Wednesday, March 27

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Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”  The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”   - Luke 23:32-38

From the very beginning, Jesus was innocent of all of the accusations heaped upon him. He didn’t have to endure the persecution, punishment and harsh treatment because he wasn’t guilty. He could have lashed out against those who falsely accused him. He could have approached it with a spirit of revenge – at least that’s probably what I would have done. I see this within myself that if there’s even a small portion of accusation against me that’s not accurate from my point of view, I want to leap up and defend myself. But not Jesus, He  looks upon them with forgiveness. He asks God to forgive them because in their sin they did not realize what they were doing. 

This is how deep Jesus’ love for people is!  Even though they are causing his death because of their rebellion, he still refuses to let go of his love for them and desire to redeem them. He sees how sin has led them astray and how desperately we need to be set free.

In His prayer, Jesus says that those who are mocking and killing Him really don’t understand what they are doing.  Luke tells us that the Jewish leaders mocked Jesus by saying, “He saved others, let him save himself, if he is the Christ.” (23:35)  This is a perfect of example of what Jesus is saying, in their ignorance, these religious leaders have no idea that their mockery actually contains some truth; He did save others, He could save Himself if He chose, and He is the Christ!  These leaders had no idea what they were saying or what they were doing, in fact they probably thought they were doing the right thing.

Proverbs 16:25 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 

This is true in so many ways. As I go through life, I realize that there are many sins of omission that I commit. I just go through life focused on my perspective and how I want my life to go. I don’t realize all the of the hurts I cause, the many ways I fail to love others, how I deny God through decisions in my life.  And even when I do catch a glimpse of my sin or am confronted with who I truly am, do I really understand the depth to which my sin affects me and others around me?  Do I see the many ramifications they have on all my relationships, how I see myself and the future generations?  I do not. I can only fathom a small portion of the magnitude of my sin. 

The more we see just how sinful we are and just how little we understand about ourselves, the more we will come to appreciate God’s grace in our lives.  He asks the Father to forgive us because we do not know what we are doing.  The very one who should condemn us for crucifying him does not condemn but is in fact at the right hand of God interceding for us!  

Why should God pardon you when you have violated His laws and caused so much pain?  How can He choose to forgive me?  And yet that is the amazing truth of the gospel that you have received. 

O Gracious Lord, I am so grateful for your love. I see only a fraction of my sin, and yet you have forgiven it all!  I know that even in my best moments, I don’t really even know what I am doing.  Open my eyes more and more Lord so that I might see You and myself more clearly - Amen.

Jeff Frazier