The King praying for ignorant sinners

Jesus' journey to the cross, his compassion amid suffering, the mockery he endured, his prayer for forgiveness, and the dramatic salvation of the repentant thief.

build upon** (expand or apply) its truths like forgiveness, judgment, faith-based salvation, and immediate afterlife hope.

Jesus’ Warning of Future Judgement

Mockery at the Cross: Human Blidness and the Insultto the King

Contrast and the Miracle of Converstion

1. The Need for Repentance Amid Future Judgment

As we meditate on the Lord's suffering on the cross, let us shed pure tears of repentance, not tears of sympathy.

Luke 23:27 “And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.”

A great multitude of the peopel and women follwed Jesus and women were mourning and lamenting for Him. This passage, recorded exclusively by Luke, is a moving scene describing the profound sorrow of the people and women following Jesus on his way to Golgotha. Following the execution of a condemned person and weeping was a custom of the time and was considered an act of religious virtue. The word ‘mourn’ means "to grieve deeply" and is a word used to describe all kinds of physical and mental suffering. Therefore, this verse can be seen as showing that while many opposed Jesus and crucified him, there were also many who truly mourned his death.

Luke 23:28–31 “But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

The key point that Jesus points out is the reason why the followers weep and grieve deeply. People were weeping because Jesus was in suffering and bullied by religious leaders and Roman sodiers. But Jesus wants to redirect the grief from His suffering to people’s judgement if they didn’t repent their sin. In the text, they don’t see the real reason of Jesus’ suffering. They believe this is a personal matter of Jesus related to religious leaders. No, it is not. His suffering of cross gives them the eternal righteousness or the eternal judgement. If they discover the meaning of the cross and repent their sin, future judgement will pass over them.

From time to time, people tend to shed tears of sympathy while they think over the suffering of Jesus on the way of cross. At this point, Jesus points out our misunderstanding that we overlook the real reason of Jesus’ suffering. Jesus' suffering was the suffering of the Messiah, and it was also the suffering He endured to save sinners like us. Therefore, if we truly weep over the Lord's suffering, it should not be because we are heartbroken by Jesus' suffering, but because we weep over our own sins, which were so serious that they could have killed the Messiah. Beloved saints, I repeat, the sufferings of Christ are not simply a matter of pity. We should "beat our breasts and mourn" as we think of Jesus' suffering. However, the true reason for our weeping should not be out of pity for Jesus, but because of our sins that forced Him to die. As we mourn our sins, we will also weep with gratitude for the grace of the Lord who suffered to save sinners like us. Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

Saints must prepare for the day of God’s wrath

Jesus redirects grief from his suffering to the coming calamity on Jerusalem (foreshadowing AD 70 destruction and ultimate judgment), urging repentance over mere sympathy.

Luke 23:29–31 “For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?””

First, It talks about the judgement of people who was going to kill Jesus. Their judgement and suffering already happened in the real history of AD 70. God's prophecy of wrath against the Israelites was fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. The utter destruction and slaughter by the Roman general Titus was a tribulation of unprecedented proportions for Israel. Josephus estimated 1.1 million deaths (mostly from famine and combat) and 97,000 enslaved. Some scholars suggest a more realistic figure of 200,000–500,000. Jerusalem was almost completely destructed, accelerating the Jewish Diaspora.

Luke 19:41“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 43-44 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” The history was proved the word of Jesus completely.

However, God's wrath against all the unrepentant sinners of the world has not yet been revealed. The day has not yet arrived when all the sinners of the world will cry out, "Hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."

Revelation 6:15–17 “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?””

He taught future calamity for you to have chance to repent. He is more concerned for your future suffering than His own. This shows Jesus’ selflessness amid agony. How do you prepare the day of God’s wrath? There is only one way, believing Jesus, knowing who is Jesus and what He has done for you. He didn’t come up on the cross due to His tresspasses, but due to your panelty. We have to rely on His cross and saty in His word. This is the preparation of God’s wrath.

The Crucifixion Scene and Criminals (vv. 32-33)**

Luke 23:32–33 “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.”

- **Truth**: Jesus is crucified between two criminals, fulfilling his role as the innocent sufferer among the guilty.

Why was Jesus between criminals to be put to death and came to the place that is called the Skull? Because God loves HIs people and wants to save them from thier sin. This is not abrupt decision or short prepared plan. But it is His eternal plan.

Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

| The Suffering Servant is "numbered with the transgressors"—directly supports v. 32-33 and v. 34's intercession, emphasizing substitutionary atonement. |

| **Psalm 22:16-18** (OT Prophecy) | Dogs surround and pierce hands/feet; garments divided by casting lots (v. 34)—supports the physical details of crucifixion as foretold centuries earlier. |

2. Human Blidness and the Paradox of the king

Truth**: Jesus intercedes for his ignorant executioners amid ridicule, revealing divine mercy and the irony of his kingship.

Luther's Interpretation: Crucified between criminals (v. 33, fulfilling Isaiah 53:12), Jesus embodies meek kingship—voluntary humiliation conquering sin/death/hell.

Luke 23:33–34 “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.”

Verse 34-38 highlights human sinfulness and ignorance, blindness while emphasizing the paradox inherent in Jesus’ kingship. Here, "human blindness" refers to the ignorance of those who mocked and executed Jesus on the cross. “They cast lots to divide His garments.” “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 mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself”. “One of the criminals who were hanged tailed at him saying, Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us”.

: In Luke 23:34, immediately after being nailed to the cross, Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." This prayer points to the 'ignorance' of the executioners, including Roman soldiers, Jewish leaders, and the crowd. They viewed Jesus merely as a criminal or a threat, but in reality, they were killing the Son of God, the Savior of the world. This ignorance is a spiritual blindness born of human sin, and as prophesied in Isaiah 53:7, Jesus endures suffering in silence "like a lamb led to the slaughter." At the same time, the crowd's mockery (23:35-37: "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God... He is the King of the Jews; let him come down now from there") symbolizes human arrogance and ignorance. In the midst of this mockery, Jesus' prayer reveals —responding not with vengeance or curses, but with a prayer of forgiveness, demonstrating a love that covers human sins.Human Blindness (Ignorance and Mockery)divine mercy

: Jesus is mocked as 'king' (23:37-38: "This is the King of the Jews"), but His kingship is the complete opposite of worldly kings. Rather than reigning through military might or authority like the Davidic dynasty or Roman emperors, He rules through the humiliation of the cross. This paradox emphasizes that Jesus' kingship is . The cross is a symbol of defeat, but in truth, it is the place of victory that conquers sin, death, and hell. This enacts the teaching in Matthew 5:44, "Love your enemies," and sets an example of forgiveness, as seen in Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 7:60).The Irony of Kingship (Paradox)revealed through suffering

And the paradox of the king signifies Jesus’ kingship, does not pursue power and glory like the kings of the world but triumphs through humiliation and sacrifice. First, I will explain the biblical truth (Truth), followed by an in-depth examination centered on Martin Luther's interpretation.

This truth is not merely a historical event but a challenge to us: Jesus has already prayed for us who sin in ignorance. When we recognize this mercy and repent, we enter the kingdom of the King Jesus.

Luther's Interpretation: The King Among Sinners, the Triumph of Voluntary Humiliation

: Luther sees Jesus being crucified between two criminals as the direct fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12 ("He was numbered with the transgressors"). Isaiah's suffering servant is prophesied to "bear the sin of many" and be "numbered with the transgressors," and Jesus voluntarily takes on the status of 'the chief of sinners.' According to Luther, this reveals that Jesus' kingship is that of the —just as worldly kings ascend to thrones, Jesus is crowned on the cross (with a crown of thorns) and seated on His throne (with nails in His hands and feet). The scene where one of the two criminals acknowledges Jesus as 'king' and receives the promise of paradise (23:42-43) produces the first saint in the New Testament kingdom. Through this, Luther emphasizes that "Jesus' kingship reveals strength in weakness." The criminal saw Jesus as king despite His frail appearance (bleeding, mocked).Crucified Among Sinners (Luke 23:33, Fulfilling Isaiah 53:12)King of sinners

: Luther stresses the 'voluntary' nature of Jesus' suffering. Jesus endures the Roman soldiers' spears and blood, humiliations (crown of thorns, spitting, sour wine), and even His mother Mary's pain, bearing it all "as if it were nothing." This is because His heart is filled with the "flame of love," thinking only of our sins and God's wrath. Luther writes, "Jesus has a heart more beautiful than the sun; though regarded as a thief and unbeliever, one must see with the eyes of the soul to know its beauty." This meekness is the kingship of not fighting like David but remaining silent like a lamb (Isaiah 53:7). While worldly kings conquer enemies, Jesus' kingdom turns enemies into friends through forgiveness.Meek Kingship and Voluntary Humiliation

: The core of Luther's view is that Jesus' humiliation leads to victory. The cross reveals God's wrath against sin (the sixth word: "It is finished," John 19:30), piercing our consciences, but through resurrection, it 'swallows up' sin (Romans 4:25). Luther states, "Jesus bore our sins (1 Peter 2:24), broke the gates of hell, and killed death." The first word ("Father, forgive them") is the beginning of this victory; by praying for the ignorant executioners, Jesus has already conquered them. Luther connects this to the paradox of "God forsaking God," emphasizing that Jesus' solitary suffering is the perfect atonement for us.Conquest of Sin/Death/Hell

From Luther's perspective, this paradox is the heart of Christian faith: the cross is not defeat but the king's triumph. Human blindness leads us to mockery, but Jesus' mercy awakens that blindness. Today, we too must remember this prayer and live a life of forgiving our enemies. Do you have any more questions? For example, original quotes from Luther or connections to other Bible verses!

1. Biblical Truth

: Reveals the ignorance and arrogance of those who mocked and executed Jesus on the cross (Roman soldiers, Jewish leaders, crowd). Jesus remains silent like a lamb (Isaiah 53:7) and prays for forgiveness: "Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34) → Exemplifies divine mercy (practices Matthew 5:44, influences Stephen's martyrdom).Human Blindness

: Mocked as the "King of the Jews," but conquers sin/death/hell through the humiliation of the cross, not power. Appears as defeat but is the seat of victory.Paradox of Kingship

2. Martin Luther's Interpretation

: Crucified between two criminals (Luke 23:33, fulfilling Isaiah 53:12) → Jesus chooses voluntary humiliation as the "King of sinners." The thief's promise of paradise (23:43) is the kingdom's first saint.King Among Sinners

: Endures suffering with the "flame of love." Does not fight like worldly kings but conquers enemies through forgiveness. The cross is the paradox of "God forsaking God," swallowing sin through resurrection (Romans 4:25).Meek Kingdom

Overall Message: Forgiveness amid human ignorance awakens us; Jesus' kingship shows strength in weakness. Calls us to a life of forgiving enemies. (English version is a direct translation of the above Korean content.) Need more details on any part?

Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

Psalm 22:7–8 “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”” v35-37

Psalm 69:21 “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.”

1 Corinthians 2:8 “None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” - Rulers crucified the Lord of glory in ignorance - builds on v34 by explainging why forgiveness is offered despite the crime, pointing to gospel grace.

Acts 7:59–60 “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Stephen echoes Jesus' prayer ("Lord, do not hold this sin against them") as he's stoned—builds on the truth by modeling forgiveness in persecution. |

The Lord gives forgiveness to you who were ignorant of His divine identity.

Jesus is the ultimate Savior. Joshua brings the fulfillment of God's covenant to the people through war and conquest. He achieves conquest through intense warfare and power. However, Jesus implies that He will fulfill the covenant of victory in an entirely different way. The Lord will give us a new heaven and a new earth. Jesus will accomplish the perfect new heaven and earth of the covenant through the very means by which violence is inflicted upon Him. The Book of Joshua has many problematic aspects in the process of conquering people, because God is a warrior who fights against the wicked. Yet, in many places, He brings people to destruction through death.

When Jesus came to this earth, He did not appear as a warrior. He was exceedingly weak, carrying the cross on His back, and suffered death. In the Old Testament, the way of dealing with enemies was to annihilate the wicked through the sword. But in Romans 12, there is no wielding of the sword of retaliation against enemies. The way of overcoming enemies does not involve conquering with the loud clash of swords. Instead, He brings the kingdom of heaven through the way of love and mercy. Jesus Christ shows us the way to fight and overcome enemies. It is through love, forgiveness, mercy, and kindness. Jesus has completely changed the way God wages war.

Through Christ we learn more about of the wicked and learn aboujt God’s holiness. Also, we can understand what it means for utterly unqualified people to simply receive something. And above all, we give thanks to Christ, who is the true warrior and reveals to us what true warfare is.

3. The Contrast of Faith and Immediate Salvation

Truth**: One thief rejects Jesus; the other repents in faith, receiving immediate assurance of paradise—highlighting salvation by grace through faith alone, even at death's door.

The Lord does not require your deeds, just acknowledgment of sin. He is blamelessness.

There is the most precious and worth gift here which is salvation. Only if you acknowledge your sin and His judgement, and trust in His authority and kingship, He will give you that gift. It acompanies selfless love, covering ignorance of Him, and blamelessness. You never experience in the world that take advantage of you in accordance with your ability. There is no interest in you, if you lose your power in relationship with frieds, others, and even in families.