Praying for Those Who Hate Us

“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’” (Luke 23:33-35 NIV)

By now, unless you are a student consumed with final exams, you have probably seen their faces staring at you.  Syed Farook looks weary and a bit dazed. His wife, Tashfeen, however, has a look of determination and perhaps defiance.  Of course, the picture was taken in 2014 at an airport after a long flight, so their recent rampage in San Bernardino, California and recent conclusions about it by law enforcement may be influencing my perception of this image.  

Regardless, I find myself looking at this image with a sense of sadness for them.  I know that may strike you as odd, or perhaps even offensive, in light of what they did last week, but I think it is similar to the way Jesus looked at those who were approving His execution.

What they both have in common, these Islamic terrorists and the Jews who orchestrated Jesus’ crucifixion, is they truly believed they were carrying out God’s will.  They thought doing these things would be pleasing to God.  How extremely sad!  Yes, the calls for revenge are tantalizing, but some of the last words from the lips of our Lord did not form a call for payback, but rather forgiveness for people who did not truly know what they were doing.  When Jesus was under attack, His call was not for retaliation, but for mercy on the perpetrators.

Right now there is much fear in the world and it is seeping into the Church.  And often what we fear, we hate.  The Nazis feared the Jews, as did the Klan the blacks.  There is danger that as our fear of Islamic terrorists grows, it will transform into hate.  It is time to step back and examine how Jesus responded to those who sought to take His life.  It was not fear or hate, but compassion and mercy.  He understood the blindness of their motivations and the drastic eternal consequences that would be the result.  

The terrorists in our midst today are blinded by their religious zeal. They think they are pleasing God through murdering innocent people. They couldn’t be more deluded in their thinking and the consequences couldn’t be greater.  That is why instead of fearing and hating them, we need to be asking for God’s mercy for them, that their hearts and minds will be open to the Truth.  (See this link  for a true story of how this is actually happening!)

Today, reflect on the prayer Jesus prayed for those responsible for putting Him to death.  I think He looked into their faces and felt a deep sadness.  They truly believed they were serving God by crucifying Him. Are the Islamic terrorists any different?  I don’t think they are.  So I am praying for God’s mercy upon them and that the eyes of their hearts will be opened the One who truly loves them.  Will you join me?

© Jim Musser 2015