2 Timothy 3:14
Introduction In preparing our hearts to celebrate Easter in a few weeks, we are going to look at the seven words from Jesus on the cross They reveal the heart of Jesus and the Father They reveal the depth and expanse of God s love They help us to understand what was most important to God for all to hear
Introduction Jesus first saying on the cross was a prayer He was facing the most painful and difficult experience of His life In the midst of this, Jesus prays What makes this prayer so unique is what and for whom He prays Turn to Luke 23
Luke 23:33-34 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Jesus prayer was directed to the Father Father -- a term of trust, confidence, and endearment Through excruciating pain, He speaks in love to the only One who can deliver Him the Father But, He is not praying for deliverance or Himself He prays with a loving heart for others
Jesus prayer was directed to the Father This is such an unselfish prayer Instead of thinking about His own pain and needs, He is thinking about others He s thinking about those whose souls are in jeopardy He s thinking about all whose sins put Him on this cross
Jesus prayed Father forgive them The big question is who are them? First, I believe He s praying for the soldiers who are just doing their jobs Crucifixion was a routine punishment by the Romans They were just following orders Casting lots shows their indifference
Jesus prayed Father forgive them Jesus also was praying for the priests and Pharisees who were the prime force behind the crucifixion Behind the scenes, they paid off Judas for his betrayal Held a kangaroo court to find Him guilty They falsely accused Him before Pilate
Jesus prayed Father forgive them Jesus also was praying for the priests and Pharisees who were the prime force behind the crucifixion They stirred up the crowd to want to crucify Him This was a culmination of their attacks against Him and His ministry This was their final straw to silence Him
Jesus prayed Father forgive them Jesus also was praying for His disciples They were notably absent except John They had promised to be with Him till the end and yet deserted Him They couldn t watch all their hopes and dreams die on a cross
Jesus prayed Father forgive them Jesus also was praying for others watching gawkers The crowd of Jewish others were being misled by their leaders The crowd of others were just curious or ambivalent caught up in the whole process and attitude of those who wanted Him dead
Jesus prayed Father forgive them Jesus also was praying you and me It was our sins that also put Jesus on the cross It was our sins that the Father would pour out His wrath on It was our place that Jesus took on the cross
Jesus prayed they don t know what their doing The soldiers around the cross didn t really know that they were crucifying the very Son of God The religious leaders did not really comprehend that they were plotting against the Son of God the promised Messiah The gawkers didn t realize they were watching the Son of God being killed
Jesus prayed they don t know what their doing His disciples didn t understand what was happening They were fearful for their own lives and confused about His Each for their own reason chose to abandon Him in His greatest need
Jesus prayed they don t know what their doing We don t understand either We get led astray by our own selfish desires and pursuits We attack people, hurt people, and condemn people We put ourselves above others and God
The problem is they didn t get it Didn t get who Jesus really was Didn t get what they were doing was wrong just their job; protect their religious façade; being led astray by others; being afraid Jesus knew they didn t get it even though some were intentionally and personally involved
But, Jesus still prayed
Jesus prayer is to forgive He asks the Father to forgive them, including you and me We need to do be willing to forgive others the same way Intentional or not, what people do to us must be forgiven Jesus showed us how
Lessons for all of us The sins of others soldiers, religious leaders, gawkers, disciples required Jesus to die on the cross So did our sins Regardless of what you and I have done, Jesus says Father, forgive them We need to receive this forgiveness for ourselves
Lessons for all of us We need to be reminded that what Jesus did on the cross was for us He took our place He took our punishment He died for you and me
So, live for Him!