Father, Forgive Them

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

Even as he is dying on the cross, Jesus cries out a prayer of mercy to God the Father: "Father, forgive them . . ." For whom is he praying? Is it for the soldiers, who are "following orders?" Is it for Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who gave the order so that he might satisfy the angry crowds and at the same time make sure that no other "king" would challenge Caesar? Is Jesus praying for the religious leaders who wanted him dead so that his message of a gracious God who loves everyone might be silenced? Or is Jesus praying for the ordinary people who first flocked to him but then became upset when he offered love instead of might, community instead of victory?? Or perhaps Jesus is asking mercy for so many of his own disciples who had abandoned or denied him. What do you think?
"They know not what they do." That's what Jesus says. But surely the religious leaders knew what they were doing when they tried to get rid of him! Pilate knew he was sentencing an innocent man, but was willing to do so for political gain. The crowds knew that Jesus was the Lord of love, but they were angry when they didn't get what they wanted from him, and sought to punish him for it. The soldiers knew they were nailing a defenseless man. And the disciples surely knew they were leaving Jesus alone, even if they were scared.
Sometimes we mistake "forgiving" for "excusing." We think that when someone is forgiven, its like letting them off the hook for something wrong. But that's not it! In the Christian Scriptures, forgiveness means (1) removing barriers (2) loosening bonds (3) laying down burdens (4) setting people free (5) giving gifts regardless of merit. When Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them," he prays that God's love will transform them even after they have done terrible things. He doesn't want even the worst sin to be a barrier from God's loving presence and inspiration. He wants people set free from their fear and their hatred, because hating and being afraid are like being in jail, and they lead to us hurting other people. He wants people to learn that even when they're angry they don't need to hurt or punish other people. He wants those who have made mistakes, even really bad mistakes, to get a new start with God. He doesn't want his disciples forever stuck in the shame of failing Jesus. He wants the soldiers, who can tell right from wrong, orders or not, to have God become their ultimate authority. When Jesus says "they don't know what they're doing," he means that they don't really know why they are doing what they are doing! And they haven't yet learned another way.
But Jesus, in his intimate prayer to the Father, shows everyone that this is how God is; this is who God is! And since we are all made in God's image, Jesus wants us to live in God's image. My friend Jim McGinnis (who started TAP) used to say: In the face of escalating violence, escalate love! That's what Jesus does, and in doing so he exposes what is wrong and takes away every excuse for it ( Responding to wrong with wrong will never make a right). At the same time he shows us clearly what is right and true. And he offers hope for a very different future, because God is committed to a future of love and peace, no matter how much forgiveness it takes. And he's going to include us in that future.
The artwork above is entitled, "Father, Forgive Us," by James B. Janknegt. It speaks to our lives, and God's for-giving love in them.