“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”Jesus speaks the first word not to us but to God. For three years he has spoken, preached, taught, exhorted and instructed. Now He has been hung on the cross to die. Don’t you find it curious that the first word, the very first word that Jesus speaks in agony on the cross, is “father, forgive? “Such blood, violence, injustice, crushed bone, ripped flesh, and hands nailed to the wood.
With all the possible words of recrimination, condemnation, and accusation, the first thing Jesus says is, “Father forgive.”Jesus was not merely pointing out sin, He was praying for God‘s mercy toward those who sin. What makes this prayer of Jesus remarkable is that He prayed for God‘s mercy for those who stood at the foot of the cross while they were still tormenting Him. They were spitting on Him and hurling insults at Him and gambling for His clothes when He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Jesus prayed for them and for us before any of us realized our need— and while we were still in the midst of our sin. The apostle Paul captures it in this way in Romans 5:6-8:“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person— no, perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
This idea that Jesus was praying from the cross for our forgiveness, and that he was, even before we repented, dying for us, is a mind blowing idea. God knew the sinful things that you would do and forgave you in advance. On the cross, Jesus suffered and died to save you from your sins and redeem you.
Grace and Peace,
Misty Creek Community Church - Senior Pastor: Stephen Streett