Hey, you. With the bomb strapped to your chest. I love you.

We read it so often, I'm afraid it's gotten too easy to fail to recognize the power of the scene. To misunderstand the significance of a man forgiving his murderers, even while he is being murdered. And yet, that's exactly the scene set before us in Luke 23.

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (vs 33-34)

Right here, in this act of Divine forgiveness, is where we learn two very important things about Jesus Christ. First, that He really did come to create a path between us and God; that He was so focused on that cause and mission He was not only willing to die for it, but still loved those who killed Him over it. Second, we learn He has not commanded anything of us that He was unwilling to do. 

Early in His ministry, Jesus gave a sermon. This sermon not only detailed what He expected of each of us, but told us how we would accomplish it: because it set the tone for His entire ministry. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

We will have enemies. This is a fact of life. There are people on this planet who hate you only because of where you happen to live, the nationality you happen to have grown up in. They may not even know you, but they hate you. And there are people who hate you personally. We are faced daily with a choice: do we hate them back? Or do we love them?

And I don't mean just saying the words. It becomes all too easy to say you love your enemies. But to actively love. 

Looking at my own life, I wonder how often I pray for Al Qaeda. Not just the organization, but for the extremists, the hate-filled individuals who make up the organization. How many times have I asked God to quiet their hearts, and fill them with an understanding of His Grace? 

How often do I argue with or mock the misguided children of Westboro Baptist (the infamous funeral protestors), rather than pray for them to know and understand the love of Christ? 

When it comes to those with whom I strongly disagree politically or religiously, do I spend more time formulating an argument, rolling my eyes, and wishing they'd just shut up... or praying that they spend each day fervently seeking God; praying that He be with them in their troubles, and for the health of their families?

When it comes to those who hate and hurt me, the question is, do I hate back? Or do I love, as Jesus loves, enough to forgive?