GOOD FRIDAY-2018

As Jesus was hanging on the Cross, he made seven great statements, treasured by believers as the Seven Words from the Cross. If there were more we don’t know but surely it is significant that seven is God’s perfect number. It represents completeness and wholeness. They cover the basic needs of mankind.

These phrases were not recorded in a single Gospel but are taken from the combined accounts of the four Gospels. They are:

1.Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34. ...

2.Today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43. ...

3.Behold your son: behold your mother. ...

4.My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ...

5.I thirst. ...

6.It is finished. ...

7.Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

Today we reflect on only one of them, Father, forgive them…

When Jesus was hanging on the cross he asked for forgiveness for the people who were responsible for this great evil, and he gave a reason that they should be forgiven. He said it was because they were ignorant of their deeds. Bishop Fulton Sheen says their ignorance was a great blessing to them.

Sinning against someone of infinite virtue brings with it infinite guilt, but as He hung there on the cross he asked that the offenders be forgiven. 

Right up to his final hours on earth, Jesus preaches forgiveness. He teaches forgiveness in the Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12). When asked by Peter, how many times should we forgive someone, Jesus answers seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). He forgives the paralytic at Capernaum (Mark 2:3-12), the sinful woman who anointed him in the home of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:37-48), and the adulteress caught in the act and about to be stoned (John 8:1-11). During the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, Jesus tells them: this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28). And even following his Resurrection, his first act is to commission his disciples to forgive: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:22-23).

Just when they began driving the nails into his hands and feet, Jesus said to God the Father: “…forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." In fact, the original Greek of the words “Jesus said” is better translated “Jesus was saying” – meaning Jesus kept saying this several times.  

Imagine the cross on the ground and Jesus is positioned on it. One soldier holds His arm in place while another hammers a huge nail into His wrist, ripping through skin and muscle, and deep into the wood. Through the horrible pain, Jesus says, “Father, forgive them.”  The soldiers cross over to other arm, driving another iron nail into it too. Again, Jesus says: “Father, forgive them.” Finally, they move to the base of the cross. They put one foot over the other, this time driving a thicker, longer nail right through both feet, into the wood. Despite the agony of pain, Jesus says: “Father, forgive them.”  

The bottom of the cross is placed at the mouth of a hole in the rocky ground. The soldiers start lifting the cross upright, with Jesus nailed to it. As the cross reaches vertical position, it’s base slides into the hole hits the bottom with a jerk and a thud. Jesus’ body is now hanging on the nails, metal slowly ripping flesh in a pain that cannot be imagined. Jesus looks at those who were killing Him, turns his eyes to heaven and again asks the Father: “forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing”.

The Cross of Christ is God’s ultimate demonstration of His love for each one of us. For more than 2000 years, the Father has continued to answer Jesus’ prayer: “Father, forgive them.” Over the centuries, millions are streaming into the Kingdom of God because of this powerful prayer that Jesus made on the Cross.  The centurion on hearing this extraordinary act of forgiveness exclaimed: truly this man was son of God.

As we come to venerate the cross now, remember this and be amazed: The Father has honored Jesus’ request for us! We are forgiven! The punishment of sin that should have been on us was poured on Jesus. Here’s our status: Forgiven! No longer guilty! Express our gratitude to God as we kiss the cross: Exclaim in your heart, thank you Jesus for forgiving me my sins.