Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  Luke 23

I had already written my impressions on Luke 23 but what you are going to read now is a total new posting.  Last night Bro Daniel led the Hymn and Prayer Service and through the hymns once again reaffirmed our faith in God.  Indeed it seemed quite appropriate as he drew several references to Luke 22 (our bible reading passage yesterday) - where we were asked if we were ready to carry the cross for Jesus?

And as we prayed, I could not help but think about the words of Jesus as He hung on the cross beside the 2 thieves…

…“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Luke 23:34

Tears could not stop flowing as I thought about it.  Though the words were uttered more than 2000 years ago, the love and mercy of Jesus still strikes deep within me and causes me to tremble and feel so unworthy of His great sacrifice on the cross for me.

As I read today’s passage, I could not help but gasp in amazement.  Even when Jesus appeared to be powerless and weak - hanging on the cross - He could still forgive and offer salvation.  The authority of God through Jesus is still clearly seen.

The foremost thing I see this time is …

Forgiveness

Forgiveness.  Such an easy word to say and yet a very difficult one to do.

As I am typing these words, I am struggling with the need to forgive someone dear to me.  I know I should and I know I must.  Yet… I am finding it difficult.

I believe many of us need to learn to forgive… eand must forgive … or we will always be burdened with unresolved issues.  We find ourselves unable to move on.  We find that old issues keep popping up again and again… and we hate ourselves for it.

It may be over a misunderstanding, a broken relationship, an ego clash, a question of doing it my way or your way…. the list just goes on.

I know I am guilty of it all….

And yet, here we see and hear Jesus saying, “Father, forgive them…”.

If there is anyone who did not need to forgive, it was Jesus.  He was questioned, investigated by Pilate and Herod and they concluded… there was nothing wrong with this man.  But still He was sentenced to the cruelest form of capital punishment.

If Jesus could forgive… why can’t I?

Who is Jesus asking God to forgive?

Was it to forgive those who are executing Him becuase they do not know what they were doing?  Or was He asking forgiveness for the Jewish leaders who worked to get Him crucified?  Or was Jesus pleading for the Roman soldiers who carried out the death sentence?  Or was it for the crowds that surrounded Him but did not know what to say about what has happened?

Indeed, the lifelong lesson of Jesus was on of forgiveness.  Jesus taught and offered forgiveness.

If you can recall, back in Luke 5:21, it was the question of forgiveness that first caused the Pharisees to question who Jesus was:  “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus taught His disciples that they must forgive each other seventy times seven times each time the offender repents of their sin and ask for forgiveness (Luke 17:34).

At the cross, Jesus was asking God to forgive people people when there was no sign of repentance.  The people who crucified Jesus showed no remorse.

Forgiveness for the Crowd

Many of the crowd were ignorant of what was happening and because of this, Jesus asked God for forgiveness.  If they had known for Jesus was, they would have repented.  But they did not not heed John the Baptist’s warning to bear fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8) nor knew that Jesus was the one that John spoke about who will come that is more powerful than him (Luke 3:16-17).

As the apostles later continued the preaching of the kingdom of God, they went to those who were considered ignorant.  But in their ignorance, they were given opportunities to see the plans of God and that they ought to repent and turn back to God (Acts 2:22-39; 3:17-26).

At this point, we can see that the crowd was not sure what was happening before them.  The one they thought that came with the power to heal and save now hung on the cross.  Their long awaited Messiah turned out to be a mess.  No wonder many of them, on “seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.” (Luke 23:48)

But is it easy for me to forgive someone for their ignorance?  I am sure there are times when we have been deepy hurt by the speech or actions of others - sometimes done in ignorance. Despite their protests and apologies, we still find it difficult to say… “Father, forgive them…”.

Forgiveness for the Jewish Leaders

You can understand why the Jewish leaders behaved they way they did.  They thought that they were preserving and defending God in their attempt to curtail Jesus’ influence.

Over the last few weeks we have read on many occassions the actions of Jesus caused them to think that Jesus was undermining the power of God.  Some were amazed at the power, authority and grace of Jesus.  But many more of the Jewish leaders were disturbed that their carefully kept religious traditions were challenged by Jesus and saw these actions as a threat to the power and authority of God. They wanted to catch Him out in what He said of did.

As time goes on and Jesus continues to teach and to heal, the Pharisees and the scribes do not recognize Jesus’ revelation of God’s power, and they grumble even more about what he is doing (Luke 15:2). This view of the ignorance of the Jewish authorities who are involved in the crucifixion is echoed by Peter in Acts 3:17.

Sometimes people in authority act foolishly and do not recognise that certain actions are actually against God and not for God.  And when we try and point that out, we are told off and maybe even beaten down.

I have been thinking that as a father, I have often behaved like the Jewish leaders.  When things are not done the way I think it should be, I get angry with my children.  I berate them and jump into conclusions without finding out things clearly first… very much like many of the Priests, Pharisees and Scribes.  They chose not to find out humbly if Jesus was indeed the Messiah to come.  Their pre-conceived prejudices and refusal to find out more - led them to be ignorant.

It is no wonder that Jesus asked the heavenly Father to forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.

I need such forgiveness now for the many things I have done wrong - often in ignorance brought about because of my reluctance to do more.

Forgiveness for the Roman Soldiers

Whereas the Jewish leaders lack understanding, the Roman soldiers lack knowledge.

They have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel and do not understand who this Jesus is whom they are executing. They only know what others are claiming, and they join with those others in the ignorant ridicule of Jesus.

Jesus was not vindicative.  Instead, He asked His Father not to judge them but forgive them.

Are there times we act like these soldiers?

We follow blindly the crowd and join in the gossips.  We propogate half truths - without first finding out if they were true or not.  And in that process… hurt others and eventually ourselves.

Do we need forgiveness from God for this ignorance? I am sure you do … cause I certainly do.

Why Forgiveness Now?

In the Sermon on the Mount, we have heard Jesus saying “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt” (Luke 6:29). He goes on to say, “But love your enemy, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35).

When you read the events in to today’s passage, you realize that Jesus was living out what He taught!

Wrongly accused, He did not strike back.  Insead, He silently endures the ridicule, beatings and taunting of His enemies.

Insetad, we see in His whole life, actions of compassion, mercy and love.  And this is what propels Him to utter those loving words.

We certainly need to learn from the example of Jesus. I know I certainly do.

The only thing left for me to ask now is for your forgiveness for another long posting.