The First Cry From the Cross

March 29, 2007 at 7:00 am | In Awake My Heart |

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. ~ Luke 23:34

This was the first of Christ’s seven utterances at his crucifixion. I don’t know about you, but if someone were to nail limbs to a cross, break my legs, ridicule and slander me among a host of other terrible things all in the name of killing me and - even worse - seeking to diminish the kingdom of God - the last thing on my mind would be to wish forgiveness for those who are perpetrating the event.

But that is Christ.

His love and His selflessness is a characteristic we all should strive towards. How many times have you had the opportunity to be noble, to pray for those who have seemingly harmed you - but you have chosen to look upon them with disdain and hatred?

Thankfully, Christ was a concerned being. So concerned was he for these persons that he sought their forgiveness. When you consider it in a broader perspective, who was He praying for?

Might there have been times where we have been just as underhanded and unworthy as the men who were there that day? When Christ asked his Father to “forgive them” do you think He included you and I as part of that collective “them”?

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will seek forgiveness for others no matter the harm they have caused us. May we leave our ill will at the Cross.