Pastor Taylor Shippy - Luke 23:34
Despite how central and iconic Christ’s crucifixion is to the heartbeat of our faith (cf. 1 Cor 1:18-25), it may be jarring how laissez-faire the Gospel writers are with retelling the specifics of Good Friday (cf. Matt 27:32-44; Mk 15:22-32; Lk 23:26-43; Jn 19:16-26). They don’t dwell on the physical agony of Jesus or depict it in graphic detail; instead, all four Gospels opt instead to focus on other details they deem more pressing.
And it’s why, for our Lenten journey this season, I have chosen for us to meditate on something the Gospel writers do emphasize: the words of Jesus from the Cross.
The last thing you’d expect to hear from someone being crucified was a plea—nay a prayer!—asking God to show mercy on those driving nails into your wrists—yet that is exactly the first thing we hear from the lips of Jesus.
What if the Cross isn't just the place where we have our sins forgiven—it’s also the place where we learn to forgive others just like God has forgiven us.
