“Father, forgive
them; for they do not know what they are doing” (v.34).
Forgiveness is what the cross is all about.
Humanity was
given life and a beautiful environment in which to live, and both of these
gifts – life and creation – have largely been abused. Yet God’s love is such
that he desired that no one would be lost. When God observed the brokenness and
frailty that often affects human beings, Jesus came into the world; and despite
the heavy cost, he acted on our behalf. This redeeming love has always been
God’s heart attitude. We read in the prophet Ezekiel (34:16a), “I will search
for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and
strengthen the weak”.
God desires to
establish relationships with all people. And, it is as people reconcile with
God, that lives, communities and creation itself can be redeemed, transformed
and set free.
This was not what
most people expected. We recently read about how his disciples did not
understand this way of acting. However Jesus would indeed confirm that he was
Son of God through his Saviour role on a cross.
So we can bring
our sin to this cross and find forgiveness there. Jesus takes upon himself our
burden of guilt and deals with it. Jesus, despite the weight and pain of this,
did so willingly. And soon we will also experience the full potential of all
this as we are drawn into new life.
We see
forgiveness play out in our bible text from Luke in two main ways: a radical
forgiveness that even comes within the grasp of those who were responsible for
torturing and crucifying Jesus; and also a radical forgiveness that sees a
criminal under a death sentence reach “paradise”.
Some people might
say that they are beyond forgiveness – what they have done is just too bad and
could never be forgiven. Well, who was Jesus forgiving from the cross? Firstly,
there were the Jews who conspired to destroy Jesus because he didn’t meet their
expectations as a ‘messiah’. They preferred their own way of doing things to
the way Jesus was directing them toward – they just couldn’t see things any
other way than their own comfortable pursuits and their power over others, and
they simply refused to change. Their leaders “sneered” at Jesus, and spoke to
him like the ‘devil’ had earlier (in terms of diverting from God’s plan) –
v.35b. Jesus could have saved himself, but he wouldn’t – he would give
of himself to all humanity.
Who was Jesus
forgiving? Secondly, there were the Romans, who were responsible for carrying
out the crucifixion. For them … anything to keep the peace! They were happy to
execute an innocent man just to silence the noise. Roman soldiers also mocked
Jesus (v.36) and gambled over his clothing, perhaps wanting souvenirs to show
their friends (v.34b). Then previously there was the crowd – they were given an
alternative, but kept yelling out “Crucify him, crucify him” (23:21). Some of
these may have called out “Hosanna” a week before (19:37-8), but quickly had
changed their minds. No, if all these ones can be forgiven, then there is no
limits to forgiveness; surely we can be forgiven.
I reckon even
Judas, a friend turned betrayer, could have been forgiven, if he had stayed
around long enough.
No doubt Jesus
was laden with disappointment and frustration, at what was being said and done
around him. But ultimately he only acted out of love. How huge is this! Treated
so badly, yet so ready to love and forgive. Such understanding of the human
condition and the negative cultural influences around us. Sometimes we simply
succumb to sin despite our best intentions. Yet there is such understanding
displayed here: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing” (v.34).
Where Jesus had
earlier taught his disciples to love their enemies and pray for their
persecutors, Jesus did precisely this.
In Cambodia, during Pol Pot’s four years in power
through the 1970’s, approximately 2-3 million people died of starvation,
overwork, or executions. Mass graves discovered in the 1980’s introduced the
world to Cambodia’s horrors; eventually, the phrase “killing field” was coined
to describe the immensity of Pol Pot’s genocide. One Khmer Rouge general under
Pol Pot’s command, who was at the helm of this killing spree, has been redeemed
through the cross of Jesus. It is hard to imagine a bigger sinner than this,
being forgiven. He used to kill many people before he came to know the Lord
Jesus as Saviour. Now, he has planted about 100 churches along the border of
Cambodia and Thailand. God is using him powerfully to make disciples for His
Kingdom.
Other people may
say that they don’t need forgiveness. But who hasn’t hurt another person at
least once … either physically or emotionally. Who hasn’t acted in a negative
way causing a troubling outcome at least once. Who hasn’t ever looked into the
eye of injustice and baulked rather than acted. As we have seen, some gambled
over Jesus’ clothing, some so called “leaders” sneered at Jesus, but we also
read that other people “stood by watching” (v.35a). They were watching, but
what would be their conclusion? Was this just another Roman crucifixion, or was
this something a whole lot more significant. There was a greater level of
interest than normal in this event, with quite a variety of responses. Is there
something here for me?
Who is it that
has never slipped up with their tongue. Has there ever been a person who has
not been selfish at least once? I think that anyone who claims no need for
forgiveness, has not truly accepted the communal nature of life … they are too
wrapped up in themselves. We might call them ‘proud’ … the Bible certainly
does. Yet, nonetheless, here from the cross there is forgiveness for them too.
It is as we view
the cross and open ourselves to our possible need for forgiveness, that we are
humbled and actually realise that forgiveness is exactly what we need. There is
a hole that only God can fill. And there is a burden, that only Jesus can lift;
for we will never be able to fix it ourselves.
This leads us to
the second way forgiveness plays out in this text. In the face of one of the
criminals on a nearby cross joining in with the mockery toward Jesus, the other
nearby “criminal” has come to see all this in a completely different way
(v.40-42). There is an accounting to be made … there have been offences
committed against God and other people – “Don’t you fear God?” – “We are
[being] punished justly … getting what our deeds deserve”. Here is the
necessary humility and openness required for forgiveness to kick in. Here is
the beginning of confession and repentance. “This man [Jesus] has done nothing
wrong” … not one comment thrown at him will stick, for he is guilty of nothing
– he must be here for us!
He will “save
us”, and this will happen via sacrifice on his part, and humility on ours.
Jesus was here to offer this very man ‘mercy’.
What a sincere
statement of faith we now read: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom” (v.42). This man has come to see that this Jesus will conquer death
and return to lead a kingdom. Through this man’s own agony, he reaches out to
Jesus, knowing that he needs more than help, he needs forgiveness. He opens his
heart, he believes, and speaks … “Jesus, remember me”. And, of course, this man
was not going to be disappointed. Jesus grants this desire; and not just
at any time in the future, but “today”! “Today, you will be with me in
paradise” (v.43). Forgiveness takes immediate affect!! What a turnaround!
Two men met that
day. Both were pain-ridden, gasping for breath and dying. But was One was dying
as a gift to the other. A connection was made. A relationship began.
Ultimately
forgiveness leads to an experience of “paradise”. Perhaps this is like the
“paradise” of the ‘Garden of Eden’ where the inhabitants had intimate, natural,
unspoiled relationships with God – until sin got in the way. Such ‘sin’ began
with a desire to do things our own way. Paradise lost! But this “paradise”
would also indicate the road we are on (as forgiven people) – an eternal road
heading toward God’s beautiful presence and ultimate peace. This is a new
reality to be experienced straight away, from the very moment we say, “Jesus
remember me (when you come into your kingdom)”. ‘Jesus, accept me’; ‘Jesus
receive me’.
Do you believe
that you are really forgiven? The story is told of the office manager who kept
every piece of paper that ever arrived on his desk. When another staff member
suggested a bit of a clear-out, the manager reluctantly said that this would be
alright as long as they photocopied everything first. Some people seek
forgiveness, but having received it, don’t really think or act as if they have
been forgiven. They remain limited and constrained by feelings of guilt,
failure or shame. But what Jesus did on the cross is complete – Jesus said, “It
is finished”! And we should sense this “paradise”, a place where we have been
liberated, set free, and given another chance … free of past mistakes. This is
like arriving at the footy before the players run out and seeing that the
scoreboard says 0-0. If we continue to dwell on past sin, we compromise (and
almost waste) what Jesus has done for us (in terms of where this should lead
us). Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed
our transgressions from us”.
The curtain in
the temple has been torn apart, representing open access to God through Jesus.
Here is forgiveness … receive … take this gift.
Would anyone like
to experience such forgiveness today??
No comments:
Post a Comment