One of the most remarkable moments when Jesus comes to his final breaths, is his prayer for his executioners – “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do”.
In some respects this crystallises the heart of Christian faith and life. It goes against every natural instinct. It stands in stark contrast to vengeance and retribution. Here Jesus embodies a very different manner of living and dying.
I remember back in the 1970’s it was common, for a time, to hear the expression ‘radical discipleship’ – that we were called to go back to Jesus and follow the kind of life He lived. We were to question the values of the culture we lived in – often very materialistic, even back then! – and embrace the new culture of deep dependence upon God, willingness to suffer and forgive, living simply rather than always wanting more.
I’ve discovered we cannot live such a life on our own, or in our own strength, but only as empowered by the Holy Spirit, only with the resurrection life of Jesus bubbling up from within us. Even then, we will face spiritual struggles in living it out. Yet this is the radical life we are called to.
In being reminded of this prayer of Jesus for his executioners, I thought how different it is to the way the word ‘radical’ is used today. Often today it refers to those who take up arms to fight others in the name of jihad, and whom now the government is being asked to come up with programs to ‘de-radicalise’!
Those who take up arms or use force to impose their will on others, whether because of their beliefs or personal ambition, are far from radical. They are actually living out the very worst expressions of human nature. Jesus speaks of the evil one as being a murderer and father of lies (John 8:44). This is not radicalism, it is evil being unleashed.
Jesus is the true radical, and those who follow in His path. As Christians around the world experience martyrdom in our time, it is they who are the true radicals for they point to another way, another reality, that rebukes the powers of darkness. Even as they follow Jesus to death, even so they will follow Him to resurrection.
Can we live as radicals today? Can we pray from our hearts, ‘Father, forgive them’, whoever the ‘them’ may be for us? Can we embrace the radical values of Jesus in our priorities and orientation of our lives? Can we show to the world that there is actually a better way, and that we are all invited to live it?