Secret History

Secret History

Bible: Luke 22:32-43

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                Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (LUKE 23:34).

We just can’t stand some people. There are kids at school who just wind us up; they’re always talking about themselves, whinging about something or other, and being mean to us. They’re easy to hate. But have you ever thought about their back story? I’ve heard Bible teachers say things like: “If we could read the secret history of these people, we’d find sadness and difficulties that would make it hard to hate them.” The point is: everyone has a story. No one is mean to others for no reason, or full of gossip just for the sake of it. Everyone in our school classes has a background and story that may include family problems, sickness, death and loss, abuse or any number of other painful things. Just as we have a story that shapes who we are, so does everyone else. When Jesus hung on the cross, the people who made fun of Him, the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross and the crowds who watched all had their own stories. Soldiers made brutal by years of fighting, religious leaders hardened by years of trying to obey the law, crowds watching their hero die without any hope. None of these stories gave them a good excuse for killing and hating Jesus; but it helps us understand why Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (LUKE 23:34). We can’t just excuse people when they are hurtful, angry or mean. But we can remember they too have a secret history; one that probably involves a lot of pain. With that in mind, may we too look to show forgiveness and understanding, just as God “is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (LUKE 6:35).

EVERYONE HAS A BACK STORY.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries