First in a series on the seven last words of Jesus
by Pastor Paul Wolff
“Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with (Jesus). And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”
(Luke 23:32-34)
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| Christ’s first words when He was lifted up on the cross were “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” |
Crucifixion in the Roman Empire was a public spectacle. The victims were meant to serve as a warning to others not to do as they had done, lest you suffer the same fate. It was not only meant as a means of carrying out the death penalty, but it was also meant to shame and torture the victims in the worst possible way. The humane way of execution was beheading – like the execution of John the Baptist. That was quick, with a minimum of suffering, and out of the public eye.
Victims of crucifixion had much to say while they were dying. But you wouldn’t allow your children near a crucifixion unless you were forced. Likely most of what the crucified had to say is not worth repeating in polite company. The statements of those who were crucified consisted almost entirely of curses and foul language. You would certainly never hear a crucified man blessing those who were killing him.
Yet here is Jesus, stripped naked, beaten and bloodied, wearing a crown of thorns on His head, nailed to a cross; and what is the first thing He says when He is lifted up? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I can confidently say that no one who was there at Golgotha that day had ever heard anything like it. Who was this man?
The sign over his head read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. Yet, Herod Antipas was King over Judea, not this man. This man was the son of a carpenter from Nazareth. Neither He, nor His father, was royalty, much less a king. At least one person there at Golgotha knew that Joseph of Nazareth was a descendant of King David, but that didn’t make him royalty. There hadn’t been a Davidic King over Judah in hundreds of years, and even in the days of Jesus, most Jews had likely had an ancestor who was a descendant of King David, so that wasn’t anything special. Yet this man, the son of a carpenter from Nazareth, was the true King of the Jews.
The true King of the Jews, and all Israel, had always been God. It really didn’t matter that Jesus was a descendant of King David, except that God had promised David that his descendant would reign on his throne forever. What really mattered was that this man was the only-begotten Son of God. That is what made Jesus the King of the Jews. This is why we hold to the truth of the miraculous conception of Jesus. His mother, Mary, was, and remained, a virgin until the time when Jesus was born. His Father was God, and Jesus, Himself, though incarnate as a man, was likewise the same God with the Father, and the Holy Spirit – three persons yet one and the same God.
So since Jesus is God in the flesh, what was He doing there hanging naked and nailed to a cross? The answer is in the first words that Jesus says after he was lifted up: “Father, forgive them.” It was as if Jesus could hardly wait to ask God, the Father, to forgive sinners. That is what Jesus was doing there on the cross. It is the same thing that He was working toward His whole life as a man. Jesus was there to forgive. Jesus is still here to forgive, but He is only here today to forgive you because of what He did then and there on the cross.
Remember this when someone says that Christianity isn’t all about the forgiveness of sins, but about loving your neighbor, or some other works-righteousness where you must save yourself. The eternal God did not become incarnate as a man and then suffer and die on the cross so that you would have to try to save yourself. God became incarnate so that He would save you.
Jesus did not have to go to the cross for Himself – He went to the cross for you! For His sake, Jesus should not have been there on the cross. It should have been you, dying for your own sins. Jesus was without sin His entire life. He was completely innocent before God and before man. The charges that men contrived to put Him on a cross were all lies. Governor Pilate knew they were wicked lies, but the wicked leaders of the Jews threatened to start riots which would threaten the livelihood and life of Pilate. Pilate wanted to do what was just and right, but if this man Jesus would not speak up to defend Himself, then Pilate could only go so far. It would do no good for Pilate to die for Jesus at this time, but it would accomplish much good for Jesus to die for Pilate, and the Jews, and the Gentiles, and all who would ever live on the earth.
It is a strange thing that the King of the Jews would die for His people. It is even more strange that the Almighty God incarnate would die for the sins of His people. God is a just God who is holy, and must punish sin, but God is also a merciful God who forgives sin. God could not punish us sinners for our sins without destroying us, so He paid the price Himself.
Jesus didn’t just say, “Father forgive them.” Jesus was there on the cross paying the price for the sins of the whole world so that your sins would be atoned for. What does forgiveness look like? It looks like God as a man beaten and naked nailed to a cross wearing a crown of thorns. There is your forgiveness and your salvation. Behold the man. Behold your forgiveness.
Forgiveness is what Jesus was there for. Forgiveness what Jesus is here for today, too! Jesus is here in His word and sacraments to forgive you and save you from your sins.
No wonder the Centurion looked on Jesus after He died and said, “Truly, this man was the son of God.” (Mark 15:39)
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Articles in this series:
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.
Woman behold your son. Son, behold your mother.
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
I thirst.
It is finished.
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
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