This devotion begins the Sayings from the Cross series. In this devotion, we look at Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness for man.
Nuggets
- Jesus knew His crucifixion was the expected outcome for the day, so He didn’t hold it against the soldiers in carrying out the orders.
- The innocent Man died for all mankind.
- Jesus’ mission was to establish forgiveness for sin, so Jesus prayed for man’s forgiveness.
Devotions in the Sayings from the Cross series
Prayers of Forgiveness from the Cross
Jesus didn’t say a whole lot while He was up on the cross. Or at least, not much was recorded.
I’m thinking Jesus didn’t say much because He was in pain management mode. He was just trying to keep breathing.
But that gives what Jesus said that much more importance. In this week leading up to Easter, we are going to take a look at the seven statements He made.
Jesus started out with forgiveness. Those few short words encapsulated His whole reason for coming and being our sacrifice.
Let's Put It into Context
“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided his clothes and cast lots” (Lk. 23: 34 CSB)
If things would have worked like the system planned it, Jesus would have been being punished for a crime (or crimes) that He committed. God has said that this world is run by laws and commandments. Vaughn wrote, “God’s government of this world is a moral government, and it is essential to moral government that every sin should have its retribution.” When one is broken, a penalty has to be paid.
Okay, in people’s minds, the punishment may seem a little over the top. But there were reasons for crucifixion and that it happened to this particular Man.
The kicker is that Jesus didn’t break the laws and commandments. Yet, He paid the penalty for everyone — E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.
It had to be Jesus this way because He had the blood for the sacrifice. Jesus is the only person who has ever been born or will ever be born that did not sin. Sin is when we disobey God and break one of His laws and commandments. He is the only one Who could because He was 100% God as well as 100% man.
Part of me wants to say Jesus’ mission on earth was a one-time shot. I guess that is true. If Jesus would have chosen not to hang on that cross, the plan of salvation would have been lost.
Ten Thousand Angels
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Keyboard: Chris Vieth
I think we have a tendency to think it was a done deal from the start. I wonder, though. Was it?
Jesus was 100% Man, so He had 100% free will. He really could have chucked it all.
But He didn’t.
Praying to Dad
“Jesus said, ‘Father …’” (Lk. 23: 34 NLT)
“Hey, Dad. It’s me. Hi. I’m kind of in a pickle here. Ummm. Do you have an angel You could spare just for a minute? Well, three hours would really be nice.”
No, that isn’t what Jesus said. He didn’t pray for Himself. But He did pray to Dad.
Jesus knew that this plan of salvation was God’s baby. He’d had this idea a long time before it came into fruition.
Praying for His Enemies
In a way, we have a dangling pronoun here. The them being discussed here are the Roman soldiers. “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left” (Lk. 1: 33 CSB).
The Romans were kind of roped into this because the Jews could not sentence anyone to die on their own. Because of that, Jesus’ mockery of a trial had to go before Pilate.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Jesus knew His crucifixion was the expected outcome for the day, so He didn’t hold it against the soldiers in carrying out the orders.
But what if Jesus is talking about more than just the Romans? What if He is talking the Jews?
Oh, yes. I can see Jesus wanting to forgive the Jews. They were just being as obstinate as the Wilderness Wanderers of old.
The thing is the Jews had to sentence Jesus to death. Rome couldn’t have arrested Him without the Jews. That would have made Satan the one arresting Him.
No, it wasn’t a fair trial. But there were no charges on which to arrest Jesus — except that He was God’s Son.
This world saw that as sin. In reality, it was truth.
That is what had to happen. Jesus had to spill His blood.
Still, look what Watson said. He wrote, “The cross is for ever the sign of the world’s darkest crime: it reveals what is lying at the root of all sin; and it opens up the nature of that dread conflict which is ever going on between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God.”
The innocent Man died for all mankind. The kingdom of God beat the kingdom of darkness.
But all mankind includes everyone — even Tom, Sally, and Elaine. So, when Jesus was interceding for forgiveness, it was for you and me, too.
It is believed that Jesus uttered the “Father, forgive them” words soon after He was suspended from the cross. Emmons said that this was when it would hurt the most.
Jesus is hurting the most, and He is praying for mankind? Can we spell l-o-v-e?
Forgiving Our Enemies
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them …’” (Lk. 23: 34 NLT)
Jesus, being Jesus, prayed for man. His main mission was to be God on Earth. It was to establish forgiveness for sin, so Jesus prayed for man’s forgiveness.
Jesus had to forgive them. He had to die.
I love Flavel’s definition of forgiveness. He wrote, “Forgiveness is God’s gracious discharge of a believing penitent sinner from the guilt of all his sin, for Christ’s sake.
Christ’s sake was, because He agreed to be and became the sacrifice. Because His blood paid the penalty for our sins, God can mark our books paid.
So right away, Jesus forgave the men for what they did. They didn’t ask for this. He gave it to them. He wanted what He accomplished through His death to be available to them, also.
The world would have denounced His accusers and executioners. Jesus, the High Priest, prayed for them. Well, actually, He was starting His job as intercessor early.
Cutting Enemies Slack
“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.’ …” (Lk. 23: 34 CSB)
Let’s roost a second on “… they do not know what they are doing …” (Lk. 23: 34 CSB). Let’s assume Jesus is talking about the Roman soldiers. They are just following orders.
Oh, I am am sure that they knew the stories floating around town. What did the two men from Emmaus say? “One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’” (Lk. 24: 18 CSB).
Yep, the town had been stirred up after Jesus rode into town. The opposition was very vocal.
Jesus wasn’t praying for just anyone. He was praying for the nail tappers. He prayed for the spear wielder. He even prayed for the that’s-an-order guys.
Did they know they shed innocent blood? The centurion figured it out. “The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man’” (Lk. 23: 47 CSB).
What does this say about the mercy of Jesus? Mercy is the unexpected way God responds in love to our needs. It shows His mercy, compassion, and love.
Let’s open this discussion up and not apply it to only cross participants. This is about all of us, too.
Face it. We think there are little bitty sins and sins that we think are of a lesser value than others.
In other words, we humans are really good at downplaying the value of sins.
Sometimes, it is because we think sins are just the evilest of evil things. Or we think it is all about intent. We just don’t realize intent isn’t what makes something evil.
Look what Jesus says about them. “… they do not know what they are doing.’ …” (Lk. 23: 34 CSB). Some of them are just doing their jobs. Others may be thinking they are executing someone who is trying to overthrow Rome.
Jesus told God that they don’t have a clue.
Yes, Jesus asked that they be forgiven this sin — His execution. He didn’t give them a blanket all-your-sins-are-forgiven pardon. “Though their ignorance afforded a plea for mercy, they were not to be pardoned without repentance” (Theological Sketch-book).
Making the Connections
Spurgeon wrote, “Forgiveness is the first, chief, and basis blessing.” This is where salvation starts.
The whole reason Jesus gave His life was forgiveness. Easy for Him to give, right?
How easy is it to accept this forgiveness? Oh, don’t we come up with all sorts of reasons why Jesus couldn’t mean us? We think we have to be worst of the worst sinners.
Or worse yet, God forgives us, and we don’t think we need it.
But we all are spiritually dead — until we admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Savior and Redeemer, and confess God as our Sovereign Lord. Once we ABCD, God regenerates us and makes us spiritually alive.
How Do We Apply This?
If we haven’t ABCDed, we need to follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Manton said that, from Christ’s example, we could learn meekness, patience, and humility. We’ve recently looked at those.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Flavel thought this is what Christianity is really about — praying for and asking forgiveness for our enemies. The forgiveness is based on the love we find in Jesus.
We are to imitate Jesus. That would include being forgiving to others.
Loving Father. Lord, it is our prayer that we imitate Your love to others. We want to forgive as You do. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email daily or weekly providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.
Pingback: Salvation from the Cross – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Respect from the Cross – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Abandonment from the Cross – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Thirst from the Cross – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Completion from the Cross – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Life from the Cross – Seeking God with Elaine