Jesus’ Words from the Cross

1. Jesus’ Words from the Cross Father Forgive them. Luke 23: 34

2. Luke 23: 26 – 43 • 26As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’

3. Luke 23: 26 – 43 • 30Then • “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” • and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ • 31For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” • 32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

4. Luke 23: 26 – 43 • 35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” • 36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” • 38There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

5. Luke 23: 26 – 43 • 39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” • 40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” • 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” • 43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

6. Setting the Scene. • Gethsemane – Prayer • Arrest & trial • Blindfolded – beaten – mocked

7. Setting the Scene. • Pilate had Jesus whipped • A Crown of thorns • The agony of the cross

8. Father Forgive them. • “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”. • When man had done his worst, Jesus prayed not for justice, but for mercy. • Jesus forgives over and over again.

9. 5 Significant Truths • 1. The fulfillment of prophecy. Is 53: 1 – 12 • 2. The blindness of the human heart. • 3. The magnitude of our need. Jer 17: 9 • 4. The identification of Jesus. 2 Cor 5: 21 • 5. The triumph of divine love. John 15: 13

10. Forgiven, we must forgive. • Have you been forgiven? • Have you forgiven others? • Forgive means to cancel a debt or pardon a loan. • Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

11. Conclusion • Picture Jesus on the cross, in agony, offering forgiveness to those who had just driven nails into his hands. • Now allow your mind to bring into focus anyone who has hurt you…can you say quietly in your heart: • “Father forgive them.”