What if: "Forgive them Father..."
When Jesus said, "Forgive them Father, for they do not know what they do."
I always approached it from the good cop bad cop perspective. Good Cop -- Jesus, was telling the Bad Cop -- Father, to take it easy.
But what if this is just a reaction that tells us A LOT about Who Jesus is, personally. Despite all the abuse heaped upon Him, the shame, and the pain He naturally, unconsciously, talks of forgiveness. Squeeze something, and you'll find what's inside. Crush something and you'll see what it's made of.
Yeah, but it's directed at Father, so Jesus is trying to get Father to not do something.
Or, or, or, it could be Christ is communing with and talking to someone Who He loves and needs in the midst of trial. Remember, Christ's relationship with Father is so intense and really real that He's before Father in the midst of all the ugliness. It would be surprising if He didn't say such.
Jesus' natural inclination is to always protect -- which is not to say He fears Father hitting the reset button -- but He just cannot help but express love.
You know what else is interesting? Jesus is not telling Father anything Father doesn't know. Father knows the intents and thoughts of those all around.
So what?
Nothing, it's just that it, in a small way, points to something important. God is interested in a relationship with us. It's not the information content that God desires, it's the heart. When a little kid, whether son or daughter, cousin, nephew, tells you something. How often is it new to you? RARELY. But it's more special, more precious than a broker stating how much you are worth today, because you've got a relationship, a heart, and not information.
How often do we relate to God just as information transfers. "Father tell me what to do." Or "Father, this is what I did for you today." It's sterile and has no life. Yes, there are transfers of information in relationships, but that does not encompass the fullness of the relationship. Unfortunately, we often approach God just this way, sterile, lifeless, perfunctory, and professional...in other words, fake.
I always approached it from the good cop bad cop perspective. Good Cop -- Jesus, was telling the Bad Cop -- Father, to take it easy.
But what if this is just a reaction that tells us A LOT about Who Jesus is, personally. Despite all the abuse heaped upon Him, the shame, and the pain He naturally, unconsciously, talks of forgiveness. Squeeze something, and you'll find what's inside. Crush something and you'll see what it's made of.
Yeah, but it's directed at Father, so Jesus is trying to get Father to not do something.
Or, or, or, it could be Christ is communing with and talking to someone Who He loves and needs in the midst of trial. Remember, Christ's relationship with Father is so intense and really real that He's before Father in the midst of all the ugliness. It would be surprising if He didn't say such.
Jesus' natural inclination is to always protect -- which is not to say He fears Father hitting the reset button -- but He just cannot help but express love.
You know what else is interesting? Jesus is not telling Father anything Father doesn't know. Father knows the intents and thoughts of those all around.
So what?
Nothing, it's just that it, in a small way, points to something important. God is interested in a relationship with us. It's not the information content that God desires, it's the heart. When a little kid, whether son or daughter, cousin, nephew, tells you something. How often is it new to you? RARELY. But it's more special, more precious than a broker stating how much you are worth today, because you've got a relationship, a heart, and not information.
How often do we relate to God just as information transfers. "Father tell me what to do." Or "Father, this is what I did for you today." It's sterile and has no life. Yes, there are transfers of information in relationships, but that does not encompass the fullness of the relationship. Unfortunately, we often approach God just this way, sterile, lifeless, perfunctory, and professional...in other words, fake.
posted by GBT at
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
