“Father, Forgive Them, for They Do Not Know What They Do”

I’m resuming my blog after a two-week break from the pulpit, as we welcomed a guest speaker the first week and were inspired by a Lenten Cantata the second week.  Returning to the pulpit and preaching this Sunday, April 9th, I will resume my reflections on "Jesus’ Words from the Cross.”  These are the sayings of Jesus during his crucifixion, as recorded in the four Gospels.  Recall that during these reflections, we have been guided by one, central question:  “What do these sayings teach us about Christian discipleship in the twenty-first century?” 

This Sunday, April 9th, we will examine Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness to those who are crucifying him.  This prayer appears in Luke’s account of the crucifixion:

“Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing.” 

  - Luke 23:  34-35

The Christian Lenten season is time for self-examination and repentance, as we reflect upon our brokenness and need for reconciliation with God.  When many of us read this scripture, our minds naturally turn to our own sinfulness and need for forgiveness—and rightfully so.  However, there is a second way to approach this text, and it is this second approach which comes closest to our central question:  “What does this saying from the Cross teach us about Christian discipleship in the twenty-first century?” 

This second approach looks at what Jesus does, as he suffers on the Cross:  Jesus forgives those who are crucifying him.  Jesus forgives.  But, who does Jesus forgive?  Does he forgive the Roman soldiers charged with carrying out the crucifixion, who pounded the nails into his hands and feet and then lifted his body on the Cross?  Or, does he mean the Jewish leaders who conspired to have Jesus arrested, convicted, and crucified?  Or, instead, does Jesus mean the Jewish crowd who cried out, “Crucify him!” when Pilate wanted to release Jesus? (see Luke 23:  13-25)  Perhaps Jesus meant to forgive Judas Iscariot, his disciple, who betrayed him?  Or, perhaps Jesus intended to forgive Pilate, the Roman prefect, who succumbed to pressure from the Jewish leaders and sentenced Jesus to crucifixion? 

I believe that Jesus intends for his prayer of forgiveness to include everyone who had some role in his suffering and crucifixion; the soldiers, the Jewish leaders, the crowd, everyone. 

So, the response to our central question is that Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness on the Cross teaches us that, as disciples of Christ, we should be willing to forgive everyone who has wronged us.  For many of us, this is very hard.  There are persons whom we have difficulty forgiving.  There can be many reasons why forgiving someone is difficult:

1.  The pain and harm caused by the other person is just so great that we have trouble forgiving them, even if they are genuinely penitent.  Consider, for example, the difficulty most parents would have forgiving a drunk driver who caused the death of their child.

2.  We feel betrayed by someone whom we trusted and that betrayal is so profound that we have trouble forgiving them, even if they are genuinely apologetic.  For example, consider how hard it would be to forgive a trusted work colleague who went behind our backs and caused us to lose a promotion or a job.

3.  We are angry and seek revenge on someone who has wronged us.  Therefore, we refuse to forgive that person, even if they are sincerely regretful.

            In these circumstances, it can be extremely difficult to forgive someone who has wronged us, even when they are genuinely sorry.  Yet, if we are going to truly follow Jesus, we must forgive.  For the Gospel writer Luke, Jesus models the life of a Christian in his death on the Cross.  This is a special emphasis of this particular Gospel.  For Luke, Jesus models the depth of his faith and obedience to God by accepting his crucifixion.  Similarly, Jesus models discipleship by forgiving those who are crucifying him.  But, why is that? 

            Why does Christ call us to forgive those who harm and betray us?

            I believe that the interpretive key here is love.  To be genuine, all acts of forgiveness must be grounded in love.  We truly forgive someone because we love that person.  As Christians, God intends for us to love all persons.  We love all persons in response to God’s love for us.  As it is written in 1 John 4:19, “We love because God first loved us.”  When we open ourselves to receive God’s love, then God fills us to overflowing with love and—in response—we love God and all other persons.  (Of course, we can love someone, even if we don’t personally like them.)  When we love a person, then we can forgive them, even if it is difficult. 

If you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska area and do not have a place of worship, then I invite you to come and join us this Sunday, April 9th, at Christ United Methodist Church, as we explore Christ’s call to forgive those who harm us.  This Sunday is Palm Sunday, when we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as the people waved palms and sang, “Hosanna!!  Hosanna in the highest!!”  Everyone will receive palms and be invited to wave them as we sing our opening hymn, “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna.”  Our church is located at 4530 A Street.  Our traditional worship services are at 8:30 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings. 

Everyone—including doubters—is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.

     During Holy Week services on Wednesday and Thursday, I will complete my ruminations on Jesus’ words from the Cross, reflecting on:  “It is finished” (John 19:30) and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).  Please watch for a special, mid-week blog posting on these two final sayings of Jesus from the Cross.  Then, watch the blog at the end of the week for my post on Easter.