hatred, because fear stifles and hatred murders the spirit and living with either is like living in jail. They lead us to hurting other people. Jesus wants people to learn that even when we're angry we don't need to hurt or punish other people.
He wants those of us who have made mistakes , even really bad mistakes, to get a new start and to be free to make amends and heal the world. He doesn't want his disciples to be forever stuck in the shame of having failed him. He wants the soldiers, who can tell right from wrong-- orders or not-- to have God become their ultimate authority. When Jesus says "they don't know what they're doing," he means they really don't know why they are doing what they are doing! And they haven't yet learned another way.
But Jesus, in his intimate prayer, shows everyone that this is how God is; this is who God is. And since we are all made in God's image, Jesus wants us to live in God's image. My late friend Jim McGinnis, who started Teens Acting for Peace, used to teach: In the face of escalating violence, escalate love! That's what Jesus does, and in doing so he exposes what is wrong and takes away every excuse for it. Responding to wrong with wrong will never make a right. At the same time he shows us clearly what is right and true. And he offers hope for a different future, because God is committed to a future of love and peace, no matter how much forgiveness is needed.
And he's going to include us in that future.
The image below is entitled, "Father, Forgive Us," and is by artist James B. Janknegt. It speaks to our lives, and God's for-giving love in them.
That bible verse, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." -Luke 23:34 is one of my favorites. I am not 100% sure why I love it yet, but I really want to look into that bible verse more in the future.
ReplyDelete-Lizzie Flexer
Liz, I am glad you love it. Let it take you deeper into knowing Jesus and welcoming God's power in our lives. There is something about Jesus praying for even the people who are killing him and invoking God's power to offer them goodness and new life that brings into our vision how expansive and unbreakable God's love is. With Jesus, life is not taken--it is given. Walls come down; not people. God is revealed as the Source of our lives and the Completion of them. God's love is the power of creation--and in this case, new creation. All of our "limited loves" are shown in their limitations. God offers us all opportunity to repent, to be transformed into God's way. This is incredibly hopeful!
ReplyDeleteFrom Bonnie Hill
ReplyDelete"They Know not what they do" has always moved me and humbled me. What a powerful set of words. I am often moved to tears when I say that quote out load. Just knowing the sacrifice he is about to endure for the save of all of us is very emotional for me. I find myself not able to imagine the physical pain that he endured. I try to concentrate on the outcome of the crucifixion. What lessons have we learned? I find myself asking that question often.