Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke 23:34
I want us to take the next seven devotionals and focus on the seven statements Jesus made while in agony on the cross.
The first statement He makes shows once more just how much greater a man Jesus was than me. It shows how much greater a human being He was, Not just in purity (that’s obvious), but in character. Could any of us have uttered those words from that location? Could any of us be nailed to the cross of Golgotha, and have the first words out of our mouths b:
“Forgive the solider who stripped me naked…”
“Forgive the religious leaders who laugh and mock…”
“Forgive the roman who hammered the railroad spike into My hands and feet…”
“Forgive all the people of the world, past present and future, because it is for their sins That I die…”
Could we utter those words? Jesus could. Jesus did.
Keep in mind that when Jesus said father forgive them, the them was not just those within earshot of Jesus. The them was not just the Romans and the Jews that had literally nailed Him to that cross. The them was also you and me. The them was Adam and Eve, Moses and Aaron, Abraham and Noah, Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist, Peter and Andrew, the Herod who tried to kill baby Jesus, the Herod that reveled in torturing the adult Jesus.
The them was everyone in the world who had sinned at one time or another, that had sinned one time or a thousand times. The them was all of us, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Because of my sin Jesus died. Though I deserved death, and should have paid the price for my sins with death (Romans 6:23), Jesus took the punishment instead. And to top it off, while He was bearing my pain for me, He has so much love that He cries out “Father forgive them.”
Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He has washed it white as snow
Aren’t you thankful?
Think about it,
have a great day!
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