THE FIRST WORD:

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Commentary on the First Word:

Some early manuscripts do not include this prayer, which the NRSV marks with
brackets to acknowledge a question of authenticity. While scholars are divided, many
believe the prayer to be authentic, because it fits so well in Luke-Acts.

 Jesus taught the disciples to love their enemies and to pray for those who abuse
them (6:27-28). Here he practices what he preaches.

 Jesus’ concern for the ignorance of those responsible for his death is much like
his concern for the ignorance of the people of Jerusalem (19:41-44).

 In Acts 7:59, Luke records Stephen’s prayer, which is modeled on verse 34.

For whom is Jesus praying? Most likely his prayer includes not only the soldiers who
are inflicting his wounds, but also Jewish leaders who instigated the crucifixion, the
crowd that demanded it (23:18-25), and the disciples who (except for the women
standing at a distance––verse 49) are nowhere to be found––perhaps even for Judas.

Jesus’ prayer does not mean that Israel will not pay a price for their evil deed. Jesus
has already wept over Jerusalem (19:41-44) and has foretold the destruction of the
temple (21:5-6) and Jerusalem (21:20-24)––but Jesus’ death is efficacious for Israel just
as it is for everyone else.

Meditation on the First Word:

Stop and consider how you would respond if someone were torturing you. Some of us
would suffer in silence. Others would cry out in pain. A few might shout defiant oaths at
the tormentors.

But on the cross, Jesus didn’t do any of those things. Instead, he prayed, “Father,
forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

For whom was Jesus praying? Most likely his prayer included not only the soldiers who
were inflicting his wounds, but also the Jewish leaders who instigated the crucifixion, the
crowd that demanded it (23:18-25), and the disciples who, for the most part, were
nowhere to be found.

We shouldn’t be too surprised that Jesus was capable of such a prayer. Earlier he had
told his disciples,“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who
curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Now he is practicing
what he preached. We shouldn’t be surprised about that.

Was Jesus’ prayer answered? It was at least in part. A few weeks after Jesus’
resurrection, the disciples were gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Peter preached a
great sermon that day. He told the crowd that “God (had) made him both Lord and
Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Don’t miss those last words—”this Jesus WHOM
YOU CRUCIFIED!”

The people, cut to the heart, responded, “What shall we do?” Peter responded, “Repent,
and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Three thousand people were baptized that day. There must have been some who had
shouted “Crucify him!” only a few weeks earlier. Others had stood by without raising a
hand to help Jesus. But Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized…for the forgiveness of
sins”—and that’s exactly what happened. Three thousand people were baptized, and
God forgave them—just like that!

What about us? What does Jesus’ prayer do FOR us? What does it require FROM us?

Jesus’ prayer does something wonderful FOR us. It assures us that, as terrible as our
sins might be, Jesus prays “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are
doing.” If Jesus could forgive the people who were killing him, how much easier must it
be for him to forgive our sins, great or small.

And this prayer requires something great FROM us. It calls us to follow Jesus’ lead. To
do that, we need to forgive those who have sinned against us. That will never be easy,
but it is the one of the ingredients in Jesus’ recipe for saving the world.

So let’s be thankful that Jesus can forgive us. And let’s follow his lead by forgiving those
who have sinned against us.

Consider for a moment who that might be. Who has sinned against you—hurt you—
injured you. Who is it that you need to forgive? Bring their face into focus so that you
can see them clearly. Then pray, “Lord, help me to forgive.”

Let Jesus suck the poison from your wound and make you whole.