Cry 1: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Read Luke 23:32-38

 

Only once did Jesus address his earthly mother from the cross. However, He spoke to His heavenly Father three times. The first time He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The middle saying was, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" The final words from His lips were, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." 

 

All of this indicates that Jesus's relationship with the Father was rock solid. Nothing could shatter the trust He had placed in His heavenly Father, not even a crucifixion that God the Father had the power to stop. 

 

The three most amazing words that Jesus spoke from the cross were, "Father, forgive them." His words fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy found in Isaiah 53:12, which reads, "For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." 

 

Think about it. Centuries before cruel malefactors drove nails into the hands and feet of Jesus and hoisted Him upon a cross between earth and heaven, a prophet of God foretold that the Messiah would pray for them during His agony. Amazingly, the scribes and Pharisees were too busy scheming and plotting against Jesus to make the connection between the rabbi from Nazareth and the Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah, let alone many others in the Old Testament. Truly, they did not know what they were doing.

Reflect

Is there someone you need to forgive today? Are you harboring bitterness toward someone for what they did to you? What steps will you take to release the toxin in your spirit and mend the broken relationship?

Pray

Father, I have sinned against you, consciously and unconsciously. But I thank you for forgiving me as completely as you do through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, on the cross. Search my heart for any hint of unforgiveness. Help me to extend the same grace toward others that you have extended to me. Amen.

 

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