The Cross - Our Way of Life (3)

 

 

“Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing”” (Luke 23:34).

 

Betrayed by one who has been near Him for three years. Abandoned by those with whom He has shared the intimacies of love, friendship, truth, kindness; whom He has invited into the depths of the love of the Father and the Son. Mocked, slandered, delivered for crucifixion by the religious leaders – the leaders who are supposed to be the guardians and transmitters of the covenant which He and His Father gave to Moses. Tortured and crucified by Rome, embodying the governments and powers of this world.

 

“The rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”” (Luke 23:35 – 37).

 

Can we hear the voices?

 

“If You are the Christ of God!”

 

“If You are His Chosen One!”

 

“If You are the King of the Jews!”

 

Can we hear the criminals in their suffering saying, “Save Yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39).

 

Now my friends, let me ask you, what proof would you have that Jesus is the Son of God as He hangs on the Cross, suffering, bearing our sins, bearing the iniquity of mankind in realms that we cannot comprehend? As God of very God hangs there in the suffering of His soul, what proof would you have?

 

Would you like Him to come down from the Cross?

 

Would you have Him call his angels (Matthew 26:53)?

 

What proof would you have that Jesus is the Son of God as He suffers and dies for you? What would satisfy you that you might give your life to Him and take up your cross and follow Him?

 

Behold the cruelty He is enduring! Behold the isolation! Behold the hatred! Listen to the vitriol! Sense the venom spewing from the mouths of the religious leaders! See how pleased they are to finally be rid of Jesus! (Does He not threaten their detente with Rome, with the Imperial Cult? Does not Jesus threaten their religious – political alliances? Does He not pose the same threat to us today?)

 

What proof must we have that Jesus is God?

 

Jesus is displaying what is perhaps the greatest evidence of His Divinity as mockery and hatred is hurled as Him, as His suffering body undergoes the torture of crucifixion, as His very soul bears our sins, our wickedness, our evil – personal and collective, as He moves toward a curtain of darkness, as the judgment of God falls upon Him as both Priest and Sacrifice…as all of this swirls around Him and within Him…

 

He is saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

 

Now, dear friend, what more would you have?

 

What more would you ask from Jesus?