Father, Forgive Them

FATHER, FORGIVE THEM

a prayer to open

Open my eyes and help me to see you.

Open my heart and help me to know you.

Jesus, my Lord and my God.

Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

What better picture is there of a worthy Savior than Jesus in the last moments of his life? Even as soldiers drive nails through his wrists and feet, the gathered crowd and rulers sneer at and jeer him, the soldiers mock him, and a criminal insults him, he forgives. He forgives! Even though we turn away, deny him, and rebel against his will and ways, he forgives.

• Imagine being one of Jesus’ followers as he walked to his crucifixion and was nailed to the cross, his arms spread and his body bleeding. What thoughts would have been going through your mind? How would your faith in him have been affected?
• What is the worst thing anyone has ever done to you? Have you forgiven that person? If so, what was the process you went through? If not, what is one step you could take toward forgiveness?
• What does today’s passage reveal to you about Jesus?

Father, thank you for the incredible outpouring of love and forgiveness of Jesus on the cross. I cannot comprehend the heart and courage it would have required. Yet you call me to love and forgive as Jesus did. Please fill me with your power and strength so I can extend love to those I find hard to love and forgive, even the one who has hurt me the deepest. Give me the courage to act not as the world acts—with anger, vengeance, and separation—but as Jesus would act in this world. Amen.