Seven Last Words From The Cross

Father, Forgive Them, For They Know Not What They Do

Mid-week Lenten Service 1 - February 16, 2005

Luke 23:34

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," so says Jesus from the cross.

Who is He asking the Father to forgive? It is assumed that Jesus is speaking about the Roman soldiers who nailed Him to the cross. Is that really the case? From the text, we cannot really tell what the antecedent is.

In Isaiah, (53:12) it is prophesied because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. So, while He is being poured out to death as a transgressor, He made intercession for the transgressors. In other words, He pleaded for leniency on behalf of those who committed the atrocity. And hadn't Jesus himself instructed the people in the Sermon on the Mount, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."   (Matt. 5:44 ESV)

When we look at this question, then we need to ask, Who were the ones who really brought about Jesus' crucifixion? The Jewish leaders who held a kangaroo trial, the crowd that cried out, "Crucify Him!", and Pilate who gave the final order, even though he mocked the proceedings by claiming to wash his hands of Jesus' blood.

Of course, part of Jesus' prayer to the Father also said, "They know not what they do." So, was Jesus really praying for the soldiers. Did they really know what they were doing? Did they understand that they had nailed an innocent man to that center cross? Did they know that the one over whom hung the sign - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews - really was the King of kings, Lord and Creator of all life?

These soldiers were hardened in their task. With ruthless efficiency, they nailed Jesus to the cross. They had done this task on numerous occasions. They had ceased to have feelings about the suffering inflicted upon the criminals that they nailed to each cross. They had to become calloused or the nightmares would have been haunting. And why shouldn't they become callous to the pain they inflicted? Weren't the men they crucified the most hardened of criminals? The most vile of men? The scum of the earth? Those who deserved to die for their crimes?

And then, comes Jesus. Here is a man accused of leading rebellion against their nation. In the past, those who did such had killed in their cause. So, they had eased their conscience by believing Jesus to be the most evil of men, deserving what He received as they drove the spikes through His flesh into the wood of the cross.

They were not the only ones who did not know what they were doing. Only five days earlier, the crowd had shouted and cheered as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. Was it a different crowd that demanded His crucifixion? Probably some of the same people were in both groups, going along with the mood of the day, not really understanding why or what they were doing.

Are all the Jewish leaders to blame? Do they really understand that Jesus is truly the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Were they looking for power and a place in society, and so they just did what was expedient and not really contemplating what they were doing?

Then there was Pilate. Did he get it? He was trying to do his job in a difficult territory. He was afraid of the crowd, he didn't want a riot. Yes, he could have saved Jesus by proclaiming Him innocent, but for his own skin and the sake of peace, he did what He did. Little did He know that He was sending the King eternal to His death.

So, there are many to blame. All had a hand in Christ's crucifixion. You know, we could even attempt to assign blame - who is more at fault than others who were involved. You and I would like to point out those we'd like to have the blame. We like to blame the Jews and point the finger at Pilate. But then comes Jesus' words from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." It isn't just the soldiers, but all those who were responsible for His having spikes driven into the wood behind His flesh, for whom He prays.

If Christ absolves the Jews and Pilate, who are we to despise them. The crucifixion is a crime that has been forgiven by the very One who was crucified. Who are we to deny forgiveness to the very ones Christ Himself gives forgiveness to?

Of course, there were those who were sinning against the Holy Spirit in the events of the Passion. Scripture is silent about who, but surely there were those who rejected the faith. Although, the Gospel was proclaimed to the Jews for many years following Christ's death and subsequent resurrection.

Why was Christ born when He was? Because the players were in place so that He would be crucified. The Jewish leadership, the people living in Jerusalem who would gather in that crowd, Pontius Pilate, the unquestioning Roman soldiers, all these had to be in place and play their part. God knew the decisions they would all make and brought His Son into the world so that He might be sacrificed to pay for the sins of all mankind.

What does this have to do with you? Was Christ's Word from the cross, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," a prayer on your behalf?

Do you understand the severity of your sin? Do you understand your place in the scene of the cross? Do you understand your sinfulness being part of the reason for Christ's crucifixion? Isaiah said, Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Is. 53:4_6 ESV)

What is your iniquity? There is a church body that requires one to confess all sin. If one is forgotten, that sin is not forgiven. Problem is, they are so easy to forget. Too often, you don't even realize you have committed them. While it isn't true that if we do not recount every single they are not forgiven - for Christ died to forgive all sin – it is also true that we need to understand what miserable sinners we are. You just confessed it. Do you truly believe it?

Do you fully grasp in your mind God's wrath against your sin? Look at the cross! See there the consequence of sin - the wages of sin is death. Sin deserves agonizing punishment of death. The contempt of the soldiers toward the criminals who they nailed to their crosses is the contempt you deserve for your sin.

No, you may not have taken the actual life of another human, you may not have stolen the car from another man's yard, or have slept with the spouse of another. Your sins many not appear grievous to the rest of the world, but to God, your sins have earned you agonizing death and His eternal wrath.

How? A gossip ruins another's reputation and is to God like murder. I have heard about the neighbor's daughter a couple times this week, but lusting after her in the heart is the same as sleeping with her without the benefit of marriage - God's calls it adultery. Even your daily speech, when God's name flows freely through your lips without any thought to talk to Him in prayer, praise, or thanksgiving is blasphemy - and earning of death. Anger, jealousy, covetousness, drunkenness, blasphemy, lies, and so much more, flows so easily from us. Each of our thoughts, our words, and yes, even are deeds are stained black with our sin. And Jesus was nailed to the cross because the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

It was only less than 24 hours before Jesus was nailed to the cross, and He had prayed for you. He had prayed for the disciples, but he also prayed for those who would believe in Him through their word - for you. He is true God, who has seen through all of time and knows all His creatures. He who formed you in the womb, knew you, even as the Psalmist proclaims of God, All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Ps. 139:16 NIV)

You and I do not know all our sins. There are some we have forgotten. There are others we so blithely committed because we knew not what we were doing. Yet today, you came before your God and confessed your state as a miserable sinner. While you may have spoken those words as well, without thinking, the Spirit moved you to speak them.

From the cross, Jesus, begs the Father, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." And the Father answers that prayer in your hearing, He responds to the plea of His Son when He commands His Word be spoken to you, "Your sins are forgiven!"

On the table before you this evening, Christ has set a table. In that meal, He is begging His Father, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." You eat, you drink and you receive exactly what Jesus desires for you - the very forgiveness He purchased with His own flesh upon the cross.

Tonight, we meditate upon the first words of Jesus from the cross. When you hear these words, know that they were not meant simply for the soldiers that day, or the rabble gathered on that Judean hillside, or for Pilate, or for the Jews. Yes, Jesus desired the Father to forgive them all, but know this also - that when Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," He had you on His mind. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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