Jesus On The Cross – Father,
Forgive Them
Introduction
At Calvary, Jesus’ first recorded word was a prayer: “Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). From
that mercy flows every scene that follows—promise for a sinner,
provision for a mother, and prophecy fulfilled as the Lamb bears our
sins.
The Prayer of
Mercy at Calvary
Jesus had foretold His suffering and death. When the nails were
driven, His opening plea was intercession: “Father, forgive them”
(Luke 23:34). Roman soldiers, hostile leaders, and a confused crowd
stood beneath the cross. This prayer reveals the heart of His
mission: He was wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our
iniquities; by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5–6). Peter
later writes that He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree
so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Peter
2:24). Calvary teaches disciples to answer wrongs with prayer and to
trust the Father’s purpose even in pain.
The
Penitent Thief and the Promise of Paradise
Two criminals were crucified with Jesus. One blasphemed; the other
confessed guilt, affirmed the Lord’s innocence, and said, “Lord,
remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:39–42). The
crucified King answered, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be
with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Scripture depicts Paradise as the
place of comfort in the unseen realm (Luke 16:22–23). Peter preaches
that the Holy One’s soul would not be left in Hades, nor His flesh
see corruption, echoing Psalm 16:10 (Acts 2:25–27). The thief
received a royal promise from the King. After Jesus’ death and
resurrection, the terms of the New Covenant were fully proclaimed by
the apostles (Hebrews 9:16–17; Acts 2:38).
A Son’s
Provision for His Mother
Near the cross stood Mary, the Lord’s mother, with “the disciple
whom He loved.” Jesus said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son,”
and to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” From that hour the
disciple took her into his own home (John 19:25–27). In agony, the
Lord honored the command to care for His mother. His brothers came
to faith after the resurrection (John 7:5; Acts 1:14). Meanwhile,
Mary was entrusted to a faithful disciple who stood fast at the
cross.
The
Darkness and the Cry of the Forsaken
From noon until three, darkness covered the land (Matthew 27:45).
Then Jesus cried with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You
forsaken Me?”—the opening line of Psalm 22, a psalm that sketches
the sufferings of the Messiah and His vindication (Matthew 27:46;
Psalm 22:1). In that hour He bore the curse of the law for us
(Galatians 3:13) and was “made to be sin for us”—though He knew no
sin—so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2
Corinthians 5:21). The darkness marked judgment upon sin; the cry
revealed the weight He carried for the world.
Forgiveness
at the Center of the Cross
The first word—“Father, forgive”—interprets every scene at Golgotha.
The promise to a penitent sinner, the tender care for Mary, and the
anguished cry under judgment all serve the one purpose: God
reconciling sinners to Himself through the obedience of His Son.
Calvary is heaven’s appeal to every heart: receive the pardon
purchased by the blood of Christ and walk in the life He gives.
Jesus On
The Cross – Father, Forgive Them Sermon Outline:
Call to
Action
Stand beneath the cross with a penitent heart. Receive the
forgiveness Jesus prayed for and secured by His blood. Come to the
King who speaks peace to the humble and welcomes the contrite.
Believe the Gospel, repent, confess Jesus as Lord, and be baptized
in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Walk daily in
the righteousness God provides in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Key
Takeaways
-
Jesus’ first
word from the cross was intercession for sinners (Luke 23:34).
-
The penitent
thief asked for mercy and received the promise of Paradise that
day (Luke 23:39–43).
-
The Lord
honored His mother in His suffering, entrusting her to faithful
care (John 19:25–27).
-
Three hours
of darkness and the Psalm 22 cry display the weight of sin’s
judgment borne by Christ (Matthew 27:45–46; Psalm 22:1).
-
At the
cross, Christ bore the curse and grants God’s righteousness to
those united with Him (Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
-
The apostles
proclaim the covenant response to the cross: repent and be
baptized in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:38).
Scripture
Reference List (with relevant thoughts)
-
Luke
23:34 — Jesus’ first word is
intercession; Calvary’s pattern is mercy.
-
Isaiah
53:5–6 — The Servant bears our
guilt; forgiveness flows from His wounds.
-
1 Peter
2:24 — He carried our sins in His
body; the cross leads to healed, holy living.
-
Luke
23:39–43 — The penitent thief
confesses; the crucified King grants Paradise “today.”
-
Luke
16:22–23 — Two destinies in
Hades: Paradise and Torments; context for Jesus’ promise.
-
Acts
2:25–27 — Peter applies Psalm 16:
the Holy One not abandoned to Hades nor decay.
-
Psalm
16:10 — Prophecy of preservation
and resurrection for the Messiah.
-
Hebrews
9:16–17 — A covenant takes effect
at death; the thief’s promise precedes New-Covenant terms.
-
John
19:25–27 — Filial provision at
the cross: Jesus entrusts Mary to John.
-
John
7:5 — His brothers’ unbelief
explains why care is placed with a faithful disciple.
-
Acts
1:14 — After the resurrection,
His brothers believe; Mary is among the praying disciples.
-
Matthew
27:45–46 — Three hours of
darkness; Psalm 22’s cry reveals sin-bearing agony.
-
Psalm
22:1 — Scriptural frame for the
righteous sufferer’s lament and ultimate vindication.
-
Galatians 3:13 — Christ became a
curse for us; the law’s curse is exhausted at the cross.
-
2
Corinthians 5:21 — He who knew no
sin was made sin for us; we receive God’s righteousness in Him.
-
Acts
2:38 — Proper response to the
cross: repent and be baptized for forgiveness and the gift of
the Spirit.
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO
|
The
church of Christ
