03/29/2024
Have you ever thought about the soldiers at the cross who crucified Jesus? This is the reflection that I shared at the Bradford crosswalk this afternoon. On this Good Friday, Christ offers you forgiveness.
LUKE 23:32-34
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
Golgotha was where the Romans did their killing. The hill, if you looked at it from a certain angle looked like a skull. The Roman soldiers were ready to do their dirty work. They were simply soldiers assigned to a horrible task -- the death squad in charge of crucifixions. The executioners, but just doing the job assigned to them. Three criminals had been sent there on this Friday. There were more people gathered at the hill that day. No one seemed to care about two of the criminals. But everyone seemed to recognize the third. The crowd continued to yell at him and mockingly accused him of being the “king of the Jews.”
The Roman soldiers did the task they were assigned to do -- they wrapped the ropes, pounded the nails and raised Jesus up on the cross for all to see. But as they did their work, Jesus didn’t plead for his life like many of the others did. He didn’t try to bargain his way out of the punishment. Jesus, despite the punishment he was currently enduring, said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
I’m sure the soldiers had heard just about every curse word in Hebrew, Aramaic, and a variety of foreign languages hurled at them. And they had probably heard a lot of hastily uttered prayers during their time, too. But I don’t think the soldiers had ever heard someone pray for them! Here is Jesus, being mocked and scorned and continually brutalized, and he’s praying for those around him.
What was done to Jesus that day should have been unforgivable. They crucified the Son of God. They put the Savior of the World on a cross to die. And yet, Jesus, in his first words from the cross says, “Father, forgive them.” Forgiveness is offered to those who seemingly committed the unforgivable. But Jesus is assuring the listeners that even those who killed the Messiah could be forgiven.
Jesus is offering forgiveness to those who drove the nails, but also to the many others who took part in his crucifixion. He’s offering forgiveness to the religious leaders who sent Him to corrupt trials. He’s offering forgiveness to the crowds who gathered and watched and yelled for his conviction. Jesus is offering forgiveness to those who doubted. Jesus is offering forgiveness to those who participated. Jesus is offering forgiveness to his disciples who couldn’t stay as their friend was lead to death. Jesus is offering forgiveness to all whose sin He bore on the cross.
Jesus had said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Now he is practicing what he preached.
“Father, forgive them.” We are included in the “them”. If we were there, would we have chosen the same actions? Would we have helped to crucify Jesus? Perhaps we will never know. But the words of Jesus remind us that there is nothing that YOU or I have done that God cannot forgive. God’s forgiveness is broader, wider, deeper than we could ever imagine. And that’s because His love is wider, deeper, and broader than we could ever imagine! Christ came and died for the forgiveness of our sins. There is no love greater than that.
Jesus not only prays for their forgiveness, but also explains “for they don’t know what they are doing.” Were they guilty of killing Christ? Absolutely. But did they understand that they had killed the Messiah -- no. They did not know the depth of their sin. They did not fully know the consequence of their choices.
We often don’t understand the full consequences of our sin. We don’t always know the ripple effect of our words and actions in our lives and the lives of others. But we need to acknowledge that our sin has broken our relationship with God and our relationships with others and then seek forgiveness. When we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus’ words on the cross remind us of His immense ability to forgive. May you know the depth of the love of God as we pray for forgiveness today …
PRAYER
Father, forgive us. We do not always acknowledge the depths of our sin. But we have sinned against you. Our sins have done harm in ways we may not even understand. In your mercy, in your great love, hear our prayers and forgive us. Amen.
