Articles
Father, Forgive Them
“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). These words spoken by Jesus came very soon after they pounded nails into His hands and feet. They are among the seven short sayings Jesus uttered on the cross. None of them would have been easy to speak. Those who have researched crucifixion tell us that the most difficult part about a cross was being able to breath. Exhaling was so hard. The outstretched body restricted the lungs. Only by pulling up with the arms and pushing up with the feet could one exhale adequately. But to do so meant grinding those nerves in the hands and feet against the nails sending searing pain throughout the body. You just don’t deliver a “sermon on the mount” on the cross. There’s not enough breath to do it. Everything said will have to be short. But the one who is “the Word” (Jn. 1:1), will not need many words. Even during His ministry, He absolutely silenced His enemies on more than one occasion with one sentence. Likewise, at the cross, His seven short sayings preach volumes!
“Father, forgive them” speaks to our greatest need. We need forgiveness. Somehow Jesus saw past His heartless enemies to see that they were actually victims of the enemy. He spoke no venomous words of hatred. He did not call fire down from heaven to consume them. He didn’t call His legions of angels. He loved them and remained focused on what they needed so desperately. This Lord practiced what He preached (Mt. 5:44). And for all today who are crucifying Him again by their rejection (Heb. 6:6), He still desires for you to come and be forgiven.
“Father, forgive them” helps define forgiveness. These brutal enemies were not forgiven at this moment. Their forgiveness came when they repented and obeyed the gospel on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:36-41). Jesus taught that forgiveness is conditional. “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him…” (Lk. 17:3). 1st John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God forgives where there is repentance. Jesus shows us here the great need for a forgiving spirit. We long for our enemies to repent. We pray for it. In the meantime, our hearts harbor no ill-feelings, no hatred, and no malice. Someone has said, “It’s not the snake biting you that does the greatest harm. It’s chasing him that drives the poison to the heart.” When we fail to have the heart of Jesus when we have been wronged, we are the ones with poison coursing through our veins. It can jeopardize our earthly happiness and even our eternal destiny (Heb. 12:14-15). I’m remembering a brother and friend in Christ who visited a lady who had been hit by a drunk driver. Months and months after the wreck she was a wreck; brooding in hatred and anger. With tears in his eyes he said, “I’m sorry that man hit you. But I wouldn’t let him hit me every day.” His words penetrated. She began to heal from the poison in the heart. That’s what Jesus teaches at Calvary.
“Father, forgive them” says something about not giving up on those hardened in sin. Who could have ever imagined that these enemies at their worst would ever soften and make their lives right with God? Yet, on the day of Pentecost, they heard Peter’s sermon. It cut to their hearts and with remorse the same one who cried out “Crucify him” now cry out “Men and brethren what shall we do?” They repented, were baptized, forgiven and saved (Acts 2:36-41). And Jesus’ own mother, who saw what they did to Him, also forgave them and sat down with them in the Jerusalem church. Don’t give up on those who seem hardened. If you are parent tempted to quit praying for your prodigal, don’t quit. If you have loved ones and friends you are praying for to come to the Lord, don’t quit. If you have enemies who give no indication of softening, don’t give up. Jesus began His public ministry with prayer at His baptism (Lk. 3:21), here at His death He prays, and even in heaven He will plead for our forgiveness (Heb. 7:25). Don’t quit praying for those with hard hearts.
“Father, forgive them” enlightens us about sins of ignorance. Jesus finished the sentence with “for they know not what they do.” They didn’t grasp the enormity of what they were doing. Paul says, “…for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8). How could they not have known what they were doing? Did they not see the miracles? Did they not hear His remarkable teaching? Had they not read the Old Testament prophecies? He even fulfills one as He intercedes for these transgressors (Isa. 53:12). Somehow, Satan did a good job blinding their minds (2 Cor. 4:4). Ignorance is no excuse. Ignorance is not innocence. Even in the Old Testament, sins committed in ignorance had to be forgiven (Num. 15:22-25). David even prayed for his secret sins (Psa. 19:12). Aren’t we learning something here about the seriousness of sin? A holy God cannot let any sin go without atonement. If ignorance was not excused under the Old Testament, it surely is not excused today (Acts 17:30-31). We have God’s will completely revealed to us. If we reject Jesus, can we say, “We do not know what we do?” I think not.
“Father, forgive them” says something about what was hanging on the cross. The previous days had been days of sacrifice. Thousands upon thousands of animals were killed at Passover. The stench wafted in the air. Some authorities have stated that even the water in the brook beneath the temple would flow crimson for several days due to the enormous amount of blood. Yet, all of that blood put together could not atone for even one sin. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). The only reason God ever granted forgiveness under such a system was because they foreshadowed the sacrifice of Christ; the one that got the job done. (Heb. 10:11-14). Before their very eyes was lifted the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29). He is my Passover.
I feel a kinship to those people who crucified Him. I too, many times, have failed to grasp the serious of sin. I too, many times, have sinned against Him. I claim my share in the death of Jesus. And today, I rejoice in His words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” His grace reaches even me.
