Jesus - 'Father Forgive Them'
Jesus' prayer on the cross demonstrates His love and compassion, even in the face of great suffering and injustice, and provides a model for our own prayers and attitudes.
Greek Word Studies for aid_number 35932 preaches on the significance of 'analambano,' which means to take up or assume. Paul, likened to a military general, urgently commands believers to take up their spiritual armor to withstand fierce battles and attacks. The imperative to 'take up' the armor of God is a call for immediate and decisive action, emphasizing the need for constant protection and readiness in spiritual warfare.
Text
Golgotha is the place where the contrast between the Savior's heart of grace and man's heart of rebellion is most striking. Golgotha is the focal point of revelation and history and experience. There God did His best and man did his worst. There faith is justified, hope assured, and love conquers.
Crucifixion was the invention of depraved minds determined to make death as painful as possible. . . . No one ever thought of this as the perfect place for prayer.
But the first word of Jesus was a prayer--and His fourth, and His seventh! . . . Notice that He did not pray, "Father, forgive Me." He was the spotless Lamb, without blemish, being offered for the sin of the world. He knew it.
The phrase of His praying that stirs my heart more than all else can only be seen in the Greek original. "Then Jesus said" might be changed to "Then Jesus kept saying," for the verb is imperfect, indicating continuous action in past time. . . .
Can you reconstruct the picture?
Arriving at the place of the skull, Jesus looked about and prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." As the centurion crushed Him to the ground and tied His arms to the crossbeam, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." When the blunt spikes tore through each quivering palm, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." When they elevated Him to the cross, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." When the crowd cursed and reviled, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." When the soldiers parted His garments and gambled for the seamless robe, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." How many times that prayer pierced heaven's blue that day no one knows. It was not an ejaculatory petition shot into heaven in a moment of mercy. Rather the Surety was storming the Throne of Grace with a barrage of burning appeal. Jesus kept saying, "Father, forgive them . . . "
. . . The One who prayed like that is the One I need and want for my Savior.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Setting of Golgotha
- A. A place of contrast between God's heart of grace and man's heart of rebellion
- B. The focal point of revelation, history, and experience
- II. The Nature of Crucifixion
- A. A painful and cruel form of death
- B. A reflection of humanity's depravity
- III. Jesus' Prayer on the Cross
- A. A prayer of forgiveness for those who crucified Him
- B. A demonstration of Jesus' love and compassion
- IV. The Significance of Jesus' Prayer
- A. A model for our own prayers and attitudes
- B. A reminder of Jesus' character and sacrifice
Key Quotes
“There God did His best and man did his worst.” — R.B. Jones
“The One who prayed like that is the One I need and want for my Savior.” — R.B. Jones
“Then Jesus kept saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'” — R.B. Jones
Application Points
- We should seek to forgive those who have wronged us, just as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him.
- We should demonstrate love and compassion towards others, even in difficult circumstances.
- We should model our prayers and attitudes after Jesus' example on the cross.