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Lenten Devotion

April 13, 2022

All Day

Luke 23:32-38

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Father, forgive them …”

Chapter 23 gives the account of the traumatic death of Jesus. After having been betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus is hung on the cross, like a criminal, between two criminals. In this passage of the Scriptures, we find the pinnacle moment in the life of Jesus and the most vivid description of a life totally surrendered to the will of God.

Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This is the first of seven statements uttered by Jesus on the cross. This is a most heartbreaking and gracious moment.

But, who is “them”? Is Jesus referring to the soldiers, who are casting lots to divide his clothes; to the Jewish leaders, who sentenced him to death; to the crowd, which is taunting him, asking him to show he is the Lord by saving himself? Jesus is innocent, he has the power, if he wants, to stop the ordeal, but he submits himself to the will of God.

Jesus is facing a choice: come down from the cross and save the two criminals or endure the cross and save us all. He is willing to go through the suffering; the power of the Holy Spirit gives him the strength to persevere.

Jesus forgives even while they are nailing him to the cross. He is asking his Father in heaven not to hold grudges against the very men who are crucifying him. The very reason why he is going to the cross is for men like these to be forgiven. Were it not for the cross there is no hope for forgiveness.

Isn’t it just like Jesus to pay the ultimate price, surrounded by sinners? We can only make sense of the way Jesus died, because this is the way he lived. He lived his life around sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes to name but a few. He forgave them and he invited them to join in the kingdom of God.

Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.” In other words: Father, forgive them because they are made blind by their sins. Jesus prayed for his enemies and God forgave. More widely, his plea extends to all humanity and his forgiveness is also for every person that he is dying for, and that includes you, and that includes me.

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