Easter—the Promise of Forgiveness: 10 Reflections From Our Daily BreadSample

Secret History

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing. -Luke 23:34

Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” Longfellow’s words are an important reminder that every person has a context—a story. There were events that contributed to shaping them into the people they’ve become and that impact our encounters with them. We know our own history of joy and pain, success and struggle. And we need to recognize that others have their own life-shaping history as well.

When Jesus hung on the cross, the events swirling around Him involved people who also had stories. Soldiers made brutal by years of combat, religionists hardened by years of trying to obey the law, crowds desperate for rescue but without real hope. None of that excused their hate-filled actions, but it may help to explain why Christ showed them mercy when He cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

While never condoning or excusing the pain that people inflict on one another, we can learn to appropriately show mercy when we understand that there’s a secret history behind the pain people cause. After all, as Jesus said, even our heavenly Father “is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked” (6:35).

Bill Crowder

How could you remind yourself to give people the benefit of the doubt? What difference would this make in the way you view or interact with them?

Father, thank You for the mercy You’ve shown me for all the wrongs of my life and the gift of forgiveness offered at the cross. Give me a heart of forgiveness and mercy toward those who wrong me.