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 re...
The first picture is sculpted in my Mommom's church, I find that to me it seems like he is trying to hold and help the whole world but he is only one person so I find that picture/sculpture very interesting.
ReplyDelete-Lizzie Flexer
I have always been moved by that sculpture. Jesus breaking out of the tomb . . . and out of all the boxes we would put him in to limit our discomfort at how broad and unstoppable his love is!
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ReplyDeleteThis is from Bonnie Hill
ReplyDeleteFrom Bonnie Hill
My mind goes to what must he have been thinking to himself at this moment? It would be interesting to compile the words that we are all thinking. What might Jesus be feeling as he moved the stone? Is he enjoying the warmth of the sun once again? Now he has to gather all his strength to continue sharing the word of the lord.
What the first image looks like for me is that he is holding a burden to carry like sin
ReplyDeleteMason Kessler
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