Contemplating The Cross

Lately I've been coming back around to contemplating some of those final words of Jesus on the cross. Among them, and most striking, is that Jesus said,

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Early on in my walk I thought,

Of course they knew what they were doing.

A person would have to be very purposeful and aware when hammering humongous nails into the hands (or arms) and feet (or legs) of another human being as they cry out and blood goes everywhere. But how the person who hammers the nails processes the whole experience is another matter entirely.

The Pharisees knew exactly what they were doing. They were getting rid of a troublemaker—someone who was stirring up the people in a way that might interfere with the Pharisees’ way of life and whatever arrangements they might have had with Rome.

They didn’t like Jesus because He couldn’t be controlled. He was a mystery in so many ways. He didn’t conform to pre-packaged ideas of what they thought Messiah should be, what people He should hang out with, what kind of lifestyle He should have. And especially how He was supposed to deal with Rome. They couldn’t fit Him in a comfortable box—so they set out to destroy Him, even as they wondered who He really was.

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, and wanted nothing to do with his blood, symbolically washing his hands. But then, interestingly enough, Pilate made sure He bore the inscription on the cross, “King of the Jews.” Surely Pilate knew what he was doing.

All of them knew what they were doing.

And yet, Jesus intercedes before the Father, even as He is dying a death He doesn’t deserve, giving as the reason for asking the Father to forgive, that none of them know what they are doing.

And it’s so true. We don’t understand the ramifications of the choices we make or, as some might say, “the unintended consequences.”

We are so wrapped up in ourselves it is hard to see beyond ourselves.

But He saw—and He sees—so very clearly, beyond any ability we will ever have on this planet. He sees that we don’t see, and so He calls us to forgive even as He forgave, and continues to forgive.

Before any apologies or regrets or repentance from the people who hurt us, we are called to forgive, to release them from our judgement and condemnation, and turn them over wholeheartedly to the Only One who sees clearly and truly, and with mercy beyond any understanding we have of that word.

In this current atmosphere of anger, hatred, and division over the events in Israel and elsewhere in the world—and as this presidential election year heats up—it is easy to slide into self-righteousness and offense. But God has called us to love and forgive, even as we also stand steadfastly for the Kingdom of God in all the different ways we feel led to do so, amid the rising tide of secular humanism in its reckless and fleeting glory.

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Luke 11:4 NLT)

-Sally Klein O'Connor

2/19/24