Father, Forgive Them - April 13, 2022

Of all the scenes around the cross, the one that angers me most is when those in the crowds said, “Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross, that we may see and believe” (Mark 15:32). There’s nothing more painful than words meant to hurt.

1 Peter 2:23 tells us that Jesus “entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” He simply left the judging to God. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” he said (Luke 23:34). They were a crazy mob, mad at something they couldn’t see so they took it out on, of all people, God.

Yet, Jesus died for them. How could he do it? I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if we don’t see Christ’s love as much in the people he tolerated, as in the pain he endured. Such amazing grace!