Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
I marvel at Jesus’ words here, knowing that He must have been experiencing excruciating pain in the very same moment he uttered them as he hung on the cross. His concern in that moment was not for himself, but for those who put Him on that cross.
When I am in pain – especially pain that comes from the hand of someone else – the last thing I am concerned for is that person’s well being. My prayers sound more like “Lord, send justice…protect me…save me.” Forgive them is not my first thought. So today’s verse humbles me and reminds me that He is God and sees so much more than I do. He sees what really matters and longs for all of us to know His great love and to experience His grace and mercy.
