Forgive them

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."  (Luke 23:34)

Is there any statement made by Christ that better demonstrates his deep compassion and love for the world?  Imagine the scene for a second.  He has been nailed to the cross.  The mockers and scorners continue to condemn him.  The pharisees and rulers are sneering at him while a group of people are casting lots for his clothes.  Most of his friends have abandoned him at this point, one of his closest denied even knowing him, while another was the one responsible for Jesus being apprehended.  Jesus, already weak from flogging and the carrying of the cross, struggles to breathe.  He agonizingly pushes up on his pierced feet gasping for air and cries out, "Father, forgive them!"  The innocent, righteous Son of the Living God asks the Father to forgive his enemies.

In thinking about forgiveness, I'm reminded that whenever someone comes to me for forgiveness, I'm called to forgive, yet this isn't what Jesus is doing here.  Jesus is going far beyond that.  These people who he's interceding on behalf of are the people who are torturing him.  The pharisees are even relishing it, they mock him with cruel jokes.  There is no one here looking for forgiveness and yet Jesus forgives.  Yet this still doesn't quite put a finger what Jesus is doing here, to say that he merely forgives them would be to sell Jesus short.  It is an even more earth-shattering statement than one of simple forgiveness.

The situation is rife with tension.  The Holy One of God is being crucified and the people responsible celebrate his death with a grin.  Feel that anger as you watch on and in the same moment hear Jesus say, "Forgive them."  Jesus hangs upon the cross, crying out to God and asks the Father to forgive these sinners.  The ones who drove the nails through his hands, the ones who spit upon him as he made his way to Golgotha, Jesus intercedes on their behalf in the midst of his persecution, in the midst of his torture.  What a heart of forgiveness.  To be able to be so compassionate and loving that your forgiveness goes beyond simply a personal matter, but goes even to the extent to asking others to forgive in the midst of the torture.  It is no doubt that one of the most difficult teachings of Christ is to love your enemies and here Jesus exemplifies that statement.  Can we have the same courage as Jesus in the way we forgive?  Can we forgive even when not prompted to do so?  We won't always get the apology that we are hoping for.  We won't always be asked for forgiveness, but neither should serve as a qualification for forgiveness.  Can we then ask others to forgive when they are enraged on our behalf?  May we learn to forgive like Jesus, may we develop a heart of compassion that is quick to forgive.