Father, Forgive Them

Midday, and the sky goes dark. Not a cloud. Not a storm. Just a darkness that settles over the whole land. And on a hill outside the city, a man on a cross is still praying for the people around him.

Pilate has handed Jesus over. The soldiers lead him out through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying the heavy wooden beam of his cross. He has been up all night, questioned and beaten. On the way, the soldiers grab a man coming in from the countryside, Simon from Cyrene, and make him carry the cross behind Jesus. A large crowd follows. Among them are women, crying and grieving for him.

Jesus turns to the women. Even now, he is thinking of others. “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children.” Hard days are coming for their city, he warns them. Two other men are led out with him, both criminals. They come to the place called the Skull. And there the soldiers crucify Jesus, with one criminal on his right and one on his left. And Jesus says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

The soldiers cast lots to divide his clothes between them. The people stand watching. The leaders sneer. “He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers join in, offering him sour wine. “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Above his head someone has fixed a sign. This is the King of the Jews. They mean it as a joke. Luke wants us to see it is true.

One of the criminals hanging beside him joins the mocking. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself, and us!” But the other one tells him to stop. “Don’t you fear God? We are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turns his head. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus answers him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” A dying man, with nothing to offer, receives a promise.

It is now about noon, and darkness comes over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun’s light fails. In the temple, the great curtain is torn in two. Then Jesus calls out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” And having said this, he breathes his last. The Roman centurion who has watched it all praises God. “Certainly this man was innocent.” The crowds go home beating their chests in grief. And his friends, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, stand at a distance, watching.

Crucifixion was a Roman punishment, used mostly for slaves, rebels and people the authorities wanted to make an example of. It was carried out in public, often beside roads, as a warning to anyone watching. The Roman writer Cicero called it the cruellest and most horrible of punishments. That is why the first Christians’ message seemed so strange to many. They proclaimed that God’s chosen king had died this way, and they did not hide it.

Father, Forgive Them. You’ll find it in Luke chapter 23, verses 26 to 49. Even on the cross, Jesus was forgiving, comforting and welcoming. A thief heard the words, today you will be with me. Christians believe this was not the end of the story, and that its next chapter starts three days later. So here’s the question to carry with you. If Jesus could forgive from the cross, who might he be asking you to forgive?