“Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do”

Text: Luke 23:26-38
Thesis: To consider some things often overlooked in the seven sayings of Jesus.

Introduction:
A. Paul wrote down these words, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).
B. As Jesus hung there on that cross he uttered several sayings. Seven of which we have recorded in Scripture. These sayings are revelations of what was passing through the mind of our Lord during the end of his personal ministry on this earth.
C. The first of these sayings we find in the text that was read to us just a moment ago. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
D. The Pulpit Commentary series tries to pinpoint an exact time for when these words were uttered. And while we cannot be certain of the precise instance when Jesus uttered these words, some scholars think that it was at the point when the nails were being driven into his hands.
E. You have heard before, in detail, the procedure of the crucifixion. You know of it’s terror. With that thought in mind, research tells us that victims of crucifixions would curse their parents, the executioners, those standing by, and the day they were born…sometimes they would become so vehement that their tongues would be cut out.
F. But Jesus’ words were “words of peace in a storm of suffering…words of love spoken in a tumult of hate…words of pardon spoken in a depth of depravity” (Winkler).
G. For the next few minutes, I want to talk about those words.

Discussion:
From these words, we learn . . .
I. THAT JESUS LIVED WHAT HE TAUGHT.
A. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Mt. 5:44).
B. He not only taught this, but he lived it. “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1).
C. What about you and me? See Romans 2:17-22.
D. We must be the embodiment of that which we teach.
E. The messengers life must be consistent with his message.
F. You cannot separate the man from his message; you cannot separate the speaker from his sermon; the preacher from his proclamation. The man is his message; the preacher is his proclamation; the speaker is his sermon.
G. Christ never gave a commandment, for which he did not give a corresponding example—with the exception of one thing. Christ never repented, but he commands it.
H. Ill: Someone said, “The preacher was not spectacular.” The answer came—“The reason for his power is that there are 30 years of holy living behind each sermon.” Ladies and gentlemen, I may not be the best preacher you ever heard, but I want to be the best one you ever saw.
I. Consider that with respect to these relationships: parents to child; Bible teachers to students; Christian to his neighbor.

II. SOMETHING ABOUT THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD.
A. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14).
B. Jesus was a Father’s son. We often look at God as God, but do we equally look at him as Father?
C. Six times in the Lord’s prayer, we find the term “Father” (Jn. 17).
D. Jesus looked at the Almighty as His Father. And, that Father looked down the short corridor of time and said, “Son, you are going to have to die”—and that because of an amazing love (Jn. 3:16).
E. How can I think of that, and then miss Sunday and Wednesday service? Those who are negligent in attendance are so, because they haven’t been to Calvary. We beat Hebrews 10:25 to death. Why not focus on John 14:15?
F. Twice, while Jesus was on the cross, he said “Father.” One of those is in the text before us.
G. Jesus became what we are—human. And what we are is because of what He became. We are therefore given the privilege to call God “Father.”
H. Who is God to you? See Romans 8:14-17. So I ask you, who is God to you? Is he your king? Your creator? Your judge? Those fade into oblivion, when compared to—“He’s my Father.”
I. We need to get a hold on what it means to say “My Father.”

III. THAT PROPHECY IS FULFILLED.
A. One of the most encouraging proofs of Bible inspiration is fulfilled prophecy. Of those are the one’s fulfilled by Jesus.
B. “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12).
C. Christ is our intercessor. “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rm. 8:34).
D. What does it mean to intercede? It means to confer with or entreat.

IV. THAT JESUS WAS UNSELFISH IN PRAYER.
A. Of the first petitions of Jesus were for us (Jn. 17:20-23).
B. Have you ever considered the fact that we pray like we live? Consider the prayers of the publican and the Pharisee (Lk. 18:9-14).
C. What do you spend the majority of your prayer life on?
D. If we live for others, we will pray for others. Do you pray for your family and friends, the elders, deacons, your preacher, your teachers, world leaders, and the sick?

Conclusion:
A. As we draw this lesson to a close, I want us to consider one more thing. God has already offered forgiveness through Jesus. It is simply up to us to accept it.
B. Ill: There's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.
C. What about you? Are you in need of forgiveness this hour? The Lord said, “meet me at the cross, and all is forgiven.” Why don’t you come today…