Father, Forgive Us, Luke 23:32-38
Now, on the cross, in the painful process of crucifixion, Jesus hangs between two thieves. He is their fellow victim in this cruelty. Jesus knows the plight of the prisoner and the humiliation of the criminal. He knows what it is to be the brunt of jokes and sarcasm. Yet, he loves and forgives those who are so weak as to do these things and say these things.
What Was That He Said?
Strip him of his clothes,
Soon he will be dead.
What was that, what was that,
What was that he said?
Nailed upon the cross,
He dies with the thieves.
Roll the dice, roll the dice
For the clothes he leaves.
Shame upon shame,
The people stare.
Name upon name,
The people sneer.
Are you now a savior?
What is that you say?
Can he save himself
If he’s dressed that way?
Strip him of his clothes,
Soon he will be dead.
What was that, what was that,
What was that he said?
“Father, Father, forgive them, forgive them,
They know not what they do.”
Father, forgive us for what we do and say, for what we fail to do and say.
A word about the series
The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives. This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you. The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross. The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010. They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online. The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University. Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.
Pray, read, think and return to God.
All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.
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