Today’s Lectio Divina: Luke 23: 32-38 (MsgB)
Two others, both criminals, were taken along with Him (Jesus) for execution. When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified Him, along with the criminals, one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” Dividing up His clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, “He saved others. Let’s see Him save Himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!” The soldiers also came up and poked fun at Him, making a game of it. They toasted Him with sour wine: “So you’re King of the Jews! Save yourself!” Printed over Him was a sign: this is the King of the Jews.
Idiots.
We’re all a bunch of blooming idiots.
Jesus says it here so matter of factly. We human beings simply don’t know what we are doing so much of the time.
These Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders are prime examples of the way we earth dwellers tend to live our lives. Blind and dumb. Self-consumed and prideful. Oblivious to the hideous fact that we can so easily be used as pawns by Satan to accomplish his evil plans.
Think about it. Here, these men of the first-century are murdering the very One whom God has sent to rescue us (including them!) from such evil.
Oy Vey.
But because we humans think we know about life so much better than God, we continue on in this trek as blooming idiots. Contributing actors to the evil Satan has planned for this world.
And the really sad thing about all of this?
It really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see it! One serious look at world history and most any blooming idiot can deduce that people are blooming idiots to the core. Heck, one glance at the way most of us drive our cars, treat our spouses, or kick our dogs, and that fact is quickly established!
So, in fact, the truly amazing thing here in this crucifixion scene is the marvelous insight Jesus gives us into the heart of our Father in Heaven as He looks down on this planet of blooming idiots. Here Jesus is dying on a cross, beaten and bruised by this bunch of prideful men who don’t know their heads from their tails, and Jesus is forgiving these guys because they don’t know what they are doing!
The idea that mercy and forgiveness toward sinners is what flows out of the heart of Jesus when He is in the midst of being rejected and killed should, quite honestly, blow our minds.
How many folks out there, for example, do you know who would be willing to say with a straight face, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing’ when they are hanging on a cross?
Come on, now.
Be honest.
This attitude of complete forgiveness toward us blooming idiots, coming from the second person of the Holy Trinity, speaks volumes about the way God loves us even when we don’t deserve it. As a matter of fact, the concept of God only loving me when I’m being good goes right out the window with this text. Apparently, God can be loving, gracious, merciful and forgiving toward me even when I’m a blooming idiot, right in the midst of my worst sin.
Amazing grace, as the songwriter puts it.
How sweet the sound, that saves a wretch like me.
My prayer: Jesus, You are displaying on the cross one of the most amazing abilities of grace that the world has ever seen. For You to be gracious and forgiving at this very moment, quite honestly, boggles my mind. May Your Holy Spirit fill me and empower me to break outside my self-consumption and blindness, so that I, too, might be more and more like Jesus, when I find myself ‘hanging’ from my cross. For Your name’s sake. Amen.
My questions to ponder: So how have I allowed my world of self-consumption to blind me toward the really important things in life? Could it be that I’m doing things in my life like those who crucified Jesus? Blinded to the truth? Unaware of God’s amazing grace? Consumed with self? What will it take to awaken me from my ‘blooming idiot’ syndrome? Will I allow the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to my blindness?
So, what are you experiencing today as we are journeying through this Lenten Adventure?
Over a 48-day period (from Ash Wednesday through the Monday after Easter), you and I will be taking a deeper look at the stories surrounding the life and ministry of Jesus (especially the last week known as Holy Week) as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. In order to keep all the blog sessions organized, we suggest you bookmark our Our Lenten Journey home page for ease of use.
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