Father forgive them

The way of the Cross

Title: The way of the cross part 1

Text: Luke 23:31-38

D.T Sin has made us ignorant; Christ frees us from this ignorance

Introduction: Here are some famous “Last Words” spoken by people about to be executed.

(As Nathan Hale is about to be executed by the British for being a spy he says these words. I only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country!

(As Anne Boleyn was about to be executed at the order of Henry the 8th, she makes the famous claim) I die innocent

Before being executed by firing squad Gary Gilmore famously said “Let’s do it”

Please boss, don’t put that over my face, you know I’m afraid of the dark. John Coffey

The fact that we have so many “famous last words” shows that when people staring death in the face choose to speak. People listen, and their words are often immortalized. The same is said of Jesus. After Christ was nailed to the cross, and hoisted up before the sight of all in the assembly, he would be staring his own death in the face. It’s at this moment, Christ chooses to speak. While dying on the cross Christ would speak a total of 7 different times before his death.

Today we begin a series called “The way of the cross” where we will examine the 7 times in which Jesus spoke during his crucifixion.

If we immortalize the last words of those who were executed, shouldn’t we also immortalize the words of Christ?

What makes these words of Jesus so memorable? Obviously as we just discussed, the last words of an executed person are often immortalized. But is that all there is to it? Is the occasion of Christ’s crucifixion the only reason these 7 words are so important? As you may have guessed, the answer is no. Aside from being the famous last words of our savior, these words are also going to serve as a type of road map for the nature of salvation itself. Salvation in Christ Jesus unfolds in 2 ways. First there is the saving event. That would be Christ's sacrifice, and our acceptance of that sacrifice. However salvation goes beyond the simple moment we are saved, it’s a process of growing in our faith, and becoming more like Jesus every day. The 7 words of Jesus on the cross help us better understand Salvation as a whole, from the event which saves us, and the perpetual growth which happens afterwards. The first word of the cross comes to us from Luke 23:31-38

READ Luke 23:31-38

Luke 23:31–38 ESV

For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing. When Jesus says this, it’s staggering for a couple different reasons. First he’s asking forgiveness of a people who’ve beaten him, flogged him near the point of death, nailed him to a cross, and took what dignity he had left by betting on who gets his garments. You could say these people knew exactly what they were doing. Roman soldiers were professional killers who excelled at inflicting as much pain and humiliation as possible. While he’s suffering people mock him, sneer at him, and publicly display their hatred. These are the people Jesus is advocating for their forgiveness. This suddenly makes something like turning the other cheek seem attainable.

However Jesus' request goes much deeper. When Jesus says “Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing, it goes beyond the people around him. Jesus is saying this about everyone, including you and me. Usually when you have a passage about forgiveness, the main focus of the passage is the element of forgiveness. However in this case, the reason Jesus gives for forgiveness is just as important. Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing. Jesus is making a theological statement about the nature of sin. According to Jesus, sin dulls the senses, it impairs judgment, In other words, sin makes us dumb.

Every sin by it’s nature is idolatry, to choose or worship something other than God. When we sin, we’ve accepted Satans alternative, he’s given us something else to choose other than God. Material possessions, other people, ect.

Every cycle of idolatry also includes rationalization for that idolatry. The same is certainly said of sin.

This is most obviously observed in the behavior of addicts. They usually justify a need for their addiction, they justify why they need the substance they are addicted to, and why they can’t stop

Usually their loved ones are hurt because its clear their words are lies because the absurd nature of their claims is evident for everyone to see. No one believes a word they are saying.

The addict themselves usually knows their isn’t much truth in what they are saying, they know its a facade, and they know people don’t believe them

They may even think to themselves, I don’t know why I do this, and I don’t know why I always do this, and say these things

This isn’t just true of addicts, it’s true of everyone who’s even been held in the clutches of sin. Sin makes us ignorant. The apostle Paul says this about the nature of sin in his own life. (READ Romans 7:21-25 Christ frees us from this ignorance.

Romans 7:21–25 ESV

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

This isn’t to say that we won’t struggle with sin, and this isn’t to say sin won’t impair our judgment.

However it does mean that Christ makes us self-aware of its effects. Christ allows us to be honest with our sinful condition. We are aware sin makes us dumb, we are aware of how prone to its influence we are. We know that Jesus and his forgiveness is the only thing which can save us from this cycle we so easily fall within. (Dad recognized low blood sugar)

Christ not only frees us from the ignorance of our own sin, but the sins of others as well. If we accept that sin makes us dumb, we must accept that of others as well. Which means we forgive as we are forgiven.

So what must we do in response?

Confess our own sins and ask forgiveness

As God to reveal who we need to forgive (How we approach forgiving others diagnoses the idols in our lives.

Forgive them as freely as we are forgiven (Ephesians 4:32

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Conclusion (Radium girls story) Christ has revealed the nature of our sin in our lives, and offered forgiveness in its place. If we reject his forgiveness by either refusing to seek forgiveness in ourselves, or seeking forgiveness of others, it’s as if we are WILLING putting radium in our mouths despite knowing exactly what will happen. Do not willfully allow yourself to remain in ignorance. Allow Christ to free you. Repeat the words of Christ, not only for our sake, but others as well “Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.