Luke 23:34a Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
When I was in elementary school, we had Patrol Boys. They were boys that the principal had chosen to wear a special white belt/sash thing with a badge and they helped kids cross the streets. Oh how I wanted to be a patrol boy! Finally, in fourth grade, the principal made me a patrol boy! I felt so official wearing that badge! My post was near the playground and I had not been there long when someone felt I had walked too close to a car. I was called to the office and made to hand in my badge and belt. It was a short-lived tenure!
The things that Jesus said on the cross are sometimes known as ‘the seven last words.’ Of all of the things He said, I often find this one the most perplexing. Here was Jesus, nailed to the cross, surrounded by soldiers with hammers in hand, who themselves were surrounded by people that had cried out for Jesus’ death until Pilate acceded to their demands. It sure seemed they knew what they were doing.
But Jesus was in a forgiving mood! He had come for just that purpose. He knew He was going to die. In fact, He laid down His life willingly. He went to the cross, not because some bad men connived against Him; not because the Romans were nasty and unjust; but because that is where He would pay the price for my sin and yours.
I was raised to be a good boy. If you had seen me in those days you’d have thought I was. But that was on the outside, and due to my parents’ training. I was a sinner in desperate need of a Savior. What’s worse, I knew I was. Many nights as a teenager, I fearfully went to sleep at night knowing I was not ready to face God. But one July Sunday in church when I was 16, I knelt at an altar and begged God to forgive me of my sins. At that moment, Jesus was praying for me, “Father, forgive him, he didn’t know what he was doing.” And because of what Jesus did on that cross, God did forgive me! My name was written down!
I have disappointed Him too many times over the past 46 years. But rather than just saying, ‘that’s it’ and taking away by badge and belt, He called me back to Himself and forgave me again! And again. And again.
When He was on the cross, He became sin, Who knew no sin, that I might become His righteousness! I am eternally grateful for the message of the cross and Jesus’ forgiveness!
Blessings,
Pastor Russ
