"FATHER FORGIVE THEM"

Proclamation:

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’..."  Luke 23:33-34 (NIV)

Explanation:

According to the record of Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, these words were spoken by Jesus, The Christ, as He hung on the cross at Calvary.  These words are considered to be the first words of the last seven saying of Christ on the cross.  After being ridiculed, beaten, surged and nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of the people who were responsible for His suffering and crucifixion.

Application:

There are those who believe that Jesus prayed that prayer for the forgiveness of those Roman solders who were involved in His physical crucifixion.  However, most of us know that Jesus was actually also praying for forgiveness for His family and friends who deserted Him, and for the Jews, Sadducees and Pharisees in the crowd watching His suffering.  Additionally, most Bible scholars believe that He was also praying for all of us, all of humanity, because it was for the remission of our sins that the shedding of His blood, His crucifixion, His death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection was necessary. (Galatians 1:4 & 1 John 2:2)  The price He paid, He paid for all of us. (Romans 5:8 & 14:9)  We should remember that as we celebrate the period of Passover, the Passion Week, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday.