MARCH 15 — “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. Luke 23:24

These words were uttered by Jesus Christ as he was crucified on the cross. He was asking His Father to forgive everyone who insulted him, wounded him and who destroyed him on the cross.

Jesus did not have anger, frustration, revenge or hatred. Only love for his persecutors.

And that is what we Christians must have those “who do not know what they are doing” in seizing the bibles and heaping humiliation upon Christians in Malaysia.

The temptation is strong for us to hit out against the authorities, to criticise the bureaucracy and even laugh at the insecurity of the decision makers. But if we are people of the book and if the word of god means anything to us, then our first instinct must be to forgive those who offend us.

Perhaps we Christians should also remember that every bit of suffering or hardship is a sharing in the suffering of Christ. If we are angry and frustrated and hatred builds up in us against the government or civil servants, we are saying that the Cross did not triumph over sin and anger.

After all, Jesus did say that should rejoice in moments of persecution and sadness because in those moments we share in the triumph of the Cross.

“Blessed are you when men hate you and when they exclude and revile you and cast out your name as evil on the account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day! (Luke 6:20-23)

* George Sandosham reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.