Back to our text in Luke 23:33-34, when they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals- one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (NIV) and see with me four components of Christ’s word of forgiveness.
First, He said, “FATHER,” this is Christ AFFIRMING HIS RELATIONSHIP. Nothing on earth could rob Him of His sonship. Nothing on earth can take it from us either!
Crush His body, torture all you want; His faith was secure. So we are more than conquerors even to death, by Christ.
His relationship was with the Father, and no circumstance could change that. We must never let circumstances rob us of our joy!
Second, He said, “FORGIVE THEM.” This was Christ ASKING.
Isaiah prophesied this 600 years before the Cross in 53:12.
Jesus taught this as the way of life for His Kingdom children in Matthew 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (NIV). The tense of the Greek verb speaks of repeated requests. “Jesus kept saying, Father, forgive them.
Thirdly, He said, “FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO” This is Christ’s APPORTIONING. He is limiting forgiveness. Why? Because –
Satan knew what he was doing
Judas did too
Pilate coldly calculated what was best for himself, making the wrong choice willfully
Sanhedrin [or all but two] wanted to put out the light of the world.
But for those unaware of the enormity of their crimes, He offers a word of forgiveness. This made it available, but so few availed themselves of it.
Finally, we see God answering in three beautiful portraits of His forgiving grace:
THE CENTURION Luke 23:47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." (NIV)
The 3,000 AT PENTECOST were not a response to an eloquent Peter but to a praying Christ! Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (NIV)
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