Father Forgive Them

Intro

Good Morning!

Today as we gather again to partake in communion together, I’d like to invite us to spend a few minutes focusing on Christ’s sacrifice. As many of you know we have recently finished our devotional series on the Suffering Servant from Isaiah 52-53, and so now we are going to be gin a new series on Christ’s sayings on the cross.

Today we are looking at Luke 23:34, which reads:

Luke 23:34 ESV

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

The origin of this passage is argued among scholars, because it appears in some ancient manuscripts, but not others. Yet, as one commentator notes:

Luke: An Introduction and Commentary 3. The Crucifixion (23:32–38)

We should accept the words as genuine. It is Jesus’ own spirit that dictates this concern for those who executed him. He does not define narrowly those for whom he prays and his them probably includes both the Jews who were responsible for the crucifixion and the Romans who carried it out

I love what this commentator says: It is Jesus’ own spirit that dictates concerns for His executioners. Think about it:

Jesus has just walked the journey from Jerusalem, the place he is going to be crucified at. Soldiers pound in nails into Jesus’ hands, and into his feet. Then they raise Him up, in agony, between two criminals. Here hangs God the Son, dying the excruciating death of the worst criminals, and he hangs there not because of what he has done wrong, but because of other’s sins.

Jesus’ body was broken, and His blood was spilled on that cross not because He had done something wrong. Jesus was perfect! Yet he came to earth and was born, so that He could die for other people’s sins. Even as Jesus’ hangs there, paying the awful price for the sin of every person ever born, even as God’s wrath upon sin is poured out on Jesus, he utters this says: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus pleads their case - their ignorance - to His Father.

How are they ignorant? I think Paul gives us the answer in 1 Timothy 1:13 when he says:

1 Timothy 1:13 ESV

though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

Jesus asks forgiveness for those who, in their unbelief and rejection of God, crucified His only Son. Yet it is clear that His plea for forgiveness, and His sacrifice, is on our behalf as well. Because without Christ’s sacrifice, and without the Holy Spirit transforming our hearts, we too are left in ignorant unbelief.

Today as we take communion, we need to reflect on what Jesus says here in Luke 23. He asks His Father to give a broken humanity, that sins in ignorant unbelief toward their Creator, forgiveness, even as He hangs and dies so that we might receive that forgiveness. When we partake together of the cup and bread, that symbolize Jesus body and blood, we are remember that sacrifice. This is our Lord, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who in His love for us, even as He dies for our sins, calls out and pleads with the Father for our forgiveness.

Paul gives us the best description of communion in 1 Corinthians 11:23-27. As I read through this passage, let’s partake of the bread and cup together.

1 Corinthians 11:23–27 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

Pray