Willful resignation on the Cross

| A meditation series on the Seven Sayings on the Cross by Dr. Paul Wilson |

Cognitive Predispositions that Crucify Christ through Ignorance

The first saying of Jesus Christ on the cross as recorded by Luke in chapter 23 and verse 34 is stated as "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". In general, we tend to meditate on the forgiveness part of the verse leaving behind the second part which implies "ignorance" on the part of those who crucified Jesus Christ.

The question as to whether God would forgive the unintentional, willful ignorance that leads to even working against the very purpose for which we live and have our pursuits needs to be explored from the scripture to begin with.

In addition, let us meditate on the dynamics of ignorance that plays a vital role in neutralizing our very conviction for which we have been striving hard through the grace of God. Pharisees were intellectually sound on the truth concerning Messiah but missed identifying him sincerely as the one for whom they were waiting for, while He was present among them and let Him to be crucified as they lacked spiritual discernment. Although Peter was with Jesus as part of His ministry, he was against the proposal by Christ, to be crucified and raised on the third day (Matthew 16: 21-23).

It is so surprising that Matthew records ironically in the same chapter (Matthew 16: 13-20) that the same Peter could identify Christ as the Son of God through the revelation by the Father in Heaven. The above scenario further clarifies the fact that it is even possible for believers to go against a clear revelation and knowledge of God and get acquainted with the cognitive predispositions. Thus, it is inferred that intellectual acquaintance of the scripture, zeal for God or periodical revelation of scripture do not guarantee the liberation from cognitive predispositions.

The dynamics of Ignorance

Luke describes the scenario of the servant who was ignorant of his master's will and the consequent response of his master towards his ignorance, 

Luke 12: 48 but the one who did not know it, and committed acts deserving of a beating, will receive only a few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

The above verse implies that the ignorance from our part leading to working against his will might be mitigated through mercy executed by the master. However, the natural order rendered by God would take its course of action as consequences of Sin. Romans 1: 18-32 argues that our conscience is adequate for God to judge us even if we claim that we acted out of ignorance. Further, Ephesians 4: 17 -19 discusses the aspect of willful ignorance owing to the hardened heart.

Paul refers to the ignorance in crucifying Christ in Acts 3:17 as follows 

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

• Ellicott’s commentary treats the idea of ignorance referred to in Acts 3:17 that “Men were ignorant where they might have known, if they had not allowed prejudice and passion to over-power the witness borne by reason and conscience.

However, Paul narrates the context of crucifixion of Jesus Christ from the perspective of ignorance of rulers and his personal ignorance in persecuting churches prior to his conversion. Paul's intellectual soundness on the scripture did not help him to get rid of his cognitive predisposition rather led to zeal for God that prompted him unintentionally to work against God by persecuting the churches.

• "None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8; see Acts 3:17)

• "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief." (1 Timothy 1:13)

Atonement for Ignorance

The next question that emerges out of this discussion is that would God show mercy and embrace those who were ignorant, if they repent after realization? Paul responds to this query that he was shown mercy by God upon his repentance. Further we read in Leviticus 5:17 that “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. Further, Numbers 15:22-29 prescribes the atonement for unintentional sins committed by the individuals or community including Israelites and foreigners and the forgiveness is assured upon repentance. Consequently, we are sure that God mitigates the punishments and shows mercy and embraces us through His forgiveness as His children upon repentance.

Appropriation of the First saying on the Cross

Jesus forgives his traitors under this context having realized the ignorance of His betrayers in going against their own convictions owing to the lack of discernment. As Christians, we need to be sensitive to discern whether we work against Christ due to our cognitive predispositions that lead to bias for the fact that it has never been subjected to the God given ability to rationalize. Ignorance can never be cited as an excuse in our efforts to unintentionally crucify Jesus Christ continuously in the capacity of believers. Having accepted Christ as a personal saviour and as an ardent disciple of God, it is our responsibility to discern and get rid of willful or unintentional ignorance that hurts Christ. Theological soundness might not help us to discern and weed out cognitive predispositions unless the truth is seasoned and appropriated by the spirit of God as Praxis.

Let us seek atonement through His accomplished work on the Cross of Calvary for the unintentional and willful sins we have committed against those who have been chosen by God, either in our work place or in our place of worship or served as an impediments to the projects that were meant to be executed in accordance with God's will due to cognitive predispositions. May the Lord enable us to be conscious of the cognitive dispositions and weed them out periodically from our personality through His grace.