Father, forgive them
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Editor,
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing,” are words Jesus uttered after he was nailed to the cross. Was he pleading ignorance for them? I’ve read the account many times, I cannot shake off the feeling that many of Israel’s fearful religionists did know exactly what they were up to. Their jealousy and hypocrisy were exposed once they had him nailed to the cross. They mocked him and scoffed, “he saved others, but he can’t save himself.” With gloating bravado, they shouted, “his blood be on us, and our children!” But for our Lord’s intercessory plea of ignorance on behalf of the Jewish people, God’s righteous judgment would have been unleashed upon Israel for perpetrating the malicious death of Jesus their Messiah, the Son of God.
The Jewish people would be given a further opportunity following the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Day of Pentecost, to receive Jesus as their Messiah King; any further refusal on the grounds of ignorance would be out of the question. How would they respond, given a second chance? Again, Israel declared, “We do not want him to be our king,” sealing their second refusal with the murder of Stephen and the attempted treachery to Paul in Ephesus. Their refusals have haunted them down through centuries. They have been battered, beaten and scattered since Christ was nailed to the cross. Anti-Semitism began and has continued since that awful day at Golgotha, it will have its culmination at the second and soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Israel will at that event, acknowledge Him as their Messiah Savior. Christ’s prayer on the cross, “Father, forgive them” will finally and clearly be answered. In the meantime, Christians offer to both Jew and Gentile the very good news, which is, Jesus’ death provides salvation from sin’s penalty to all who ask God’s forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ.
Harvey A. Town
Polson
