“FORGIVE THEM”

Jesus prayed many different kinds of prayers as he approached the cross…but none may be more difficult to emulate than his entreaty to the Father to forgive his victimizers. Actually, at this time he was merely fleshing out his teachings on forgiveness (Matt 6:12-15). He expected his disciples to make forgiveness a lifestyle (Matt 18:21-22). His greatest of parables was about forgiveness to an undeserving son (Lk 15:20-30).
As he approached Jerusalem, he extended forgiveness to unkind and much hated Samaritans (Lk 9:51-56)
And then on the cross we hear Jesus pray “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:32-34)
Who were the people who did not know what they were doing? Were they the criminals by his side, the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross, the leadership both Jewish and Roman who sentenced him to death, Judas the betrayer, the rest of the disciples who fled in fear…or were those people simply you and I?
The Apostle Paul pleads with us “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example…” (Eph 4:32-5:2)
To be a Christian is a difficult calling and at the same time, the highest and best. Have you decided to follow Jesus?