³³ When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵ And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” ³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:33-43

“Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  Bonhoeffer writes,  “G-d (himself)…absolves the world…Now there is no more G-dlessness, no more hatred, no more sin which G-d has not…(Himself)…expiated.  Now there is no more reality, no more world, but it is reconciled with G-d and at peace.  G-d did this in (His) dear Son Jesus Christ.” 

N.T. Wright, in his book “How God Became King” writes:

“The powers that put Jesus on the cross didn’t realize that by doing so they were in fact serving God’s purposes, unveiling the “wisdom” that lies at the heart of the universe. When Jesus died on the cross he was winning the victory over “the rulers and authorities” who have carved up this world in their own violent and destructive way.”

Jesus Christ is the way (to truth), the truth (itself, which is G-d), and the life (now and eternally). But those who killed him had no idea what they were doing – which invariably is allowing G-d to save all of humanity.

Pastor Dave

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”¹⁸ Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” ¹⁹ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” ²³ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.” Luke 23:13-25

This is written by Gustav Janouch called “Conversations with Kafka”: 

Kafka suddenly stood still and stretched out his hand.  “Look! There, there! Can you see it?”  Out of the house…ran a small dog looking like a ball of wool, which crossed our path and disappeared around the corner…  “A pretty little dog,” I said.  “A dog?” asked Kafka suspiciously, and slowly we began to move again.  “A small, young dog.  Didn’t you see it?”  “I saw.  But was it a dog?” Kafka asked.  “It was a poodle.” I said.  Kafka said, “A poodle?  It could be a dog, but it could also be a sign.  We Jews often make tragic mistakes.”  “It was only a dog,” I said.  “It would be a good thing if it was,” Kafka nodded.  “But (that) only is true only for him who uses it.  What one person takes to be a bundle of rags, or a dog, is for another a sign…There is always something unaccounted for.”  We walked in silence….I said, “Bloy writes that the tragic guilt of the Jews is that they did not recognize the Messiah.”  “Perhaps that really is so,” said Kafka.  “Perhaps they really did not recognize him.”

It is obvious that most people did not recognize Jesus for who he really was. But could we expect otherwise – he was not the kind of Messiah they were expecting. They were expecting a mighty “beast” who would destroy the enemies of Israel – instead they received a “bundle of rags” who soaked up all of their pain into himself.

Pastor Dave