Bloody Forgiveness

Holy week is the time that we observe the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, his agonizing crucifixion, and his victorious resurrection. Last night many believers celebrated the demonstration of Jesus’ love: Good Friday.

I can’t cover Jesus’ whole experience in one post. In fact, I couldn’t do it justice in a whole volume. I just want to examine the first utterance on the cross. Father, forgive them, for they know not what the do. (Luke 23:34) In the events leading up to this moment, Jesus had been betrayed, arrested, abandoned, beaten, mocked, and finally nailed to the cross. It’s easy to read those words and only reflect on them superficially. In order to really understand the power of Jesus’ first utterance, we have to truly identify what he went through.

First, the betrayal was from one who sat with him daily. He was in his circle but not on his side. Secondly, Jesus was an innocent man. He had harmed no one. He was blindfolded then beat by the men around him. His beard was ripped from his face. He was flogged with a cat-o-nine tails, which is a whip made of leather straps with animal bones or metal affixed at the ends. Every lash dug into his body and ripped away his flesh. A crown of thorns were pressed into his head piercing his scalp. Spikes were driven into his hands and feet; the weight of his body pulling at the wounds.

Now let’s talk about forgiveness. If we only had to forgive people for minor offenses, then life would be great. It would be easy when you step on my toe to just let it go, but that’s not where Jesus drew the line. In fact, the only line that he drew was when he said if I don’t forgive then, I won’t be forgiven by God.

There will be times when you will suffer pain that stops your heart, and betrayal that seems to stop your life. You may even feel as if your very flesh is being torn from your body. These are the times that forgivness will be the hardest and yet, the most necessary.

In hindsight, it seems to me that those crucifying Jesus knew exactly what they were doing. And that is often where we draw the line. When people intentionally cause us pain, forgiveness is the last thing on our mind. Wasn’t the crucifixion intentional? Yes, they intentionally crucified Jesus, but they didn’t fully comprehend the extent of their actions. People may intentionally set out to abuse you. They may turn their backs on you on purpose. They may even pierce your heart without a thought, but Jesus instructs you to forgive them. They don’t know that every hurt brings you closer to God. Every disappointment makes you stronger. Every heartache increases the value of your love.

Jesus was bleeding profusely from several places, but he prayed to his father and extended bloody forgiveness. He showed us that we don’t have to wait until the pain is gone. We can forgive even in the midst of being pierced! What a powerful demonstration of his love for us!

Strengthen. Heal. Empower.

Featured image by Pontus Edenberg