Father, Forgive Them: A Prayer of Jesus

“But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves” (Luke 23:34).

g lady that she did ­­­­not want to give, so he sadistically beat her and then strangled her and then molested the dead body.   Wait!  That is not the end of the story!  The absolute amazing part of the story came later when the young man was given a life sentence in one of our finer prisons. 

On the day the mother found out who had done this dastardly deed to her daughter she began to pray for the young man that his heart of stone would be broken and he would give his life to Jesus.  She then went to the judge and gained permission to visit the young man and provide him with a Bible and some religious education materials.

She was told by many that she was wasting her time – he was not worth praying for, but, instead of giving up she intensified her prayers for the now middle aged man.  And then one day she received a letter from the middle aged man that he had answered God’s call on his life and he was so very grateful for her forgiveness and patience. 

As I listened to her story, I visualized my two daughters at that time in their lives and asked myself the question, “Could I do what this mother did?”  I have heard other stories of parents who have lost their children and have turned to bitterness and hatred. That becomes a cancer eating their very soul.

Could there ever have been a more difficult request ever made as Jesus hung on the cross: “Father, Forgive Them”.  It certainly was the most powerful!  I know you have heard the Easter Story many times but let’s look at it once again, as if we were reading it in today’s news.

Jesus had been through an emotional hell in the previous 24 hours; betrayed by one of the chosen twelve, denied by one of His closest friend.  Those He had poured in very heart and soul into for three years had cut and run. 

Alone Jesus faced the evilness of men who paraded Him through a ludicrous series of illegal trials.  Savage soldiers mocked and spit on Him and nearly flogged Him to death and placed a crown of thorns on His head.

The mob was bloodthirsty that day, spurred on by sadistic religious leaders; the people cried out “Crucify Him”.  Forced to carry a cross up a hill through the center of the town, the already half dead Jesus was unable to make it on His own, another had to help.

At the place known as the Skull, Jesus hands and feet were spiked into the wood of the cross with long metal stakes.  There He was hung before the murderous mob, on the center cross between two convicted criminals.

There, he was left to fight for air while pulling His weight up and down against the metal spikes.  The pain must have been beyond description.   Below Him the circus of the absurd continued.  Religious leaders sneered at Him.  Soldiers gambles for His robe. The crowd scoffed.  

The whole scene was so hideous, so horrible, and so heinous that God the Father had to turn His back on His beloved Son.  A dark cloud swallowed the hilltop, as the afternoon sun refused to shine.

Yet, in the midst of the betrayal, denial, desertion; despite the brutality, lies, and injustice, and in the middle of the murderous mayhem; Jesus said three of the most powerful words ever spoken.

“Father, forgive them.”   
FYI New post Feb 11 on grampswhatshappeningman.blogspot.com 

Blessings,

Gramps