7 Last Word - 1st Word

Pray

Give Honor

Luke 23:34 “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.”

Calvary… Calvary… Calvary…

It was A place of death. A place of shame. A place where criminals were executed. A place where crosses were lifted and bodies were broken.

Calvary… Calvary… Calvary…

It was a place nobody wanted to go.

Because if you ended up at Calvary… it meant you were guilty. It meant you were condemned. It meant society had already written you off.

Calvary… Calvary… Calvary…

And it’s here… at Calvary…

That we find Jesus…

Hanging on a cross…

Between two thieves.

Betrayed by someone He loved… Denied by someone close to Him… Beaten beyond recognition…

Mocked… Scorned… Spit on…

Crowned with thorns… Nailed in His hands… Nailed in His feet…

And after all of that…

It’s here… at Calvary…

That the first words He utters are—

“Father… forgive them… for they know not what they do.”

Now I’ll get to the forgiving part…

But before He ever says “forgive them”…

He says… “Father.”

After betrayal… He still says Father After beating… He still says Father After humiliation… He still says Father After nails… He still says Father While suffocating… He still says Father

And if you’re going to make it through your Calvary moments…

You better have FORTITUDE TO CALL ON THE FATHER

FATHER I NEED YOU

FATHER I CANT DO IT WITHOUT YOU

FATHER I STRETCH MY HANDS TO THEE

THERE ARE 3 MOVES ABOUT THIS FATHER FOR GIVE THEM.

THE FIRST MOVE IS...

THE PLACE

This forgive bothers me…

Because of the place He said it.

Not in a sanctuary… Not in a prayer room… Not in a moment of peace…

But on a cross…

At Calvary…

A place where blood was normal. A place where screams were common. A place where mercy was rare. A place where death was expected.

He’s not comfortable…

He’s not calm…

He’s not collected…

He’s bleeding.

His back is torn open… His head is pierced with thorns… His hands are stretched… His feet are nailed…

And every time He tries to speak…

He has to lift Himself up on nails…

Just to get breath.

This ain’t a place to forgive…

This is a place to get even.

This ain’t a place to show grace…

This is a place to release anger.

But in the worst place of His life…

He gives His best response.

He didn’t wait until the wounds closed.

He didn’t wait until the pain stopped.

He didn’t wait until the situation made sense.

He said it…

While it was still fresh. While the blood was still flowing. While the pain was still real.

And can I preach to somebody—

You’ve been waiting…

To feel better before you forgive.

You’ve been waiting…

For time to pass before you release it.

But Jesus shows us—

You don’t forgive after YOU START THE healing… THE HEALING starts when you forgive.

THE PLACE IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT BOTHERS ME...

BUT THEN...IT’S THE PEOPLE..

THE PEOPLE

Then He says—

“Father forgive THEM…”

And that’s what really bothers me…

Because He didn’t say “him”…

He didn’t say “her”…

He said—

THEM.

That means everybody involved.

FORGIVE Them that beat Him Them that mocked Him Them that lied on Him Them that spit on Him Them that nailed Him Them that pierced Him Them that gambled for His clothes Them that laughed at His pain

Them that walked away from Him Them that denied Him Them that betrayed Him Them that sentenced Him Them that watched and did nothing

THEM.

AND THAT’S Them back then…

But don’t miss it—HE WASN’T JUST TALKING ABOUT THEM BACK THEN,

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THEM..RIGHT NOW.

Them right now…

Them who make mockery of your faith Them who talk about you like a dog Them who smile in your face and stab your back Them who misuse your name Them who mishandle your heart

But can I take it deeper—

Because it’s easy to shout about “them”…

Until you realize…

You were them.

I was them…

When I sinned and didn’t think about Him

I was them…

When I did what I wanted to do

I was them…

When I ignored His will

I was them…

When I chose my way over His way

And that’s why this text is powerful…

Because when He said—

“Father forgive them…”

He had me on His mind.

Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise For it was grace that brought my liberty I do not know just why He came to love me so He looked beyond my faults and saw my need

IT’S THE PLACE

IT’S THE PEOPLE...

BUT THEN LASTLY IT’S THE PURPOSE..

THE PURPOSE

“For they know not what they do.”

They were active…

But they were ignorant.

They were moving…

But they had no revelation.

They didn’t knOW...WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

They didn’t know He was the Bread of Life They didn’t know He was the Light of the world They didn’t know He was the Living Water They didn’t know He was the Good Shepherd They didn’t know He was the True Vine They didn’t know He was the Resurrection and the Life They didn’t know He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life They didn’t know He had all power in His hands They didn’t know He could call angels if He wanted to They didn’t know He was laying His life down They didn’t know no man was taking it from Him They didn’t know He was wounded for our transgressions They didn’t know He was bruised for our iniquities They didn’t know the chastisement of our peace was on Him They didn’t know by His stripes we would be healed They didn’t know this was prophecy being fulfilled They didn’t know this was God’s plan unfolding They didn’t know this was salvation being released They didn’t know death was about to lose its grip They didn’t know the grave was about to be defeated

AND THIS IS THE PICTURE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF GOD’S GRACE...THAT WHEN I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING...HE HAD GRACE WAITING ON ME..

AMAZING GRACE

AMAZING GRACE....HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED

And that’s why He says—

“Father… forgive them…”

Because grace steps in…

Where understanding is missing.

Because what looked like a setback…

Was really a setup.

And if I’m honest…

It couldn’t have been me…

But that’s exactly why…

Jesus had to come in the first place.

Because where we would’ve chosen revenge…

He chose redemption.

Where we would’ve held a grudge…

He released grace.

And now we stand here today…

Saved…

Delivered…

Forgiven…

Because He said—

“Father… forgive them.”