Sinful Ignorance

    So, here we are in Holy Week and we take the ‘seven words’ in the order they are usually considered, starting with Jesus initial prayer. By the nature of some of these words, the meditations will be longer than those in Lent if we are to really take hold of some of the wonder that is here.  
   
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
   
Consider: 
    
Jesus is hanging from the cross in agony and he utters a prayer that would have been appropriate to go with yesterday’s meditation.  The first thing to consider is that if Jesus asks for forgiveness for them, there IS something wrong that needs forgiving.
   
In the immediate past there were the soldiers, instruments of the state, simply fulfilling their brutal duty without much understanding of the rights and wrongs of the situation.  Before them, going back, had been Pilate, the representative of the Gentile world, who had looked for the easy way out, had bowed to the pressure of the forces within Jerusalem, and had cast justice to the winds.   Then there had been the common crowd who allowed the religious authorities to manipulate them (Mk 15:11) and who cried out for Jesus’ death.   Before them had been Herod, representative of the secular rulers of Israel, another weak man who had wanted to see Jesus, wanted to see a miracle, wanted to be convinced on his terms, but yet when Jesus refused, he simply cast him back to Pilate (Lk 23:8-12).  Before him there had been the religious authorities who had been behind the arrest and trial of Jesus, whose blindness to the truth had produced a zeal that worked against (and with) the will of God.   Before them had been the disciples, most of whom fled at the time of the arrest to leave their Lord at the hands of injustice.   Every person, every group and been implicated in some way.
    
The second thing to consider is that Jesus is asking his Father to have mercy on these weak, foolish and corrupt people who deserved to die.   Jesus knew that he only had to say a word and over seventy thousand angels (Mt 26:53) would come and devastate this planet – but that was not the way. How could the Father possibly forgive them all?  Perhaps a clue is found in the Law of Moses (Lev 4:1) that speaks about “When anyone sins unintentionally” with the implication that sin cannot be dealt with until it is recognised.   There will come a time when it was recognised (Acts 2:36,37) and then there will be repentance and there will be forgiveness, but for the moment they act in ignorance of who it is they are putting to death.
    
Those who do not repent will still remain answerable for their general sin, but for the moment the Son cannot give even a hint of wrong response to this terrible injustice. It is sometimes said that it is not the sin against us that we have to worry about, but the way we respond to it.   Jesus taught, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44) and here he is the perfect example of the one who does do what he preaches.   To the very end Jesus remained sinless (Heb 4:15).  He had to, to remain the Lamb without blemish.    To the very end he remained the spotless Lamb, a perfect sacrifice.   Everything at this point reveals the glory and greatness of the Son, standing out in stark contrast against the sinfulness of mankind.   This is a terrible time, but it reveals even more the glory of the Lamb of God.
   
Prayer:
   
Oh Father, it seems incredible that Jesus, in the midst of his agony could have prayed for us, thinking of us in the best way possible, yet your word clearly teaches that, and we marvel.    We marvel and wonder that your Son who experienced every aspect of humanity, including the very worst as he hung on that cross, could yet retain the wonder of love.   Thank you Lord, that you retained and exhibited that love up to the last breath of that body.