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Copyright 2007, Linda E. S. Roberts. For permission to use this picture, please contact Mark.
Reflection
It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness. Thats
the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so that we might be forgiven for our sins, so
that we might be reconciled to God for eternity.
But the forgiveness of God through Christ doesnt come only to those who dont know what
they are doing when they sin. In the mercy of God, we receive his forgiveness even when
we do what we know to be wrong. God chooses to wipe away our sins, not because we have
some convenient excuse, and not because we have tried hard to make up for them, but
because he is a God of amazing grace, with mercies that are new every morning.
As we read the words, Father, forgive them, may we understand that we too are forgiven
through Christ. As John writes in his first letter, But if we confess our sins to him, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9).
Because Christ died on the cross for us, we are cleansed from all wickedness, from every
last sin. We are united with God the Father as his beloved children. We are free to approach
his throne of grace with our needs and concerns. God has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west (Ps 103:13). What great news!
Questions for Reflection
Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to
confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to
experience Gods forgiveness in a fresh way today?
Prayer
Gracious Lord Jesus, its easy for me to speak of your forgiveness, even to ask for it and to
thank you for it. But do I really believe Im forgiven? Do I experience the freedom that
comes from the assurance that you have cleansed me from my sins? Or do I live as if Im
semi-forgiven? Even though Ive put my faith in you and confessed my sins, do I live as
sin still has power over me? Do I try to prove myself to you, as if I might be able to earn
more forgiveness?
Dear Lord, though I believe at one level that you have forgiven me, this amazing truth
needs to penetrate my heart in new ways. Help me to know with fresh conviction that I am
fully and finally forgiven, not because of anything I have done, but because of what you
have done for me.
May I live today as a forgiven person, opening my heart to you, choosing not to sin because
the power of sin has been broken by your salvation.
All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for your matchless forgiveness! Amen.
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Gospel of Luke 23:34
Jesus is looking down from the cross just after he was crucified between two
criminals. He sees the soldiers who have mocked him, scourged him and tortured him,
and who have just nailed him to the cross. He probably remembers those who have
sentenced him - Caiaphas and the high priests of the Sanhedrin. Pilate realized it was
out of envy that they handed him over (Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10). But is Jesus not
also thinking of his Apostles and companions who have deserted him, to Peter who
has denied him three times, to the fickle crowd, who only days before praised him on
his entrance to Jerusalem, and then days later chose him over Barabbas to be
crucified?
Is he also thinking of us, who daily forget him in our lives?
Does he react angrily? No! At the height of his physical suffering, his love prevails
and He asks His Father to forgive! Could there ever be greater irony? Jesus asks his
Father to forgive, but it is by His very Sacrifice on the Cross that mankind is able to
be forgiven!
Right up to his final hours on earth, Jesus preaches forgiveness. He teaches
forgiveness in the Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12). When asked by Peter, how many times should we
forgive someone, Jesus answers seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). At the Last
Supper, Jesus explains his crucifixion to his Apostles when he tells them to drink of
the cup: "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28). He forgives the
paralytic at Capernaum (Mark 2:5), and the adulteress caught in the act and about to
be stoned (John 8:1-11). And even following his Resurrection, his first act is to
commission his disciples to forgive: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins
of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:2223).
v
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Luke 23:32-34
me to go downriver carrying his Carving, and I must do so. If they kill me, it will be
like those five men we speared. I will just die and go to heaven, and God will send
someone else to tell them as He did for us."
Another young Auca, Toa, volunteered to go with Dyuwi.
On another occasion Toa said that God had told him to visit some Aucas known
as the ridge group. Everyone was aware of the danger involved. Toa was
taken by helicopter and dropped close to his sisters clearing. For two months he
taught there; then his two-way radio went dead, and contact was lost. The hearts of
the Christians were heavy. Much later we learned that Toa had been hit on the
back with an axe and then speared by his cousins. As he was dying he told them, "I
love God, and I love all of you, and it is for your sake I am dying."
The prayer of Toa for his people reminds me of another great Christian who gave
His life for Christ. He was Stephen a deacon in the early church. He was a man who
was filled with the Spirit. He preached a powerful Spirit-filled sermon to a group of
Jewish leaders who came deeply under conviction of their sin and unbelief. But
instead of turning from their evil heart and putting their faith in Christ they
began gnashing their teeth at him. Being full of the Spirit, he gazed
intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand
of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God. The efect upon those standing there
listening to Stephen was profound. They cried out with a loud voice, and
covered their ears, and they rushed upon him with one impulse. And when they had
driven him out of the city, they began stoning him . . . until he was dead. They
kept on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord Jesus and said, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit! And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice,
Lord, do not hold this sin against them!
Think with me for a few minutes about the perfect prayer
and the perfect place of prayer.
there before their very eyes as He prayed. Christ changed from humiliation to the
glory of His deity. They were in the presence of God, as they had never experienced
before. The Shekinah glory of God hovered over them. Then Moses and Elijah
appeared to them talking with Jesus. Years later Peter could still see the glory of God
when he wrote of Him saying, We were eyewitnesses of His majesty. We
heard the Majestic Glory say, This is My beloved Son with whom I am wellpleased (2 Peter 1:16-17). Oh, what would happen in our lives and the life of our
church if we spent time alone praying as Jesus prayed?
If the Son of God found strength in prayer in the greatest moment of trial and
temptation should not His disciples tremble before God in prayer? Do we pray for
spiritual strength until we bleed? To what extent do we resist temptation?
Perfect places of prayer, are they not? A beautiful mountainside, praying the night
through in the presence of God, surrounded with the Shekinah presence of God, a
beautiful garden for prayer overlooking a beautiful city at night. Are these not
perfect places to bow in the Fathers presence?
Yet, I find another place where Christ prayed. We have three recorded prayers while
He hung on the cross.
them; for they know not what they do. As the Roman soldiers nailed Him to the
crossbeam He prayed, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.
As the rusty nails pierced His wrists He prayed, Father forgive them; for they
know not what they do. As they lifted Him up to the upright He prayed,
Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. A s the crowd gathered
and hurled insults and cursed Him He prayed, Father forgive them; for they
know not what they do. No one knows how many times Jesus prayed that prayer
that afternoon from the cross.
Moreover, not only was Christ paying for the soldiers and the people that dreadful
day, but He was also praying for you and me while He died on the cross. Take that
list of sins in Romans chapter one and apply them to the cross. Take the sins you
have committed this week and take them to the cross. Take every sin you have ever
committed to Him. Name them of one by one.
Father forgive them; for they know not what they do when they commit all
kinds of unrighteousness. Father forgive them; for they know not what
they do when they are wicked. Father forgive them; for they do not
know what they do when they are filled with greed. Father forgive
them when they are filled with malice. Father forgive them when
they are full of envy. Father forgive them; for they do not know what
they do when they commit murder. Father forgive them when
they are full of strife. Father forgive them when they are full of
deceit. Father forgive them; for they do not what they do when t hey are
full of malice.
Take each one of these sins listed in Romans 1:28-31 and bring them to the cross.
Gossip, slanders, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil,
disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving,
unmercifulhear Jesus praying, Father forgive them; for they do not know
what they are doing!
No one ever prayed like Jesus prayed. He was and is interceding for you and me
today.
Alexander Maclaren said, The dying Christ prayed for His enemies; the glorified
Christ lives to make intercession for us.
Jesus prayed the perfect petition from the perfect place of prayer. He prayed for you
and me.
that was broken by that sin. When the saint confesses immediately after the
commission of that sin, fellowship is not broken except for that time in which the sin
was committed.
Not only does God forgive the believer, but John tells us God also cleanses him
from the defilement which he incurred in committing that act of sin. Here the verb
to cleanse speaks of a single act of cleansing, for known sin in the life of a
saint is not habitual, but the out of the ordinary thing.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible
copyright 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights
reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and
the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily
expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries for ten years. He continues to seek
opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three
grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses
in Honduras.
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