"Father, Forgive Them"
by Max Lucado
The dialogue that Friday morning was bitter.
From the onlookers, “Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!”
From the religious leaders, “He saved others but he can’t save himself.”
From the soldiers, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
Bitter words. Acidic with sarcasm. Hateful. Irreverent. Wasn’t it enough that he was being crucified? Wasn’t it enough that he was being shamed as a criminal? Were the nails insufficient? Was the crown of thorns too soft? Had the flogging been too short?
For some, apparently so...
Of all the scenes around the cross, this one angers me the most. What kind of people, I ask myself, would mock a dying man? Who would be so base as to pour the salt of scorn upon open wounds? How low and perverted to sneer at one who is laced with pain…
The words thrown that day were meant to wound. And there is nothing more painful than words meant to hurt…
If you have suffered or are suffering because of someone else’s words, you’ll be glad to know that there is a balm for this laceration. Meditate on these words from 1 Peter 2:23 (NIV):
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
Did you see what Jesus did not do? He did not retaliate. He did not bite back. He did not say, “I’ll get you!” “Come on up here and say that to my face!” “Just wait until after the resurrection, buddy!” No, these statements were not found on Christ’s lips.
Did you see what Jesus did do? He “entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Or said more simply, he left the judging to God. He did not take on the task of seeking revenge. He demanded no apology. He hired no bounty hunters and sent out no posse. He, to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defense. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”? (Luke 23:34 NIV)…
“they don’t know what they are doing.”
And when you think about it, they didn’t. They hadn’t the faintest idea what they were doing. They were a stir-crazy mob, mad at something they couldn’t see so they took it out on, of all people, God. But they didn’t know what they were doing.
Yes, the dialogue that Friday morning was bitter. The verbal stones were meant to sting. How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by his own blood, and lungs yearning for air, could speak on behalf of some heartless thugs is beyond my comprehension. Never, never have I seen such love. If ever a person deserved a shot at revenge, Jesus did. But he didn’t take it. Instead he died for them. How could he do it? I don’t know. But I do know that all of a sudden my wounds seem very painless. My grudges and hard feelings are suddenly childish.
Sometimes I wonder if we don’t see Christ’s love as much in the people he tolerated as in the pain he endured.
Amazing Grace.
April 15, 2011
January 13, 2011
the fall is relevant
Shepherd Press
Newsletter 110
January 13, 2011
Tucson: Has the Fall Become Irrelevant?
To a Christian committed to Scripture, this headline may seem to be a foolish question. Of course the Fall is relevant! My pastor said so in our adult Sunday School class! This hypothetical response may be stretching things a bit, but the Fall has become a forgotten doctrine in many circles. Our culture believes it is nothing more than a myth.
What better example of this reality is there than the mass murder in Tucson this past weekend? Note the press coverage of the event. Everything from mental illness to a dysfunctional family to radio talk-show hosts is being blamed for these tragic shootings. Such responses provide a lesson that is crucial for your children to grasp: events like this shooting happen because people are evil. Some appear more evil than others, but all men begin life as friends of Satan and enemies of God (Ephesians 2:1-3). Evil deeds are not random happenings that occur when the stars become misaligned and produce bad karma. The heart of man is desperately wicked. It is only the restraining hand of God that keeps more of these events from occurring, not laws or medications.
Kevin DeYoung has written a helpful post which gives more background and food for thought. It is a good treatment of how to evaluate the cultural perspective regarding this event. You can find Kevin’s post here.
Perhaps the most significant point that we lose if we do not view this shooting as an act of evil is that it removes the need for a Savior. The only cure for evil is a new heart. Mankind, as a race, stands in great need of redemption. We are pleased with our accomplishments and ignore our sins. The biggest blame game being played with regard to the Tucson shootings is the one which shifts the blame away from the wickedness of man to almost anything else. If we don’t sin and are not evil, then we have no reason to run to Christ. If the Fall is only a myth, then it has no relevance in our lives.
To the extent that we lose sight of the redemptive work of Christ in history, we lose the ability to correctly understand our world. As Proverbs 4 teaches, “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they don’t know what makes them stumble.” Thus, it is impossible to understand why tragedies like the one in Tucson occur if one doesn’t understand the Fall and the work of the Savior who rescues lost sinners from its terrible impact.
Is the Fall relevant? In a word, yes. Tell your children why. Then pray with them for God’s mercy and redemptive grace for the wounded, for their families, and for our nation.
Newsletter 110
January 13, 2011
Tucson: Has the Fall Become Irrelevant?
To a Christian committed to Scripture, this headline may seem to be a foolish question. Of course the Fall is relevant! My pastor said so in our adult Sunday School class! This hypothetical response may be stretching things a bit, but the Fall has become a forgotten doctrine in many circles. Our culture believes it is nothing more than a myth.
What better example of this reality is there than the mass murder in Tucson this past weekend? Note the press coverage of the event. Everything from mental illness to a dysfunctional family to radio talk-show hosts is being blamed for these tragic shootings. Such responses provide a lesson that is crucial for your children to grasp: events like this shooting happen because people are evil. Some appear more evil than others, but all men begin life as friends of Satan and enemies of God (Ephesians 2:1-3). Evil deeds are not random happenings that occur when the stars become misaligned and produce bad karma. The heart of man is desperately wicked. It is only the restraining hand of God that keeps more of these events from occurring, not laws or medications.
Kevin DeYoung has written a helpful post which gives more background and food for thought. It is a good treatment of how to evaluate the cultural perspective regarding this event. You can find Kevin’s post here.
Perhaps the most significant point that we lose if we do not view this shooting as an act of evil is that it removes the need for a Savior. The only cure for evil is a new heart. Mankind, as a race, stands in great need of redemption. We are pleased with our accomplishments and ignore our sins. The biggest blame game being played with regard to the Tucson shootings is the one which shifts the blame away from the wickedness of man to almost anything else. If we don’t sin and are not evil, then we have no reason to run to Christ. If the Fall is only a myth, then it has no relevance in our lives.
To the extent that we lose sight of the redemptive work of Christ in history, we lose the ability to correctly understand our world. As Proverbs 4 teaches, “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they don’t know what makes them stumble.” Thus, it is impossible to understand why tragedies like the one in Tucson occur if one doesn’t understand the Fall and the work of the Savior who rescues lost sinners from its terrible impact.
Is the Fall relevant? In a word, yes. Tell your children why. Then pray with them for God’s mercy and redemptive grace for the wounded, for their families, and for our nation.
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