Eckhart Tolle quotes Jesus on the cross – Forgiveness and unconsciousness – Awakening to God’s love
During his online class with Oprah reviewing chapter 5 of her book A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle quoted Jesus about forgiveness and unconsciousness among people who are spiritually derailed.
Tolle: “Jesus on the cross said it all when he said, ‘Forgive them because they don’t know what they’re doing.’ Which means they’re unconscious. So when you realize that, naturally you forgive.”
Tolle mentions a unique insight when referring to the words of Christ. Jesus could see that the people were being influenced and governed by a different spirit than the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, Jesus could see past their dysfunction and immorality. Christ knew that they were not being led by the Holy Spirit, but rather were being driven by evil spirits and self-willed agendas to satisfy their own desires (or the desires of the spirits that were driving them).
God, who is love, certainly does not give man a spirit to kill innocent human beings, as did the Romans and Jews who killed Christ.
Jesus said of the devil, “He was a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). The Lord Jesus recognized what spirit people were and by which they were often led.
Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees: You belong to your father the devil, and you want to do the wishes of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of himself; for he is a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Jesus even rebuked his own disciples on one occasion when they thought of killing and taking revenge with their own hands.
When some people rejected Jesus, his disciples became angry and said, “Lord, will you let us command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” (Luke 9:54)
Jesus sternly rebuked them saying, “You do not know what spirit you are of, because the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:55-56).
Jesus knew and exemplified God’s heart for humanity, which was unconditional love and acceptance. Therefore, Christ could lovingly look past people’s sin and draw them to Himself. This is the essence of forgiveness, seeing people through the eyes and heart of a loving God.